Murine model experiments clearly demonstrate that VDR deletions might exaggerate colitis demonstrating that VDR acts as a master regulator of intestinal homeostasis and establishes a unifying link between VDR, autophagy, maintenance of intestinal barrier, the production of AMPs, the intestinal microbiota, and innate immunity, all factors that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This evidence concerns the gene VDR and colitis.