title: Calcitriol prevents inflammatory gene expression in macrovascular endothelial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcitriol (vitamin D) supplementation has been proposed for therapeutical use in vascular diseases due to its immunomodulatory activity, preventing inflammation and promoting angiogenesis. In the present study, we hypothesised whether calcitriol downregulates pro-inflammatory gene expression without affecting angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory gene expression in LPS-induced endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to evaluate the effect of calcitriol in suppressing inflammatory gene expression in the endothelium, endothelial cells were exposed to the physiological concentration of calcitriol followed by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Gene expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β, Human β-defensin (HBD)-2, angiogenin (ANG) and cathelicidin (LL-37) were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from six independent experiments conducted in duplicate, showed that calcitriol decreased IL-1β (p < 0.01) and HBD-2 expression (p < 0.01) when compared to non-treated cells. However, calcitriol treatment had no effect on TGF-β, ANG and LL-37 gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcitriol prevents inflammatory gene expression, but does not affect expression of angiogenic genes in endothelial cells, which suggest the potential use of calcitriol to prevent endothelial activation through the downregulation of IL-1β and HBD-2.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Unit Zacatecas , Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS , Zacatecas , Mexico.|b Faculty of Chemistry , Autonomous University of Zacatecas , Zacatecas , Mexico.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Curiel
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Unit Zacatecas , Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS , Zacatecas , Mexico.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marin-Luevano
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Unit Zacatecas , Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS , Zacatecas , Mexico.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Unit Zacatecas , Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS , Zacatecas , Mexico.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Enciso-Moreno
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Chemistry , Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi , San Luis Potosi , Mexico.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Castillo
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Unit Zacatecas , Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS , Zacatecas , Mexico.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rivas-Santiago
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: Calcitriol; defensins; endothelial activation; inflammation; septic shock; vitamin D