AB0183 Vitamin d and vitamin d receptor in patients with scleroderma subtypes
Authors: A. Kocak, D. Harmancı, M. Birlik, G. Guner
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> The aim of this study was to compare the expression of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D in scleroderma subtypes. <h3>Objectives</h3> VDR is a member of the nuclear localised hormone receptor family. 1,25- (OH) 2D, a form of metabolically active Vitamin D3, is the ligand of VDR. When VDR and 1,25-(OH) 2D are linked, many genes initiate molecular interaction reactions that will modulate the transcription.<sup>1</sup> VDR has been shown to be a negative regulator of the TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway, which is important in the pathogenesis of scleroderma.<sup>2, 3</sup> Thus, reduced expression of VDR and decreased ligand levels may contribute to hyperactivity of the TGF-beta pathway in SSC and abnormal fibroblast activation. Also, Vitamin D has pleiotropic effects including immunomodulatory and antifibrotic properties in scleroderma pathogenesis. <h3>Methods</h3> 19 SSC patients and 6 healthy controls were included in the study and they were classified according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria. They were applied to Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology-Immunology, between 2015–2017. Rodnan scores were calculated of all scleroderma patients. 11 were of the limited type and 8 were of the diffuse type of scleroderma. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. 1 ml of total blood was collected. Vitamin D levels were determined in serum. VDR gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR in isolated RNAs from the blood. Changes in mRNA levels were analysed according to the ΔΔCT method and beta-actin was used as the housekeeping gene. Student-t-test was used as a statistic. In addition, Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship between Rodnan score and VDR gene expression. <h3>Results</h3> VDR gene expressions in diffuse type scleroderma patients were statistically significantly decreased compared to the control (p&lt;0.01). It was found that VDR gene expression in limited type scleroderma patients did not show any significant difference when compared to control (p: 0.16). Also, Vitamin D levels and vitamin D expressions were no correlation in scleroderma subtypes (p:0.2) <h3>Conclusions</h3> VDR gene expression decreased in patients with diffuse type scleroderma and showed negative correlation with Rodnan score. Further studies are planned to increase the number of samples to obtain more information. <h3>References</h3> [1] Varga J, Abraham D. Systemic sclerosis: a prototypic multisystem fibrotic disorder. J Clin Invest2007;117:557–67. [2] Marchwicka A, Cebrat M, Łaszkiewicz A, Śnieżewski Ł, Brown G, Marcinkowska E. Regulation of vitamin D receptor expression by retinoic acid receptor α in acute myeloid leukemia cells. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2016;159:121–130. [3] Zerr P, et al. Ann Rheum Dis2014;0:1–8. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204378 <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> This research carried out at Dokuz Eylul University Medicine Faculty of Research Laboratory (R-LAB). <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared