What is the role of the Vitamin D Receptor in Diabetes plays?

A special Receptor seems to be a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of Diabetes present. This knowledge could protect against the development of Diabetes and the progression of the disease caused damage to the pancreas cells to counteract.

In the current investigation of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), it was found that maintaining the level of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) can help in the cells of the pancreas to protect against the development of Diabetes and the progression of the disease to prevent damage caused. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Diabetes”.

New target for the treatment of Diabetes?

Maintaining the level of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the cells of the pancreas, which Insulin to synthesize and secrete, could help to protect against the development of Diabetes and the progression of the disease to counteract the damage caused to the pancreas cells. This Receptor could serve as a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Researchers examined the role of the Vitamin D receptor

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a higher prevalence of type 1 Diabetes as well as type 2 Diabetes. It is a connection of the disease with variations in the Vitamin D Receptor has been described in gene. However, the specific involvement of this vitamin receptor to the development of the disease, particularly in the β-cells, remains unknown. Therefore, has focused new study to understand the role of the VDR in the pathogenesis of Diabetes. The behavior of the receptor in mice was investigated.

Such as Vitamin D receptors protect against Diabetes

The researchers observed a lower VDR Expression in the Pancreatic islets of mice with type-1 and type-2 Diabetes. In addition, they found that the Overexpression of VDR in β counteracts cells of diabetic mice of the disease. At the same time, it has been demonstrated that persistent can get the end level of Vitamin D receptors in these cells, their mass and function, and Diabetes protect.

Maintaining the VDR-Expression prevented damage of β cells

These results suggest that the maintenance of the VDR Expression could substantially contribute to the damage of the β cells to counteract and protect against the development of the disease.

New role of the Vitamin D receptor found

“Persistent VDR-mirror-protected transgenic mice against the development of severe hyperglycemia, wherein the mass of β cells remained partially preserved, and thus, local inflammation, and Diabetes have been reduced,” says study author Dr. Alba Casellas, from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in a press release. This shows a previously unknown role of the Vitamin D receptor in the pathophysiology of Diabetes.

Efficacy of Vitamin D for the prevention of Diabetes is controversial

Although the benefits of Supplementation with Vitamin D as a means for the prevention of Diabetes has been reported, the clinical data on its efficacy to improve the condition of Diabetes is controversial. “Discrepancies in the effectiveness of Vitamin-D-supplements can be due to the negative regulation of VDR in Diabetes,” explains Dr. Casellas.

Must be covered with the dosing regimen of Vitamin D supplements?

The researchers suggest that in order to achieve positive results needs to be planned, the dosage schedule of Vitamin D supplementation in the absence of a decrease in VDR-Expression. “Therefore, future strategies for the treatment of Diabetes should be based on a better knowledge of the mechanisms of the negative regulation of VDR are subject to during the Diabetes, and the recovery of the VDR values concentrate”, add the researchers. (as)