“…In accordance with its pleiotropic effects, VDRs have been documented in a wide variety of cells and tissues [Haussler, 1986;Reichel et al, 19891. With the discovery of VDRs in monocytes and activated T [Prowedini et al, 1983;Bhalla et al, 1983;Merke et al, 19841 and B cells [Prowedini et al, 19861, efforts have been focused on the effects of this steroid class on the immune system. In the human, 1,25 (OH)2 D3 inhibits lectin induced lymphocyte proliferation [Tsoukas et al, 1984;Rigby et al, 1984;Saggese et al, 19891, and production of IL-2 [Tsoukas et al, 1984;Rigby et al, 1987;Matsui et al, 1986;Saggese et al, 19891, interferon gamma [Reichel et al, 1987;Saggese et al, 1989;Matsui et al, 19861, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor [Tobler et al, 19881, and antibody [Komoriya et al, 1985;Prowedini et al, 1986;Iho et al, 1986;Lemire et al, 19841. In the mouse, 1,25 (OH)z D3 fails to inhibit lectininduced mitogenesis of splenic T cells but does impair antigen and alloantigen T cell stimulation [Bhalla et al, 19841 as well as thymocyte proliferation induced by interleukin 1 (IL-11, IL-2, andlor phytohemagglutinin exposure [Ravid et al, 1984;Koizumi et al, 1985;Muller et al, 19881.…”