Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on proliferation in senescent IMR-90 human fibroblasts

Childhood asthma may be a consequence of vitamin D deficiency

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Vitamin D deficiency has been rediscovered as a public-health problem worldwide. It has been postulated that vitamin D deficiency may explain a portion of the asthma epidemic. The purpose of this review is to present the evidence for a role of vitamin D in asthma.

RECENT FINDINGS

Both animal models and studies in human fetal tissues show that vitamin D plays a role in fetal lung growth and maturation. Epidemiologic studies have also suggested that higher prenatal vitamin D intakes have a protective role against wheezing illnesses in young children. Vitamin D may protect against wheezing illnesses through its role in upregulating antimicrobial proteins or through its multiple immune effects. In addition, vitamin D may play a therapeutic role in steroid resistant asthmatics, and lower vitamin D levels have recently been associated with higher risks for asthma exacerbations.

SUMMARY

Improving vitamin D status holds promise in primary prevention of asthma, in decreasing exacerbations of disease, and in treating steroid resistance. However, the appropriate level of circulating vitamin D for optimal immune functioning remains unclear. Because vitamin D deficiency is prevalent even in sun-replete areas, clinical trials are needed to definitively answer questions about the role of vitamin D in asthma.

Role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and extracellular calcium in the regulation of proliferation in cultured SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

This study examines the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on SH-SYSY human neuroblastoma cells cultured in the presence of medium containing varying concentrations of calcium (0.1, 0.9, 1.4, 1.8 mM). Pyruvate kinase activity was assayed in SH-SY5Y cells incubated in variable calcium medium with or without 1, 10 or 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h. The enzyme levels showed a significant increase in comparison with control, when the cells were incubated with 100 nM hormone in the presence of 0.1 mM calcium, while pyruvate kinase activity decreased, when the cells were treated with 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 in the presence of 1.8 mM calcium. The proliferative activity of SH-SY5Y was dependent on the extracellular concentration of calcium, being the highest at 1.8 mM calcium and completely absent at 0.1 mM calcium. In the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, at the three concentrations used and after 48 h incubation, a significant decrease in cell number was always observed, without a direct correlation between 1,25(OH)2D3 effect and calcium concentration in the medium. [3H]Thymidine incorporation in SH-SY5Y cells significantly increased in comparison with control, when the 48 h incubation with 1, 10 or 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 was carried out in the presence of 0.1 mM calcium, while, at the other calcium concentrations, the hormone did not cause any significant change in this parameter. The treatment of SH-SYSY cells with 1 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h did not affect cell morphology, when 0.1 mM calcium was present, while, in the medium containing 1.8 mM calcium, the treated cells showed a slight trend to differentiation. The differentiating effect of 10 microM all-trans retinoic acid, even if incomplete after 48 h treatment, was only observed in the cultures grown in 1.8 mM calcium, in comparison with those maintained in 0.1 mM calcium.

Vitamin D receptor in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on cellular proliferation

This study examines the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on proliferation of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in this cell line. Cell number showed a significant decrease, when the cells were incubated with 1 or 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 144 h, while 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 was ineffective after 24 and 96 h incubation. The highest inhibition (about 35%) was observed after 72 h treatment with the hormone at the three concentrations used. Protein content per cell increased, in comparison with controls, after treatment of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 1,25(OH)2D3, at the three concentrations, up to 96 h incubation. 1, 10 or 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 positively affected [3H]thymidine incorporation after treatment of the cells for 48 and 72 h, while, after 24 h, only 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 exerted a stimulatory action. To study the expression of the VDR gene, Northern blot analysis was performed. Subconfluent SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated for 24 h with medium containing 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 or vehicle alone. A main transcript of an approximate size of 4.5 kb, present either in controls or in cells incubated with the hormone, was revealed. A limited increase in VDR mRNA levels was observed in the cells treated with 1,25(OH)2D3, fetal bovine serum or forskolin. Only slight differences in morphology were perceived between SH-SY5Y cultures maintained with or without 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 for 7 days.