Vitamin D Supplementation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disorder. It mainly involves the skin, the joints, the nervous system and the kidney and may be life threatening. SLE is associated with production of autoantibodies and perturbations in regulatory T cells and T helper lymphocytes producing interleukin (IL)-17 (Th17 cells). Treatments include corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and immunosuppressive agents. Immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D supplementation in VITRO was recently described, notably the expansion of Treg able to suppress inflammatory responses mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the decrease of Th17 cells.