Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027960 (mole)
 21,279 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The vitamin D hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) is generated by a series of hydroxylation steps in the liver and kidneys. We investigated whether naturally vitamin D-deficient subterranean mammals (naked mole rats, Heterocephalus glaber) employ the same enzymatic pathways, and whether these are regulated in a similar manner to that established for other mammals. Vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase in the liver and both 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24 hydroxylase (1-OHase and 24-OHase) in the kidney were detectable in mole rats. As expected for vitamin D-deficient mammals, the 1-OHase activity predominated over the 24-OHase. After mole rats received a supraphysiological supplement of vitamin D3, 1-OHase activity was suppressed and 24-OHase activity was enhanced. Irrespective of vitamin D status, forskolin (a protein kinase A activator) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not alter the activity of either 1-OHase or 24-OHase. These findings suggest that the response of renal hydroxylases to parathyroid hormone was blunted. Phorbol esters, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) (protein kinase C activators), suppressed 1-OHase activity. 24-OHase activity was induced by TPA but not by OAG. These effects were similar to those illicited by vitamin D3 supplementation but were additive in that they increased the responses shown in vitamin D-replete mole rats. These data confirm that naturally vitamin D-deficient mole rats can convert vitamin D3 to the hormone, 1,25(OH)2D3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Vitamin D hydroxylases and their regulation in a naturally vitamin D-deficient subterranean mammal, the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber). 785 93

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the hormonally active metabolite of vitamin D3 interacts with its nuclear/cytosolic receptor to induce biological responses in target tissues. Naked mole rats appear to be naturally deficient in vitamin D. The questions arise whether these animals possess the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR) and whether they are capable of responding to 1,25(OH)2D3 via receptor-mediated pathways. Various tissues (intestine, kidney, Harderian glands, and skin) were examined for the presence and biochemical characterization (as indicated by saturation, sucrose density gradient, DNA binding, and ligand-competitive analysis) of VDRs. In addition homologous upregulation of VDRs in these tissues and induction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (24-OHase) in the kidney was studied as indicators of the VDR-mediated biological responses. Naked mole rats have VDRs in the intestine, kidney, and Harderian gland but not in skin. Biochemical characterization of VDRs and VDR-mediated biological responses in the intestine and kidney correspond to those found in similar target tissues of other mammals. Harderian gland VDR is at a lower concentration yet shows a markedly higher affinity and selectivity to 1,25(OH)2D3 than that of the intestine and kidney. Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in VDR upregulation in the intestine and kidney and induced renal 24-OHase but had no effects on VDRs in Harderian glands. These data demonstrate that naked mole rats possess VDRs in intestine, kidney, and Harderian glands; these VDRs differ in their biochemical characteristics.
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PMID:Vitamin D receptors in a naturally vitamin D-deficient subterranean mammal, the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber): biochemical characterization. 822 60