1,25 (oh)2 vitamin d3 suppresses expression and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide from cardiac myocytes. Wu, J., Garami, M., Cao, L., Li, Q. and Gardner, D. G. DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, AND METABOLIC RESEARCH UNIT, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN FRANCISCO
APStracts 2:0033E, 1995.
We have examined the effects of 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 on the expression of the rat atrial natriuretic peptide gene and the secretion of the encoded protein product in neonatal rat cardiac myocyte cultures. 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 effected a dose- and time -dependent inhibition of agonist-stimulated ANP secretion which was accompanied by a reduction in the levels of the ANP mRNA transcript. The latter effect appeared to derive, at least in part, from suppression of ANP gene transcription. Of interest, both the reduction in mRNA levels and the inhibition of transcriptional activity were amplified by simultaneous treatment with retinoic acid, suggesting that heterodimerization of liganded 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 receptor and retinoic acid receptor (likely RXR) may underlie the inhibitory mechanism in the cardiac myocyte. Neither the secretory effect nor the effect on transcription proved to be calcium dependent. 22-oxacalcitriol, a non-hypercalcemic analogue of 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3, was equally effective in suppressing ANP mRNA levels and transcription of the gene. These findings add to a growing body of data which imply an important role for 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D3 in the regulation of cardiovascular function.

Received 8 December 1994; accepted in final form 9 February 1995.
APS Manuscript Number E509-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on  1 March 1995.