Extrarenal Expression of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-Hydroxylase
February 2001
in “
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
”
TLDR The enzyme for activating vitamin D is found in many body tissues, not just the kidneys.
The study from 2001 investigated the extrarenal expression of the enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1 alpha-hydroxylase, which is crucial for vitamin D activation and calcium homeostasis. While traditionally associated with the kidney, this enzyme was also found in various extrarenal tissues, including skin, lymph nodes, colon, pancreas, adrenal medulla, brain, and placenta. Notably, increased expression was observed in psoriatic skin and sarcoidosis, particularly in CD68-positive macrophages. The findings confirmed the presence of 1 alpha-hydroxylase protein in these tissues, suggesting its potential role as an intracrine modulator of vitamin D function outside the kidneys, although its specific functions in these novel sites were yet to be determined.
