Role of vitamin D in pregnancy and Toll-like receptor pathway

• Published in: Steroids 2018-09, Vol.137, p.22-29
• Main Authors: Momentti, Ana Carolina, Estadella, Débora, Pellegrini Pisani, Luciana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fetal development; Inflammation; Nuclear factor kappa B; Pregnant women; Vitamin D deficiency
• ISSN: 0039-128X; 1878-5867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2018.07.009

•Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate inflammation.•Vitamin D regulates cell-signaling pathways altering cytokine secretion.•Vitamin D decreases LPS-induced inflammation reducing NF-κB expression.•Early activation of the proinflammatory pathway plays a critical role in labor. There is a growing concern about the impacts of hypovitaminosis D on the health of pregnant woman, fetal development, childhood, and adult life. Variations in maternal nutrition during gestation and/or lactation play a critical role in the physiological and metabolic development of the fetus and neonate, which can induce phenotypic changes and trigger important consequences throughout life, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and hypertension. Vitamin D plays a role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation and in modulating the innate and adaptive immune response. Also, vitamin D correlates with changes in cytokines, anti and proinflammatory, as well as prevents inflammation induced by changes in myometrial cells mediated by the nuclear factor kappa B pathway. Further investigation is required regarding these relationship.