Intestinal Resistance to 1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D in Mice Heterozygous for the Vitamin D Receptor Knockout Allele

We tested the hypothesis that low vitamin D receptor (VDR) level causes intestinal vitamin D resistance and intestinal calcium (Ca) malabsorption. To do so, we examined vitamin D regulated duodenal Ca absorption and gene expression [transient receptor potential channel, vallinoid subfamily member 6 (TRPV6), 24-hydroxylase, calbindin D9k (CaBP) mRNA, and CaBP protein] in wild-type mice and mice with reduced tissue VDR levels [i.e. heterozygotes for the VDR gene knockout (HT)]. Induction of 24-hydroxylase mRNA levels by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2 D3] injection was significantly reduced in the duodenum and kidney of HT mice in both time-course and dose-response experiments. TRPV6 and CaBP mRNA levels in duodenum were significantly induced after 1,25(OH)2 D3 injection, but there was no difference in response between wild-type and HT mice. Feeding a low-calcium diet for 1 wk increased plasma PTH, renal 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) mRNA level, and plasma 1,25(OH)2 D3, and this response was greater in HT mice (by 88, 55, and 37% higher, respectively). In contrast, duodenal TRPV6 and CaBP mRNA were not higher in HT mice fed the low-calcium diet. However, the response of duodenal Ca absorption and CaBP protein to increasing 1,25(OH)2 D3 levels was blunted by 40% in HT mice. Our data show that low VDR levels lead to resistance of intestinal Ca absorption to 1,25(OH)2 D3, and this resistance may be due to a role for the VDR (and VDR level) in the translation of CaBP.