Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several pregnancy complications attributed to impaired or abnormal placental function, but there are few clues indicating the mechanistic role of vitamin D in their pathogenesis. To further understand the role of vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated activity in placental function, we used heterozygous Vdr ablated C57Bl6 mice to assess...

We have examined the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the promoter activity of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene in cultured neonatal rat atrial myocytes. In acute transfection studies 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited the expression of a human ANP (hANP) promoter-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter (-1150 hANP CAT) in a dose-dependent fashion (10(-10)-10(-8) M). Whe...

IN THE DECADE SINCE THE VITAMIN D RECEPTOR (VDR) was cloned and recognized as a member of the superfamily of nuclear receptors that regulate gene expression in a ligand-dependent manner, the central role of VDR in the biology of vitamin D action has been illuminated and is being defined at the molecular level. Following renal production as the hormonal metabolite of vitamin D, 1a,25-dihydroxyvi...

The vitamin D-3 receptor (VDR) is a nuclear receptor that modulates gene expression when complexed with its ligand 1-a,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2-D3], which is the biologically active form of vitamin D-3. The cellular effects of VDR signaling include growth arrest, differentiation and/or induction of apoptosis, which indicate that the vitamin D pathway participates in negative-growt...

The anti-inflammatory actions of vitaminDhave long been recognized and its importance inmodulating colon cancer and colitis development is becoming apparent. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is downregulated in human ulcerative colitis and colitis-associated cancer (CAC); however, its status in murine models of colitis has yet to be explored. Snail and Snail2, zinc-finger transcription factors regu...

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Several factors influence vitamin D levels and its optimal multi-function maintenance. Our objective was to assess quantifiable variables influencing vitamin D level and metabolism in MS patients from Kuwait. In a case-control study involving 50 MS patients, and 50 healthy control individuals for which p...

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), but how vitamin D metabolism affects MS pathophysiology is not understood. We studied the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and related enzymes, including 1,25(OH)(2)D-24-hydroxylase (24-OHase; CYP24A1) and 25(OH)D-1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), in CNS tissues of 39 MS patients and 20 controls and in primary ...

Cholangiopathies are chronic liver diseases in which damaged cholangiocytes trigger a proinflammatory and profibrotic reaction. The nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) is highly expressed exerts immune-regulatory functions these cells. In the present study, we examined protective function of VDR other signaling pathways cholangiopathy cholangiocytes. Vdr was invalidated Abcb4 knockout mice, widely...

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), high circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) cause osteitis fibrosa, bone loss, and cardiovascular complications that increase morbidity and mortality. Impaired production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), the hormonal form of vitamin D, is a major contributor to the generation and maintenance of parathyroid hyperplasia and increased synthesis and...

Low circulating levels of vitamin D were associated with decreased muscle strength and physical performance. Along this line, the present study was aimed to investigate: i) the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in cancer-induced muscle wasting; ii) the mechanisms by which vitamin D affects muscle phenotype in tumor-bearing animals.Rats bearing the AH130 hepatoma showed decreased circulating vi...