Cyclosporine etc. probably increase the need for vitamin D

Created June 2011

 

Effects of Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus and Rapamycin on Renal Calcium Transport and Vitamin D Metabolism.

Am J Nephrol. 2011 Jun 20;34(1):87-94.

Lee CT, Ng HY, Lien YH, Lai LW, Wu MS, Lin CR, Chen HC.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Gueishan, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: Abnormalities in mineral metabolism are common complications of organ transplantation. The role of immunosuppressive agents in alteration of mineral metabolism is not clear.

Methods: We conducted an animal study to investigate the effects of cyclosporine A (CsA), tacrolimus, and sirolimus on renal calcium, magnesium and vitamin D metabolism.

Results:

  • CsA and tacrolimus induced a 2- to 3-fold and 1.6- to 1.8-fold increase in urinary calcium and magnesium excretion, respectively, while

  • rapamycin had no effects on calcium, but doubled the urinary magnesium excretion.

  • CsA and tacrolimus, but not rapamycin, elevated serum 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D without affecting the parathyroid hormone level.

  • CsA and tacrolimus reduced mRNA abundance in TRPV5 (CsA: 64 ± 3% of control; tacrolimus: 50 ± 3%) calbindin-D28k (CsA: 62 ± 4%; tacrolimus: 43 ± 3%), and vitamin D receptor (CsA: 52 ± 3%; tacrolimus: 58 ± 2%, all p < 0.05).

  • Rapamycin did not affect gene expression in any of studied proteins.

The immunofluorescence staining study demonstrated a 50% reduction of TRPV5 and calbindin-D28k by CsA and tacrolimus.

Conclusion: The suppression of VDR by calcineurin inhibitors is probably the underlying mechanism of renal calcium wasting. In spite of an increased 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D level, the kidney is not able to reserve calcium, suggesting a role of vitamin D resistance that may be related to bone loss.

Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 21691056

See also VitaminDWiki

Tags: Kidney