1,25-(OH)2-Vitamin D3, the active metabolite of vitamin D, is a secosteroid hormone with known differentiating activity in leukemic cells. Studies have demonstrated the presence of vitamin D receptors (VDR) in a wide range of tissues and cell types. Antiproliferative activity of 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 has been documented in osteosarcoma, melanoma, colon carcinoma, and breast carcinoma cells. This study was designed to analyze vitamin D receptor level in breast cancer cells as a marker of differentiation and as a predictor of growth inhibition by 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3. VDR messenger RNA was found to be present in relatively high levels in well-differentiated cells and in low levels in poorly differentiated cells. All cell lines had detectable VDR mRNA. Radiolabeled ligand binding assay showed a similar pattern. MCF-7 and T47D cells, which express VDR at moderate levels, showed significant growth inhibition by 10(-9) M1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 (p < 0.05). MDA-MB-231 cells, which have very low levels of VDR, demonstrated no growth inhibition by 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 at concentrations up to 10(-6) M. Based on these results it can be stated that VDR expression is lost with de-differentiation and that receptor is essential for the antiproliferative response to 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.