Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM). Despite the knowledge that vascular inflammation is a critical determinant for the development of the accelerated atherosclerosis observed in this population, there is a lack of knowledge about the mechanism(s) responsible for the increased susceptibility to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in these patients. Our preliminary data indicates that vitamin D receptor signaling modulates adhesion, migration, and foam cell formation in macrophages and appears to decrease hypertension in humans and atherosclerosis in mice. The objective of our proposal is to delineate the mechanism(s) by which vitamin D modulates the susceptibility to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in Type 2 diabetes. We hypothesize that vascular inflammation induced by vitamin D deficiency elevates blood pressure, diminishes arteriovascular flow, and promotes atherosclerosis in diabetes. We will examine this hypothesis through two main lines of investigation.
In Aim 1 we will determine whether vitamin D deficiency-induced atherosclerosis depends on activation of stress-related kinase (JNK2), known to affect atherosclerosis in mice, and define whether the mechanism for increased atherosclerosis is vitamin D receptor (VDR) dependent in macrophages.
In Aim 2, translating our preliminary observations to humans, we will examine if vitamin D replacement in hypertensive, diabetic patients with vitamin D deficiency decreases blood pressure, improves vascular endothelial function, and promotes an anti-atherogenic phenotype in macrophages. The results of this research may reveal novel insights into the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with Type 2 DM, and suggest a potential new therapeutic target to reduce hypertension and cardiovascular risk in this population. In addition, these findings may offer critical information that will establish the need for widespread screening for vitamin D deficiency or routine supplementation in this high-risk population. Finally, these studies could provide the foundation for future research to evaluate the effects of vitamin D and/or the new vitamin D analogs on common complications affecting diabetic patients, such as cerebrovascular disease, dementia, diabetic nephropathy, and retinopathy.

Public Health Relevance

Effective treatments for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes remain one of the largest unmet needs in the public health. This proposal postulates vitamin D as a novel therapeutic agent to decrease vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, these findings may offer critical information that will establish the need for widespread screening for vitamin D deficiency or routine supplementation in this high-risk population. Finally, these studies could provide the foundation for future research to evaluate the effects of vitamin D/ vitamin D analogs on common complications affecting diabetic patients, such as cerebrovascular disease, dementia, diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL094818-02
Application #
8062275
Study Section
Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity Study Section (CIDO)
Program Officer
Ershow, Abby
Project Start
2010-04-15
Project End
2015-01-31
Budget Start
2011-02-01
Budget End
2012-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$494,143
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Oh, Jisu; Riek, Amy E; Zhang, Rong M et al. (2018) Deletion of JNK2 prevents vitamin-D-deficiency-induced hypertension and atherosclerosis in mice. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 177:179-186
Riek, Amy E; Oh, Jisu; Darwech, Isra et al. (2018) Vitamin D3 supplementation decreases a unique circulating monocyte cholesterol pool in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 177:187-192
Nicol, Ginger E; de Las Fuentes, Lisa; Riek, Amy E et al. (2015) Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Risk in Children With and Without Antipsychotic Drug Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100:3418-26
Oh, Jisu; Riek, Amy E; Darwech, Isra et al. (2015) Deletion of macrophage Vitamin D receptor promotes insulin resistance and monocyte cholesterol transport to accelerate atherosclerosis in mice. Cell Rep 10:1872-86
Riek, Amy E; Oh, Jisu; Darwech, Isra et al. (2014) 25(OH) vitamin D suppresses macrophage adhesion and migration by downregulation of ER stress and scavenger receptor A1 in type 2 diabetes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 144 Pt A:172-9
Riek, Amy E; Oh, Jisu; Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos (2013) 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D suppresses macrophage migration and reverses atherogenic cholesterol metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 136:309-12
Weng, Sherry; Sprague, Jennifer E; Oh, Jisu et al. (2013) Vitamin D deficiency induces high blood pressure and accelerates atherosclerosis in mice. PLoS One 8:e54625
Oh, Jisu; Riek, Amy E; Weng, Sherry et al. (2012) Endoplasmic reticulum stress controls M2 macrophage differentiation and foam cell formation. J Biol Chem 287:11629-41
Riek, Amy E; Oh, Jisu; Sprague, Jennifer E et al. (2012) Vitamin D suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes an antiatherogenic monocyte/macrophage phenotype in type 2 diabetic patients. J Biol Chem 287:38482-94
Mulligan, Megan L; Felton, Shaili K; Riek, Amy E et al. (2010) Implications of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and lactation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 202:429.e1-9

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