The link between vitamin D status and NF-κB-associated renal dysfunction in experimental diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is accompanied by numerous side effects, including renal dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that overactivation of nuclear factor ĸB (NF-κB) is one of the key triggers of diabetes-associated chronic kidney disease. Vitamin D3 is considered as a strong modulator of a number of transcription factors, including NF-κB. The purpose of our study was to assess the contribution of NF-κB to type 1 diabetes (T1D)-induced kidney dysfunction and to determine if vitamin D3 supplementation can correct the changes associated with T1D. METHODS: The following animal groups were used: control, diabetic (induced by single i.p. injection of streptozocin at dose 55 mg/kg b.w.), T1D group treated with vitamin D3 (600 IU/kg b.w.), T1D group treated with NF-κB inhibitor - BAY 11-7082. RESULTS: Diabetes led to a decrease in serum 25(OH)D that was accompanied by down-regulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression and up-regulation of hydroxylases CYP24A1 and CYP27B1 synthesis in the kidneys. Diabetes activated the transcription factor NF-κB and increased cleaved (p17) caspase-3 level in renal tissue. Restoration of vitamin D status normalized vitamin D-endocrine system, decreased NF-κB activation and caspase-3 protein level in the kidneys of diabetic animals. BAY 11-7082 partially mimicked the effects of vitamin D3. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Vitamin D3 supplementation counteracts diabetes-induced kidney damage, most likely through VDR-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Vitamin D Auto-/Paracrine System Is Involved in Modulation of Glucocorticoid-Induced Changes in Angiogenesis/Bone Remodeling Coupling.

Osteoporosis is a devastating side effect of chronic glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Despite the crucial role of vitamin D (VD) in bone homeostasis, the precise molecular mechanisms of its action on GC-induced disturbances of bone remodeling remain undefined. The study was performed to elucidate the relation of VD status to GC-induced changes of the angiogenesis/osteogenesis/bone resorption coupling in bone tissue. Female Wistar rats received prednisolone (5 mg/kg of b.w.) with or without VD3 (1000 IU/kg of b.w., for 30 days). Biomechanical parameters of rat femurs were assessed by the three-point bending test. The levels of calcium, inorganic phosphate, activity of total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and its isoenzymes were determined spectrophotometrically. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and caspase-3 protein levels were detected by western blotting. Vdr and Cyp27b1 mRNAs were measured by qRT-PCR. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) expression in bone sections was visualized immunohistochemically. Serum 25(OH)D was assayed by ELISA. GC administration led to a decrease in maximal load (by 1.2-fold) and stiffness and toughness (by 1.3-fold), which was accompanied by a 3-fold reduction of 25(OH)D level, an elevation of the ALP bone isoenzyme activity in serum, hypocalcaemia, and hypophosphatemia. Along with prednisolone-induced VD deficiency, an impaired synthesis of Vdr (-30%) and Cyp27b1 (+71%) mRNA was observed, reflecting deregulation of bone tissue VD-auto-/paracrine system. GC caused an increase in caspase-3 content, suppressed the synthesis of the osteoclastic marker RANK, and altered angiogenesis/osteogenesis coupling by significantly reducing the level of VEGF-A.VD3 treatment restored serum 25(OH)D content and the expression of key components of the VD-auto-/paracrine system. VD3 supplementation diminished cell apoptosis and strongly improved angiogenesis/osteogenesis coupling as well as mineral metabolism and biomechanical parameters of femurs in GC-administered rats. Thus, VD3 can have a beneficial effect on the correction of GC-induced pathological changes in bone remodeling.

Vitamin D3 Modulates Impaired Crosstalk Between RANK and Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Bone Marrow Cells After Chronic Prednisolone Administration.

The effectiveness of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in counteracting the side effects of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy has been demonstrated previously. Abnormalities in systemic hormonal and local (cytokine) regulation of bone marrow (BM) cells may underlie GC-induced imbalance between osteosynthesis and bone resorption. The cytokine system receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) is considered as an integrating link in the NF-κB-mediated interaction of various cells involved in maintaining osteoblastic-osteoclastic balance, which makes it a pharmacological target for regulation and correction of the bone remodeling process. We studied GC-induced impairments of the RANKL/RANK/OPG axis in BM cells depending on vitamin D bioavailability and whether these changes were mediated by glucocorticoid (GR) and/or vitamin D (VDR) receptors. Female Wistar rats administered with prednisolone (5 mg/kg b.w., 30 days) showed a decrease in the GR protein level and the number of GR-positive BM cells. GC caused a marked elevation of RANKL and RANK levels in BM, while OPG decreased. Flow cytometry data indicated GC-elicited increase in the number of circulating RANK-positive osteoclast precursors (OCPs) in BM, peripheral blood, and spleen. In full accordance with the data that the interaction of RANKL-RANK leads to transcriptional activation of NF-κB and subsequent differentiation of osteoclasts, we found an increase in the level of phosphorylated p65 subunit of NF-κB with a simultaneous decrease in the NF-κB inhibitor (IκB) level. These changes were accompanied by vitamin D insufficiency and downregulated expression of CYP27B1 and VDR, which are responsible for synthesis and hormonal signaling of 1,25(OH)2D. Notably, we observed VDR and RANK co-localization in OCPs. Cholecalciferol co-administration (1,000 IU/kg b.w., 30 days) with prednisolone resulted in elevated GR synthesis in BM. Cholecalciferol prevented prednisolone-elicited disturbances of the RANKL/RANK/OPG, which correlated with improved bioavailability and vitamin D signaling through VDR. This caused the lowering of phosphoNF-κB p65 level and inhibiting NF-κB translocation to the nucleus that could reduce the circulating OCPs pool in BM, peripheral blood, and spleen. Our findings suggest that prednisolone-induced abnormalities in GR and RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathways are associated with the impairments of vitamin D auto/paracrine system in BM cells and can be ameliorated by cholecalciferol supplementation.

Effects of Cholecalciferol on Key Components of Vitamin D-Endo/Para/Autocrine System in Experimental Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Recent prospective studies have found the associations between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and vitamin D deficiency. We investigated the role of vitamin D in the regulation of 25OHD-1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) and VDR expression in different tissues of T1D rats. DESIGN: T1D was induced in male Wistar rats by streptozotocin (55 mg/k b.w.). After 2 weeks of T1D, the animals were treated orally with or without vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol; 100 IU/rat, 30 days). METHODS: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was detected by ELISA. CYP27A1, CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR were assayed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting or visualized by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: We demonstrated that T1D led to a decrease in blood 25OHD, which is probably due to the established downregulation of CYP27A1 and CYP2R1 expression. Vitamin D deficiency was accompanied by elevated synthesis of renal CYP27B1 and VDR. Conversely, CYP27B1 and VDR expression decreased in the liver, bone tissue, and bone marrow. Cholecalciferol administration countered the impairments of the vitamin D-endo/para/autocrine system in the kidneys and extrarenal tissues of diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: T1D-induced vitamin D deficiency is associated with impairments of renal and extrarenal CYP27B1 and VDR expression. Cholecalciferol can be effective in the amelioration of diabetes-associated abnormalities in the vitamin D-endo/para/autocrine system.

Vitamin D3 protects against prednisolone-induced liver injury associated with the impairment of the hepatic NF-κB/iNOS/NO pathway.

The study was carried out to define whether prednisolone-induced damage to hepatic cells is accompanied by excessive nitric oxide (NO) levels associated with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activation and evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with vitamin D3. Histopathological examination, activities of liver transaminases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), and cell death assays consistently showed that prednisolone (5 mg/kg body weight, 30 days) induces chronic liver injury in female Wistar rats. Specifically, increased hepatocellular necrosis and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis were observed. Prednisolone enhanced iNOS protein expression, NO generation, and tyrosine nitration in liver cells. Despite unchanged hepatic level of the NF-κB/p65 protein, prednisolone increased inhibitory κB-α (IκB-α) degradation, nuclear translocation, and phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65 at Ser311, indicating that NF-κB activation can be involved in the induction of iNOS/NO. All changes were associated with a 2.9-fold decrease in the serum content of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and significant reduction of hepatic vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) expression that points reliably to vitamin D3 deficiency and failures in VDR signaling. Vitamin D3 co-administration (100 IU/rat, 30 days) prevented glucocorticoid-evoked abnormalities in hepatic tissue. In conclusion, prednisolone-induced liver disturbances were associated with the impairment of NF-κB/iNOS/NO responses that can be ameliorated by vitamin D3 treatment through VDR-mediated mechanisms.