Ligand-Independent Vitamin D Receptor Actions Essential for Keratinocyte Homeostasis in the Skin
January 2025
in “
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
”
Vitamin D Receptor VDR keratinocyte alopecia hyperkeratosis trans-epidermal water loss skin barrier integrity keratinocyte differentiation keratinocyte proliferation keratinocyte apoptosis hair follicles epidermis Wnt signaling pathway Bmp signaling pathway hair cycle maintenance VDR deficiency skin barrier hair health skin health
TLDR Non-liganded Vitamin D Receptor is crucial for healthy skin and hair.
This study explores the ligand-independent actions of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) in maintaining skin and hair follicle homeostasis using genetically modified rats. VDR knockout (KO) rats, which lack the VDR gene, showed alopecia, hyperkeratosis, and increased trans-epidermal water loss, indicating compromised skin barrier integrity. In contrast, mutant Vdr-R270L/H301Q rats, which cannot bind vitamin D, exhibited normal skin and hair conditions. The research highlights that non-liganded VDR is crucial for keratinocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, particularly in hair follicles and the epidermis. The study identifies significant gene expression differences, with 10,015 differentially expressed genes in KO rats, and emphasizes the suppression of Wnt and Bmp signaling pathways, essential for hair cycle maintenance. These findings suggest that non-liganded VDR plays a critical role in skin and hair health, offering potential therapeutic targets for alopecia and skin disorders related to VDR deficiency.
