Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous disease caused by acantholysis of keratinocytes due to pathogenic desmoglein-3 autoantibodies. Role of vitamin D has been recently implicated in ...various autoimmune conditions due to its immunomodulatory effects on innate and adaptive immune responses. One of the key mechanisms of the immune regulation by vitamin D is through its anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of Th17 functions. Thus, vitamin D may be involved in pathogenesis of PV. In this study, the serum vitamin D, IL-17 and TGF-beta levels in PV patients as well as healthy controls were estimated in order to understand the underlying immune mechanism involved in disease pathogenesis. Hypovitaminosis is common in North India, as ascertained by deficient levels in healthy controls, and was also consistently observed in PV patient. These low levels were not related to age or gender. The increased serum IL-17 and dramatic reduction in TGF-beta/IL-17 ratio in diseased patients further indicate that dysregulation of the Treg/Th-17 axis of T effector cells may be of significance in pathogenesis of PV. Thus, the study indicates that vitamin D insufficiency may be a predisposing factor in PV, contributing through its role in any of the various adaptive immune mechanisms that regulate T cell functions in vivo. Thus, there is a need to further evaluate the Treg/Th-17 axis, as it may have an important role in disease progression.
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