scholarly journals Epimers of Vitamin D: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bashar Al-Zohily ◽  
Asma Al-Menhali ◽  
Salah Gariballa ◽  
Afrozul Haq ◽  
Iltaf Shah

In this review, we discuss the sources, formation, metabolism, function, biological activity, and potency of C3-epimers (epimers of vitamin D). We also determine the role of epimerase in vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and vitamin D receptors (VDR) according to different subcellular localizations. The importance of C3 epimerization and the metabolic pathway of vitamin D at the hydroxyl group have recently been recognized. Here, the hydroxyl group at the C3 position is orientated differently from the alpha to beta orientation in space. However, the details of this epimerization pathway are not yet clearly understood. Even the gene encoding for the enzyme involved in epimerization has not yet been identified. Many published research articles have illustrated the biological activity of C3 epimeric metabolites using an in vitro model, but the studies on in vivo models are substantially inadequate. The metabolic stability of 3-epi-1α,25(OH)2D3 has been demonstrated to be higher than its primary metabolites. 3-epi-1 alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (3-epi-1α,25(OH)2D3) is thought to have fewer calcemic effects than non-epimeric forms of vitamin D. Some researchers have observed a larger proportion of total vitamin D as C3-epimers in infants than in adults. Insufficient levels of vitamin D were found in mothers and their newborns when the epimers were not included in the measurement of vitamin D. Oral supplementation of vitamin D has also been found to potentially cause increased production of epimers in mice but not humans. Moreover, routine vitamin D blood tests for healthy adults will not be significantly affected by epimeric interference using LC–MS/MS assays. Recent genetic models also show that the genetic determinants and the potential factors of C3-epimers differ from those of non-C3-epimers.Most commercial immunoassays techniques can lead to inaccurate vitamin D results due to epimeric interference, especially in infants and pregnant women. It is also known that the LC–MS/MS technique can chromatographically separate epimeric and isobaric interference and detect vitamin D metabolites sensitively and accurately. Unfortunately, many labs around the world do not take into account the interference caused by epimers. In this review, various methods and techniques for the analysis of C3-epimers are also discussed. The authors believe that C3-epimers may have an important role to play in clinical research, and further research is warranted.

Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (7) ◽  
pp. 3656-3667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee A. Zella ◽  
Nirupama K. Shevde ◽  
Bruce W. Hollis ◽  
Nancy E. Cooke ◽  
J. Wesley Pike

Mice deficient in the expression of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) are normocalcemic despite undetectable levels of circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. We used this in vivo mouse model together with cells in culture to explore the impact of DBP on the biological activity of 1,25(OH)2D3. Modest changes in the basal expression of genes involved in 1,25(OH)2D3 metabolism and calcium homeostasis were observed in vivo; however, these changes seemed unlikely to explain the normal calcium balance seen in DBP-null mice. Further investigation revealed that despite the reduced blood levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 in these mice, tissue concentrations were equivalent to those measured in wild-type counterparts. Thus, the presence of DBP has limited impact on the extracellular pool of 1,25(OH)2D3 that is biologically active and that accumulates within target tissues. In cell culture, in contrast, the biological activity of 1,25(OH)2D3 is significantly impacted by DBP. Here, although DBP deficiency had no effect on the activation profile itself, the absence of DBP strongly reduced the concentration of exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3 necessary for transactivation. Surprisingly, analogous studies in wild-type and DBP-null mice, wherein we explored the activity of exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3, produced strikingly different results as compared with those in vitro. Here, the carrier protein had virtually no impact on the distribution, uptake, activation profile, or biological potency of the hormone. Collectively, these experiments suggest that whereas DBP is important to total circulating 1,25(OH)2D3 and sequesters extracellular levels of this hormone both in vivo and in vitro, the binding protein does not influence the hormone’s biologically active pool.


1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (2) ◽  
pp. E168-E173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tanaka ◽  
H. F. DeLuca

The effects of thyroparathyroidectomy, parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, dietary calcium, dietary phosphorus, age, and sex on the renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1- and 24-hydroxylases measured in vitro in rats have been studied. Thyroparathyroidectomy of vitamin D-deficient rats abolishes 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase activity, and administration of bovine parathyroid extract to the thyroparathyroidectomized rat restores diminished 1-hydroxylase activity. Both suppression and restoration of the enzyme activities require many hours (18-24 h) independent of rapid changes in serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels in response to these manipulations. Administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to vitamin D-deficient rats suppresses 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase activity and stimulates 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase activity within 48 h. Rats maintained on a low-calcium or a low-phosphorus diet with a daily supplement of 20 IU vitamin D3 show high 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase activity and low 24-hydroxylase activity as compared with rats similarly treated but fed a diet containing adequate calcium or adequate phosphorus. When vitamin D-sufficient rats having suppressed renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase activity are placed on a low-calcium vitamin D-deficient diet for 7 days, the 1-hydroxylase activity is greatly stimulated in 6-wk-old rats but much less so in rats with advancing age.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (4) ◽  
pp. E359-E364 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Reddy ◽  
G. Jones ◽  
S. W. Kooh ◽  
D. Fraser ◽  
H. F. DeLuca

Previously we have shown that the isolated perfused kidney from vitamin D-deficient rats converts [3H]25(OH)D3 into [3H]1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. When certain vitamin D metabolites were added to perfusate the same kidney began to synthesize [3H]24R,25(OH)2D3. In this study we investigated the structural requirements of the vitamin D molecule necessary to stimulate synthesis of [3H]24R,25(OH)2D3 in a 1-hydroxylating kidney. Kidneys were perfused with tracer [3H]25(OH)D3 (450 pM) alone and in the presence of a variety of hydroxylated metabolites and fluorinated analogues of vitamin D3 at concentrations of 450 pM to 25 microM. Tracer [3H]25(OH)D3 alone resulted in synthesis of only [3H]1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 during the 6-h perfusion period. 25-Hydroxylated metabolites [25(OH)D3, 25 nM; 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, 25 nM; 24R,25(OH)2D3, 25 nM; 24(F)2,25(OH)D3, 50 nM] stimulated [3H]24R,25(OH)2D3 production at 2 h of perfusion. On the other hand, analogues without the 25-hydroxyl group [D3; 1 alpha(OH)D3; 25(F)D3; 1 alpha(OH),25(F)D3; 1 alpha(F)D3; 1 beta(F)D3]; did not stimulate [3H]24R,25(OH)2D3 synthesis. We conclude that the 25-hydroxyl group is an essential determinant of 24-hydroxylation.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claes Rudberg ◽  
Göran Åkerström ◽  
Henry Johansson ◽  
Sverker Ljunghall ◽  
Jan Malmaeus ◽  
...  

Abstract. The effects of 125-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) and 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (24,25-(OH)2D3) on parathyroid hormone (PTH) release from human parathyroid cells were investigated using an in vitro system of dispersed cells. The cells were obtained from 7 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and adenoma, 4 patients with primary HPT due to hyperplasia and 2 patients with parathyroid hyperplasia secondary to chronic renal failure. The dispersed cells were incubated in tissue culture medium at low, normal and high external calcium concentrations for 2–16 h. There was a gradual suppression of PTH release (5–55%) when the calcium concentration in the medium was increased from 0.5 to 3.0 mM, thus indicating retained regulation of hormone release. The addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in concentrations of 0.1 and 1 ng/ml and of 24,25-(OH)2D3 in concentrations of 1.0 and 10 ng/ml during the incubations did not further affect the amount of PTH released by the cells. The concentrations of the different vitamin D metabolites tested closely correspond to levels observed under normal physiological conditions and during treatment with high doses of vitamin D in vivo. Thus, the findings contradict the idea of any direct short-term regulatory effect of either 1,25-(OH)2D3 or 24,25-(OH)2D3 on the secretion of PTH from hyperfunctioning human parathyroid tissue.


1997 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 1017-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Colston ◽  
SY James ◽  
EA Ofori-Kuragu ◽  
L Binderup ◽  
AG Grant

1985 ◽  
Vol 248 (1) ◽  
pp. G40-G45 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Karsenty ◽  
B. Lacour ◽  
A. Ulmann ◽  
E. Pierandrei ◽  
T. Drueke

The present studies were designed to explore the possibility that, in addition to its well-known steroidlike action, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the active vitamin D3 metabolite, modulates inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport across the intestinal mucosa through more rapid membrane effects. Enterocytes were mechanically isolated from the duodenojejunum of vitamin D-replete rats. In this model enterocyte Pi uptake was a temperature-dependent as well as a Na+-dependent process. In vitro addition of 1,25(OH)2D3 (1 pM) led to a significant increase in Na+-dependent initial Pi uptake velocity (iVpi) within 20 min (P less than 0.001). No effect was seen for shorter incubation times (5 and 15 min). Incubation of the cells with cycloheximide did not inhibit the hormone-mediated increase of iVpi. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 significantly increased iVPi (P less than 0.05) at a concentration of 1 nM but not 1 pM. Vitamin D3 at a concentration of 1 microM had no effect on iVPi. Enterocyte Pi efflux rate constant was not modified by the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3(1pM). Thus, the early in vitro effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on Pi uptake by isolated enterocytes suggests a nongenomic action of the hormone, possibly by modifying the lipid structure of the plasma membrane.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 2369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navarro Suarez ◽  
Thein ◽  
Kallinich ◽  
Rohn

The electrochemical behavior of the vitamers cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol was investigated in order to determine whether it is possible to evaluate phase-I and phase-II metabolism of these steroids and yield metabolites that can serve as reference material. The vitamers were electrochemically-oxidized using an electrochemical system (ROXY™ EC system). The influence of pH value, solvent, and potential was evaluated. When using methanol or ethanol, the formation of artificial methoxy or ethoxy groups, respectively, was observed, while the use of acetonitrile did not show any formation of further functional groups. A neutral pH value and use of a constant potential led to the highest number of oxidation products with intensive signals. Additionally, a binding study between vitamin D and glucuronic acid as an example for phase-II conjugation was carried out. It was possible to detect adduct formation. Coupling mass spectrometry directly to electrochemistry (EC-MS) is a promising approach for generating vitamin D metabolites and/or yielding a number of metabolites without in vivo or in vitro test systems. It can support or even replace animal studies in the long-term and might be promising for yielding reference compounds.


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