title: Vitamin D signalling in adipose tissue.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency and the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity are both considered important public health issues. The classical role of vitamin D is in Ca homoeostasis and bone metabolism. Growing evidence suggests that the vitamin D system has a range of physiological functions, with vitamin D deficiency contributing to the pathogenesis of several major diseases, including obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Clinical studies have shown that obese individuals tend to have a low vitamin D status, which may link to the dysregulation of white adipose tissue. Recent studies suggest that adipose tissue may be a direct target of vitamin D. The expression of both the vitamin D receptor and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) genes has been shown in murine and human adipocytes. There is evidence that vitamin D affects body fat mass by inhibiting adipogenic transcription factors and lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. Some recent studies demonstrate that vitamin D metabolites also influence adipokine production and the inflammatory response in adipose tissue. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency may compromise the normal metabolic functioning of adipose tissue. Given the importance of the tissue in energy balance, lipid metabolism and inflammation in obesity, understanding the mechanisms of vitamin D action in adipocytes may have a significant impact on the maintenance of metabolic health. In the present review, we focus on the signalling role of vitamin D in adipocytes, particularly the potential mechanisms through which vitamin D may influence adipose tissue development and function.
authors.affiliation: Obesity Biology Research Group, Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Duncan Building, Liverpool              L69 3GA, UK.
authors.forename: Cherlyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilding
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trayhurn
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bing
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis; D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D