1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 Attenuates TGF-β-Induced Pro-Fibrotic Effects in Human Lung Epithelial Cells through Inhibition of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive fibrotic lung disease of persisting lung injury and ineffective wound repair, with poor prognosis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelia cells is an early event in the development of pulmonary fibrosis, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is an acknowledged inducer of EMT. Epidemiological studies demonstrated that serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D were associated with the presence of fibrosis diseases. We investigated whether vitamin D attenuated TGF-β-induced pro-fibrotic effects through inhibiting EMT in human alveolar epithelia A549 cells. A549 cells were cultured with TGF-β alone or in combination with 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)(2)D(3)). TGF-β increased the expression of the mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and Vimentin), and decreased the expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin). 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3) attenuated these TGF-β-induced alterations. Furthermore, the EMT-related transcription factors (Snail and β-catenin) and the extracellular matrix genes (Collagen I and fibronectin) were inhibited by 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3), while the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) was elevated. In addition, 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3) alleviated the cell migration and the invasion abilities in TGF-β-stimulated A549 cells, determined by the scratch wound healing and transwell assays. Our findings suggested that 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3) inhibited the pro-fibrotic phenotype of lung epithelial cells under TGF-β stimulation and provided new clues in the clinical management of pulmonary fibrosis.