Vitamin D receptor-mediated gene regulation mechanisms and current concepts of vitamin D analog selectivity

Lipophilic hormones of steroidal origin such as the sex hormones and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D(3) (1,25[OH](2)D(3)) function by regulating patterns of gene expression in cells. The mediators of such actions are nuclear receptors that recognize these ligands with high affinity and selectivity and function through several mechanisms as gene specific transcription factors. As a result of the mechanistic complexity of nuclear receptor action, recent studies have revealed that both synthetic analogs as well as novel mimetics of a receptor's natural hormonal ligand are capable of modulating functional responses in both cell- and gene-selective manners. These findings have given rise to the term selective receptor modulators, typified by such synthetic estrogen receptor ligands as tamoxifen and raloxifene. A number of vitamin D analogs have been prepared that appear to exhibit tissue-selective activity--most notable through their inability to induce levels of hypercalcemia typical of the activity of the natural hormone 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Because this debilitating yet normal feature of the natural ligand limits its usefulness in a variety of clinical indications, including its application to prevent bone disease caused by secondary hyperparathyroidism, this feature of many of the new analogs is especially welcome. This article discusses what constitutes a selective receptor modulator and whether the current vitamin D analogs represent such entities.