VDR and infectious disease: 1α,25(OH)2D3 after binding to VDR regulates VDR expression by histone modification and DNA methylation or demethylation.45 Many studies showed an association between VDR gene, DNA hypermethylation, and malignancies and infectious diseases.46, 47 Marik et al48 reported hypermethylation of VDR promoter and low VDR in breast cancer cells.