The renal actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) promote 1,25-vitamin D generation; however, the signaling mechanisms that control PTH-dependent vitamin D activation remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) orchestrated renal 1,25-vitamin D production downstream of PTH signaling. PTH inhibited SIK cellular activity by cAMP-dependent PKA phosphorylation. Whole-tissue and single-cell transcriptomics demonstrated that both PTH and pharmacologic SIK inhibitors regulated a vitamin D gene module in the proximal tubule. SIK inhibitors increased 1,25-vitamin D production and renal
Cyp27b1
mRNA expression in mice and in human embryonic stem cell–derived kidney organoids. Global- and kidney-specific
Sik2/Sik3
mutant mice showed
Cyp27b1
upregulation, elevated serum 1,25-vitamin D, and PTH-independent hypercalcemia. The SIK substrate CRTC2 showed PTH and SIK inhibitor–inducible binding to key
Cyp27b1
regulatory enhancers in the kidney, which were also required for SIK inhibitors to increase
Cyp27b1
in vivo. Finally, in a podocyte injury model of chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD), SIK inhibitor treatment stimulated renal
Cyp27b1
expression and 1,25-vitamin D production. Together, these results demonstrated a PTH/SIK/CRTC signaling axis in the kidney that controls
Cyp27b1
expression and 1,25-vitamin D synthesis. These findings indicate that SIK inhibitors might be helpful for stimulation of 1,25-vitamin D production in CKD-MBD.