Research Project
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
The active form of vitamin D (VD3) is a calcium regulating hormone that exerts its tissue-specific biological actions through binding to its vitamin D receptor (VDR). I aimed to identify genes that exert a VD3/VDR direct action in muscle. I generated two muscle-specific VDR knockout (VDRKO) mice models that exhibited reduced grip power compared to control littermates. I performed microarray studies and focused on genes that were downregulated in muscle of VDRKO mice. I confirmed this VD3 dependent regulation by induction of myogenesis and promoter analyses using in vitro assays. Short-term (12-48 hrs) or long term (3-7 days) cell supplementation of VD3 affected members of dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC) which is important for muscle integrity. Notably, DAPC genes were VDR-dependent regulated in early stages of muscle regeneration. This project is ongoing and the findings may lead to drug design of novel vitamin D analogues that will aid preservation of muscle strength.
All 2017 2016
All Presentation (7 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results)
