Immunochemical identification of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 receptor protein in human heart

A number of recent clinical observations suggest that vitamin D-3 plays an important role in maintaining normal cardiovascular function, either directly through its receptor in cardiac muscle, or indirectly through its infuence on circulating levels of calcium or on other regulatory factors. By using an antibody directed against the recombinant vitamin D-3 receptor, we have identified the receptor protein for 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 in tissue from two human hearts. The identification of the 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 receptor in human heart lends credence to the hypothesis that 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 directly effects the human heart and may be involved in several clinically relevant pathological conditions involving the vitamin D-3 endocrine system. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited