The investigation of Vitamin D system on muscle

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19555
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Endocrinology
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (2017); The University of Tokushima (2016)
• Principal Investigator: Maria Tsoumpra 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所 遺伝子疾患治療研究部, 科研費研究員 (80756198)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ビタミンD / muscle

Outline of Final Research Achievements

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.

Free Research Field

Endocrinology