SEMINAR: Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series: UVR-induced vitamin D: essential for immunoregulation?

Dr Shelley Gorman from Telethon Institute for Child Health Research will give a talk on "UVR-induced vitamin D: essential for immunoregulation?" in the Microbiology & Immunology Seminar room, Friday, 11 May 2012 at 09.00am. Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin after exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) found in sunlight, and can suppress immunity in a similar manner to UVR. Our studies show that topically-applied vitamin D can increase the suppressive activity of regulatory T cells through interleukin-2 and skin-derived dendritic cell mechanisms. However, the role of vitamin post-UVR in suppressing immunity has not been determined and I will discuss our recent findings, which indicate that UV-induced vitamin D may not be essential for immunoregulation.