PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Heulens, Nele
AU  - Korf, Hannelie
AU  - Janssens, Wim
TI  - Innate Immune Modulation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Moving Closer toward Vitamin D Therapy
AID  - 10.1124/jpet.115.223032
DP  - 2015 May 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 360--368
VI  - 353
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/353/2/360.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/353/2/360.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2015 May 01; 353
AB  - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Disturbed innate immune processes characterize the pathogenesis of COPD. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in COPD patients and has been associated with disease severity. Interestingly, mechanistic evidence from animal and in vitro studies has demonstrated important innate immunomodulatory functions of vitamin D, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial functions. This review discusses in detail how the innate immunomodulatory functions of vitamin D may have therapeutic potential in COPD patients. The remaining challenges associated with vitamin D therapy in COPD patients are also discussed.