1-ALPHA,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D-3 - ITS ROLE FOR HOMEOSTASIS OF KERATINOCYTES

Epidermal homeostasis is influenced by a number of hormones and regula tive growth factors that are maintained by a tightly regulated balance between cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. Vit amin D is one of those regulatory factors. It has recently been demons trated that 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (1 alpha 25(OH)(2)D-3) tak es part in the regulation of the cell cycle by multiple and complex fu nctions. This review discuses 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 and its analogues i n connection with the renewal of epidermal keratinocytes as well as th e molecular mechanisms underlying terminal differentiation or rather p rogrammed cell death. Furthermore, interest is focused on the possible clinical application of vitamin D-3 analogues. (C) Elsevier Science I nc. 1996