outcome of vitamin D receptor gene have different impact on outcome of SCT

What is it about?

Apart from its known role in bone metabolism and homeostasis, vitamin has an impact on all body systems (including the immune system) as evidenced by the presence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) . vitamin D receptor is controlled by a gene that shows normal variations between different individuals (polymorphism). These variations may affect the level of expression of VDR and hence the efficiency of vit D effect. Given the effect of vit D on modulating the immune responses, it was postulated that the polymorphism of its receptor may affect the outcome of stem cell transplantation (SCT). Our work did not show an impact of the polymorphism on the outcome of SCT. In a parallel work, we measured vit. D level in the same patients; most of them were Vit D sufficient. Our explanation was that because of the sunny weather in Egypt, vit D level is sufficient in the majority obscuring any potential effect of VDR polymorphism

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Why is it important?

Vitamin D and hence its receptor, is a very important factor in the outcome of SCT. However because of the marked variability between populations in the vit D status whether, deficient, insufficient or sufficient, it is important to study the situation in each population. In places with a sunny weather like Egypt, vit D may not constitute a problem. In other areas with prevalent vit D deficiency, a supplementary program has to be adopted

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