Vitamin D receptor signaling in podocytes protects against diabetic nephropathy
Vitamin D and its analogs have antiproteinuric activity and podocytes express the vitamin D
receptor, but whether vitamin D signaling in podocytes accounts for this renoprotection is
unknown. To investigate this question, we used the 2.5 kb podocin promoter to target Flag-
tagged human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) to podocytes in DBA/2J mice. After the induction of
diabetes with streptozotocin, transgenic mice had less albuminuria than wild-type controls.
In transgenic mice, a low dose of the vitamin D analog doxercalciferol prevented …
receptor, but whether vitamin D signaling in podocytes accounts for this renoprotection is
unknown. To investigate this question, we used the 2.5 kb podocin promoter to target Flag-
tagged human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) to podocytes in DBA/2J mice. After the induction of
diabetes with streptozotocin, transgenic mice had less albuminuria than wild-type controls.
In transgenic mice, a low dose of the vitamin D analog doxercalciferol prevented …