New Insights into the Mechanisms Involved in the Pleiotropic Actions of 1,25Dihydroxyvitamin D_3

摘要

Vitamin D functions to regulate calcium homeostasis in intestine, kidney, and bone. Vitamin D deficiency during bone development causes rickets and in adults vitamin D deficiency, which has been shown to be common in the elderly population, can cause secondary hy-perparathyroidism that can result in osteomalacia and increased risk of fracture. Recent evidence has suggested that vitamin D can have numerous other physiological functions including protection against certain autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis and inhibition of proliferation of a number of malignant cells including breast and prostate cancer cells. Exactly how vitamin D affects numerous different systems is a subject of continuing investigation. This article will review new developments related to the function and regulation of vitamin D target proteins in classic vitamin D target tissues that have provided novel insight into the mechanism of vitamin D action.