Elimination of vitamin D receptor in vascular endothelial cells alters vascular function.

ABSTRACT: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular dysfunction. We evaluated the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in vascular endothelial function, a marker of cardiovascular health, at baseline and in the presence of angiotensin II, using an endothelial-specific knockout of the murine VDR gene. In the absence of endothelial VDR, acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation was significantly impaired (maximal relaxation, endothelial-specific VDR knockout=58% versus control=73%; P<0.05). This was accompanied by a reduction in endothelial NO synthase expression and phospho-vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein levels in aortae from the endothelial-specific VDR knockout versus control mice. Although blood pressure levels at baseline were comparable at 12 and 24 weeks of age, the endo

SUBMITTER: Ni W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4430199 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature