Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism and DHCR7 Contribute to the Abnormal Interplay Between Vitamin D and Lipid Profile in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 22;9(1):2546. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38756-8.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests a role for 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) in the crosstalk between cholesterol and vitamin D. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of vitamin D-related polymorphisms and DHCR7 levels in the association between vitamin D deficiency and altered lipid profile in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum 25(OH)-vitamin D, DHCR7 levels and vitamin D-related polymorphisms (VDR-rs2228570, CYP27A1-rs933994, CYP2R1-rs10741657 and DHCR7-rs12785878) were analyzed in 211 RA patients,94 controls and in a prospective cohort of 13 RA patients undergoing TNFα-blockade. Vitamin D was decreased in RA (p < 0.001), correlated to HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.217, p < 0.001) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (r = -0.227, p = 0.004). These correlations were restricted to the VDR-rs2228570 status. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with lower HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.028), higher tender (p = 0.005) and swollen (p = 0.002) joint counts, higher DAS28 (p = 0.018) and HAQ (p = 0.024) in AG/AA-patients but not in their GG-counterparts. The associations among DHCR7, vitamin D and lipid profile followed a seasonal pattern, decreased DHCR7 (p = 0.008) and vitamin D (p < 0.001) and increased total-cholesterol (p = 0.025) being found in winter/spring. Increasing vitamin D upon TNFα-blockade paralleled RA clinical improvement (r = -0.610, p = 0.027) and DHCR7 elevation (r = 0.766, p = 0.002). In conclusion, vitamin D-related polymorphisms and DHCR7 are pivotal to understand the complex, seasonal associations between vitamin D and lipid profile in RA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / metabolism*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics*
  • Seasons
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / pathology

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Lipids
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
  • VDR protein, human
  • Vitamin D
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase