Another paper stemming from the partly NRS funded research into the role of cathelicidins and its role in rosacea. A lot of publicity and publications have resulted from Dr. Gallo’s research. This avenue of research into rosacea looks promising so lets hope that more resources target involved with this area of research.
Those that interested in the role that Vitamin D3 play in immunity should also read the excellent summary over at RSRP: Vitamin D3 ; "Recent studies suggest the importance of Vitamin D3 (Vit D3) in immunity. Vit D3 has been shown to promote the production of the human antimicrobial peptides, cathelicidins (LL-37), and cathelicidins have been found to have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Studies also suggest that it is unusual for bacteria to develop resistance to cathelicidins as they might from standard antibiotics."
Antimicrobial peptides and the skin immune defense system, Schauber J, Gallo RL., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Apr 24, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
Our skin is constantly challenged by microbes but is rarely infected. Cutaneous production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a primary system for protection, and expression of some AMPs further increases in response to microbial invasion. Cathelicidins are unique AMPs that protect the skin through 2 distinct pathways: (1) direct antimicrobial activity and (2) initiation of a host response resulting in cytokine release, inflammation, angiogenesis, and reepithelialization. Cathelicidin dysfunction emerges as a central factor in the pathogenesis of several cutaneous diseases, including atopic dermatitis, in which cathelicidin is suppressed; rosacea, in which cathelicidin peptides are abnormally processed to forms that induce inflammation; and psoriasis, in which cathelicidin peptide converts self-DNA to a potent stimulus in an autoinflammatory cascade. Recent work identified vitamin D3 as a major factor involved in the regulation of cathelicidin. Therapies targeting control of cathelicidin and other AMPs might provide new approaches in the management of infectious and inflammatory skin diseases.
Another recent abstract is also promoting the synergy of Vitamin D3 and cathelicidins in opening doors for future research and discovery ; Vitamin D regulation of cathelicidin in the skin: toward a renaissance of vitamin D in dermatology?
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There is a more comprehensive abstract of the last paper you mentioned there: http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v128/n4/pdf/jid200835a.pdf
It is important to emphasize that this research does not imply that increasing Vitamin D3 consumption would improve rosacea.
Vitamin D3 is likely to increase the production of cathelicidins, which has been demonstrated to be a major inflammation factor for rosacea sufferers. As Vitamin D3 production is induced by sun exposure, this paper mentions that the well-known negative effect of sun on rosaceans skin could be mediated by vitamin D3.
A lot of evidence therefore suggest Vitamin D3 to be an enemy for the rosacea sufferer, while it could help other inflammatory skin disease.
This paradox could be explained by rosacea being induced by a defective immune anti-microbial response, as envisaged by previous research covered here.
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