Vitamin D receptor activation protects against myocardial reperfusion injury through inhibition of apoptosis and modulation of autophagy.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To determine the roles of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury and to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved.

Results

The endogenous VDR expression was detected in the mouse heart, and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) upregulated VDR expression. Activation of VDR by natural and synthetic agonists reduced myocardial infarct size and improved cardiac function. Mechanistically, VDR activation inhibited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (determined by the reduction of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein expression and caspase-12 activation), attenuated mitochondrial impairment (determined by the decrease of mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-9 activation), and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Furt

SUBMITTER: Yao T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4346660 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature