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Where is the vitamin D receptor?

Yongji Wang1, Jinge Zhu, Hector F DeLuca

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. yongjiwang@wisc.edu

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|April 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is crucial for vitamin D

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a nuclear receptor superfamily member.
  • VDR mediates the biological actions of vitamin D, regulating genes for calcium homeostasis, cell growth, and immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the tissue- and cell type-specific distribution of VDR.
  • To understand the global function of the vitamin D system in health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on VDR distribution studies.
  • Analysis of VDR expression patterns across various tissues and cell types.

Main Results:

  • VDR is detected in numerous tissues and cell types.
  • VDR distribution is specific to tissue and cell type, indicating targeted roles.

Conclusions:

  • VDR distribution is widespread but cell-type specific.
  • Understanding VDR localization is key to elucidating vitamin D's role in physiology and pathology.

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