The peculiar role of vitamin D in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract

Vitamin D is a hormone with both genomic and non-genomic actions. It exerts its activity by binding vitamin D receptor (VDR), which belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors and ligand-activated transcription factors. Since VDR has been found in various tissues, it has been estimated that it regulates approximately 3% of the human genome. Several recent studies have shown pleiotropic effects of vitamin D in various processes such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, DNA repair and apoptosis and its involvement in different pathophysiological conditions as inflammation, diabetes mellitus, and anemia. It has been suggested that vitamin D could play an important role in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders. Moderate to strong associations between lower serum vitamin D concentrations and stroke and cardiovascular events have been identified in different analytic approaches, even after controlling for traditional demographic and lifestyle covariates. The mechanisms behind the associations between vitamin D and cerebrovascular and cardiologic profiles have been widely examined both in animal and human studies. Optimization of vitamin D levels in human subjects may improve insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function and lower levels of inflammatory markers. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that altered gene expression of VDR and 1,25D3-membrane-associated rapid response steroid-binding (1,25D3-MARRS) receptor influences the role of vitamin D within neurons and allows them to be more prone to degeneration. This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin D signaling and the consequences of vitamin D deficiency in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders.

• Authors: Milijana Janjusevic, Giulia Gagno, Alessandra Lucia Fluca, Laura Padoan, Antonio Paolo Beltrami, Gianfranco Sinagra, Rita Moretti, Aneta Aleksova
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 289 Pg. 120193 (Jan 15 2022) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 34864062 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Receptors, Calcitriol
• Vitamin D

Topics

• Animals
• Cardiovascular Diseases (blood, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Insulin-Secreting Cells (metabolism)
• Neurodegenerative Diseases (blood, drug therapy)
• Neurons (metabolism)
• Receptors, Calcitriol
• Signal Transduction
• Vitamin D (blood, therapeutic use)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, drug therapy)