vitaminD

The 26,23-lactone derivative of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, TEI-9647, is a partial antagonist of the of human vitamin D receptor (VDR). However, we found that TEI-9647 in rat cells behaves as a weak VDR agonist. This behavior could be mimicked in human cells by the double mutagenesis of human VDR (specifically C403S and C410N). The increased agonistic action of TEI-9647 correlates to a gain in the interaction of the VDR with coactivator protein and a decreased stabilization of the antagonistic conformation of the receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that TEI-9647 acts as antagonist of human VDR by reducing the stability of helix 12 of the ligand binding domain. In contrast, N410 of the rat VDR stabilized, via backbone contacts, the interaction between helices 11 and 12. This results in TEI-9647 becoming a weak agonist in this organism.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1α-hydroxylase encoded by CYP27B1 converts 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 into 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a vitamin D receptor ligand. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 has been regarded as a prohormone. Using Cyp27b1 knockout cells and a 1α-hydroxylase-specific inhibitor we provide in four cellular systems, primary mouse kidney, skin, prostate cells and human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, evidence that 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 has direct gene regulatory properties. The high expression of megalin, involved in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 internalisation, in Cyp27b1−/− cells explains their higher sensitivity to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 action depends on the vitamin D receptor signalling supported by the unresponsiveness of the vitamin D receptor knockout cells. Molecular dynamics simulations show the identical binding mode for both 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with the larger volume of the ligand-binding pocket for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, we demonstrate direct anti-proliferative effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human LNCaP prostate cancer cells. The synergistic effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Cyp27b1−/− cells further demonstrates the agonistic action of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and suggests that a synergism between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 might be physiologically important. In conclusion, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is an agonistic vitamin D receptor ligand with gene regulatory and anti-proliferative properties.

The 26,23-lactone derivative of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, TEI-9647, is a partial antagonist of the of human vitamin D receptor (VDR). However, we found that TEI-9647 in rat cells behaves as a weak VDR agonist. This behavior could be mimicked in human cells by the double mutagenesis of human VDR (specifically C403S and C410N). The increased agonistic action of TEI-9647 correlates to a gain in the interaction of the VDR with coactivator protein and a decreased stabilization of the antagonistic conformation of the receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that TEI-9647 acts as antagonist of human VDR by reducing the stability of helix 12 of the ligand binding domain. In contrast, N410 of the rat VDR stabilized, via backbone contacts, the interaction between helices 11 and 12. This results in TEI-9647 becoming a weak agonist in this organism.