Besides its classical function as an orchestrator of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, vitamin D also affects insulin secretion and tissue efficiency. A number of studies have consistently reported the inverse relationship between vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes. Activation of certain metabolic pathways and down-stream transcription factors may protect from glucolipotoxicity and their targeted activation -e.g. by vitamin D - might explain the detrimental role of vitamin D deficiency in diabetes. The aim of the study was to quantify gene and protein expression of selected enzymes involved in the protection from glucolipotoxicity, specifically glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), and other enzymes with antioxidant activity - hemoxygenase (HMOX), thiamin pyrophosphokinase (TPK1) and transketolase (TKT), under normo- and hyperglycemic conditions and upon addition of vitamin D in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results of our study indicate that the active form of vitamin D regulates gene expression of enzymes opposing the harmful effect of glucolipotoxicity whose activities appear to be suppressed by hyperglycemia. However, we were unable to confirm this effect on protein expression. While we cannot speculate on the effect of vitamin D on diabetes itself our results support its role in the protection against existing glucolipotoxicity therefore possibly translating into the prevention of development of diabetic complications.

• MeSH
• Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells drug effects   enzymology   MeSH
• Homeostasis drug effects   MeSH
• Insulin secretion   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Lactoylglutathione Lyase genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear drug effects   enzymology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation MeSH
• Thiamin Pyrophosphokinase genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Transketolase genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Vitamin D pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH