Impaired Vitamin D Signaling in T Cells From a Family With Hereditary Vitamin D Resistant Rickets

The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)), mediates its immunomodulatory effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Here, we describe a new point mutation in the DNA-binding domain of the VDR and its consequences for 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) signaling in T cells from heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the mutation. The mutation did not affect the overall structure or the ability of the VDR to bind 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and the retinoid X receptor. However, the subcellular localization of the VDR was strongly affected and the transcriptional activity was abolished by the mutation. In heterozygous carriers of the mutation, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced gene regulation was reduced by ~ 50% indicating that the expression level of wild-type VDR determines 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) responsiveness in T cells. We show that vitamin D-mediated suppression of vitamin A-induced gene regulation depends on an intact ability of the VDR to bind DNA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that vitamin A inhibits 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced translocation of the VDR to the nucleus and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced up-regulation of CYP24A1. Taken together, this study unravels novel aspects of vitamin D signaling and function of the VDR in human T cells.