Role of vitamin D3 in regulation of interleukin-6 and osteopontin expression in liver of diabetic mice

D. Labudzynskyi, I. Shymanskyy, M. Veliky

Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To study the link between hepatic interleukin-6 (IL-6) and osteopontin (OPN) gene expression and vitamin D3 status associated with type 1 diabetes in mice; and to evaluate the effects of vitamin D3 treatment (800 IU/kg of body weight for 6 weeks) on diabetes-induced impairments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: mRNA levels of IL-6 and OPN were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Blood serum 25OHD3 was assayed by ELISA.

RESULTS: It was shown that induction of IL-6 in diabetic liver is accompanied by increased expression of OPN. Changes in OPN and IL-6 RNA levels correlated with a lack of 25OHD3 in serum. Vitamin D3 treatment restored 25OHD3 that led to a substantial reduction of OPN and IL-6 mRNA levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes-induced vitamin D3 deficiency was associated with increased hepatic levels of IL-6 and OPN mRNA and these changes were countered by vitamin D3 administration.

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