Animal and human health has greatly benefited from past research in cattle that sought to identify the requirements and physiology of vitamin D for maintenance of calcium.  In the same way, animal and human health stand to benefit from current and future research in cattle that aims to understand the role of vitamin D in the immune system.  Experimental models of viral and bacterial infection in cattle have demonstrated <i>in vivo</i> activation of intracrine and paracrine vitamin D signaling pathways in infected tissues.  In cattle, much like in humans activation of the intracrine vitamin D pathway in macrophages triggers a potent repertoire of host-defense mechanisms, which has been demonstrated through inhibiting mastitis in dairy cattle.  Still, a vitamin D requirement for immune function remains in question for cattle and humans.  Epidemiological evidence suggests a hypothesis that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations below 30 ng/mL are insufficient for immunity.  Testing that hypothesis with reliable and valid models of infection and vitamin D status in cattle can provide experimental determination of the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in cattle and humans that support optimal immune function.

Vitamin D and immunity: Advancing human and animal health through vitamin D research in cattle

249th National Meeting (2015)

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