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Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the vitamin D receptor gene results in cardiac hypertrophy.

ABSTRACT: A variety of studies carried out using either human subjects or laboratory animals suggest that vitamin D and its analogues possess important beneficial activity in the cardiovascular system. Using Cre-Lox technology we have selectively deleted the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in the cardiac myocyte in an effort to better understand the role of vitamin D in regulating myocyte structure and function.Targeted deletion of the exon 4 coding sequence in the VDR gene resulted in an increase in myocyte size and left ventricular weight/body weight versus controls both at baseline and following a 7-day infusion of isoproterenol. There was no increase in interstitial fibrosis. These knockout mice demonstrated a reduction in end-diastolic and end-systolic volume by echocardiography, activation of the fetal gene program (ie, increased atrial natriuretic peptide and alpha skeletal actin gene expression), and increased expression of modulatory calcineurin inhibitory protein 1 (MCIP1), a direct downstream target of calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell signaling. Treatment of neonatal cardiomyocytes with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D partially reduced isoproterenol-induced MCIP1 mRNA and protein levels and MCIP1 gene promoter activity.Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the vitamin D-VDR signaling system possesses direct, antihypertrophic activity in the heart. This appears to involve, at least in part, suppression of the prohypertrophic calcineurin/NFAT/MCIP1 pathway. These studies identify a potential mechanism to account for the reported beneficial effects of vitamin D in the cardiovascular system.

SUBMITTER: Chen S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4160312 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the vitamin D receptor gene results in cardiac hypertrophy.

Chen Songcang S Law Christopher S CS Grigsby Christopher L CL Olsen Keith K Hong Ting-Ting TT Zhang Yan Y Yeghiazarians Yerem Y Gardner David G DG

Circulation 20110926 17

<h4>Background</h4>A variety of studies carried out using either human subjects or laboratory animals suggest that vitamin D and its analogues possess important beneficial activity in the cardiovascular system. Using Cre-Lox technology we have selectively deleted the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in the cardiac myocyte in an effort to better understand the role of vitamin D in regulating myocyte structure and function.<h4>Methods and results</h4>Targeted deletion of the exon 4 coding sequence in ...[more]

PMID: 21947295

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Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the vitamin D receptor gene results in cardiac hypertrophy.

Publications

Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the vitamin D receptor gene results in cardiac hypertrophy.

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