VDR in Osteoblast-Lineage Cells Primarily Mediates Vitamin D Treatment-Induced Increase in Bone Mass by Suppressing Bone Resorption.

Long-term treatment with active vitamin D [1α,25(OH)2 D3 ] and its derivatives is effective for increasing bone mass in patients with primary and secondary osteoporosis. Derivatives of 1α,25(OH)2 D3 , including eldecalcitol (ELD), exert their actions through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). ELD is more resistant to metabolic degradation than 1α,25(OH)2 D3 . It is reported that ELD treatment causes a net increase in bone mass by suppressing bone resorption rather than by increasing bone formation in animals and humans. VDR in bone and extraskeletal tissues regulates bone mass and secretion of osteotropic hormones. Therefore, it is unclear what types of cells expressing VDR preferentially regulate the vitamin D-induced increase in bone mass. Here, we examined the effects of 4-week treatment with ELD (50 ng/kg/day) on bone using osteoblast lineage-specific VDR conditional knockout (Ob-VDR-cKO) and osteoclast-specific VDR cKO (Ocl-VDR-cKO) male mice aged 10 weeks. Immunohistochemically, VDR in bone was detected preferentially in osteoblasts and osteocytes. Ob-VDR-cKO mice showed normal bone phenotypes, despite no appreciable immunostaining of VDR in bone. Ob-VDR-cKO mice failed to increase bone mass in response to ELD treatment. Ocl-VDR-cKO mice also exhibited normal bone phenotypes, but normally responded to ELD. ELD-induced FGF23 production in bone was regulated by VDR in osteoblast-lineage cells. These findings suggest that the vitamin D treatment-induced increase in bone mass is mediated by suppressing bone resorption through VDR in osteoblast-lineage cells.