title: Vitamin D regulation of the renin-angiotensin system.
abstract: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a central role in the regulation of blood pressure, electrolyte, and volume homeostasis. Epidemiological and clinical studies have long suggested an association of inadequate sunlight exposure or low serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] levels with high blood pressure and/or high plasma renin activity, but the mechanism is not understood. Our recent discovery that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) functions as a potent negative endocrine regulator of renin gene expression provides some insights into the mechanism. The concept of vitamin D regulation of blood pressure through the RAS opens a new avenue to our understanding of the physiological functions of the vitamin D endocrine system, and provides a basis for exploring the potential use of vitamin D analogues in prevention and treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. cyan@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Yan Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012083:Renin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D012083:Renin