Fig. 1.

Vitamin D as an anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic agent. Active metabolite of vitamin D (a) suppresses the inflammatory response of T-effector cell by inhibiting the maturation and activity of DCs in VDR-dependent manner; (b) activates the production of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in B cell; (c) downregulates TNF, IL-6, NFkB, MCP-1 and activates the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin in macrophages; (d) downregulates IFNγ, IL-17, and IL-21 in T lymphocytes; (e) upregulates the natural anticoagulants TM and TFPI and deactivates TF and thereby reduces hypercoagulability