Biological Activity
Calcitriol is the most active metabolite of vitamin D and also a vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist.
In Vitro
Calcitriol exerts antiproliferative effects on cervical cancer cells in vitro. Cells decrease by 12.8% when treated with 100 nM Calcitriol for 6 days, compare with control. Inhibition of cell proliferation becomes more pronounced with the increase in Calcitriol concentration. The decrease is 26.1% and 31.6% for 200 and 500 nM Calcitriol, respectively. Treatment with Calcitriol for 72 h induces an evident accumulation of cells in the G1 phase, with approximately 66.18% in 200 nM and 78.10% in 500 nM, compare with the control (24.36%). Calcitriol treatment significantly decreases HCCR-1 protein expression compare with the control in a time- and dose-dependent manner[1]. Calcitriol significantly increases ERα mRNA in a dose dependent manner with an EC50 of 9.8×10-9 M[2].
In Vivo
Chronic treatment with Calcitriol (150 ng/kg per day for 4.5 months) improves the relaxations (pD2: 6.30±0.09, Emax: 68.6±3.9% in Calcitriol-treated OVX, n=8). Renal blood flow in OVX rats is reduced in both kidneys, and the flow is restored by Calcitriol treatment. The increased expression of COX-2 and Thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptor in OVX rat renal arteries is reduced by chronic calcitriol administration[3]. High- and low-dose Calcitriol treatment significantly decreases the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the fructose-fed rats by 14±4 and 9±4 mmHg, respectively, at Day 56. High-dose Calcitriol treatment (20 ng/kg per day) significantly increases serum ionized calcium level (1.44±0.05 mmol/L) compare with the other groups[4].
References & source
Published experimental findings depend on the model and assay conditions. They do not guarantee equivalent performance in every application. For laboratory research use only.