The signaling cascade of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (and analogs) in the classical target tissues intestine and bone.

The active form of vitamin D, 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is essential for bone and calcium metabolism (classical action) but has also potent antiproliferative and prodifferentiating effects on normal (bone and immune cells, keratinocytes...) and malignant cells (non-classical action). In both these processes, 1,25(OH)2D3 acts mainly by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) that functions as a transcription factor. Despite this evident physiological relevance of 1,25(OH)2D3-VDR action, we will investigate in the present project (1) the tissue-specific role of VDR signaling in calcium and bone homeostasis and (2) the molecular mechanisms of the antiproliferative effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (and analogs) in bone cells.

Keywords:Vitamin D

Disciplines:Endocrinology and metabolic diseases, Orthopaedics