Vitamin D Receptor Regulates Autophagy to Inhibit Apoptosis and Promote Proliferation in Hepatocyte Injury

Background: Oxidative stress is an important mechanism in liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Hepatocyte Apoptosis and proliferation occur in parallel with liver I/R injury, and the degree of Apoptosis and proliferation determines the effects on hepatocytes. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) can lessen liver I/R injury, but previous studies focused mostly on inflammation and immunity.

Methods: H₂O₂ was used to induce hepatocyte injury. Before treatment with H₂O₂, Hep-3B cells were pretreated with paricalcitol (PC) and siRNA-VDR. Rapamycin and chloroquine were also applied in the study.

Results: The number of apoptotic cells was measured with an annexin V (AV) -fluorescein isothiocyanate Apoptosis detection kit. Expression of proteins was measured by western blotting. As compared with the H₂O₂+Hep-3B group, levels of AV/PI, cleaved Caspase-3, and p62 were lower, and expression levels of Bcl-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and VDR were higher, in the PC+H₂O₂+Hep-3B group. When the VDR gene was silenced by siRNA-VDR in the siRNA-VDR+H₂O₂+Hep-3B group, expressions of AV/PI, cleaved Caspase-3, and p62 were upregulated, and expressions of Bcl-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and VDR were downregulated, as compared with values for the siRNA-NC+H₂O₂+Hep-3B group. Treatment with rapamycin or chloroquine partially reversed the effect of PC and siRNA-VDR on Apoptosis and proliferation.

Conclusions: VDR mediates hepatocyte Apoptosis and proliferation through Autophagy.