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1 November 2005 The Vitamin D3 Pathway in Human Skin and its Role for Regulation of Biological Processes
Bodo Lehmann
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Abstract

The skin is the only tissue yet known in which the complete ultraviolet-B (UV-B)–induced pathway from 7-dehydrocholesterol to hormonally active calcitriol (1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) occurs under physiological conditions. Epidermal synthesis of calcitriol could be of fundamental relevance because calcitriol regulates important cellular functions in keratinocytes and immunocompetent cells. Because of their antiproliferative and prodifferentiating effects, calcitriol and other vitamin D analogs are highly efficient in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. The known antipsoriatic effect of UV-B light could, at least in part, be mediated via UV-B–induced synthesis of calcitriol. In addition, mounting evidence indicates that cutaneous vitamin D3 synthesis is of high importance for the prevention of a broad variety of diseases, including various malignancies. New but controversially discussed sun-protection guidelines were established for the prevention of internal cancers. A better understanding of the metabolism of vitamin D in the skin opens new perspectives for therapeutic applications of vitamin D analogs.

Bodo Lehmann "The Vitamin D3 Pathway in Human Skin and its Role for Regulation of Biological Processes," Photochemistry and Photobiology 81(6), 1246-1251, (1 November 2005). https://doi.org/10.1562/2005-02-02-IR-430
Received: 1 February 2005; Accepted: 1 June 2005; Published: 1 November 2005
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