Vitamin D Stimulates Immune Response in Gum Cells

US Pharm. 2011;36(7):12.

Newark, NJ — Vitamin D may help protect the gums against bacterial infections that lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. At the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, laboratory-grown gingival cells treated with vitamin D increased their production of an endogenous antibiotic protein (LL-37) and killed more bacteria than untreated cells. In addition to LL-37, vitamin D also stimulated gingival cells to produce another protein, TREM-1, which boosts production of proinflammatory cytokines. It was found that vitamin D coordinates expression of a number of genes not previously considered part of the vitamin D pathway. Gum cells appear to be able to activate inactive forms of vitamin D, which may lead to topical therapy.