Excessive cholecalciferol supplementation increases kidney dysfunction associated with intrarenal artery calcification in obese insulin-resistant mice

Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 9;10(1):87. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55501-3.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus accelerates vascular calcification (VC) and increases the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Nevertheless, the impact of VC in renal disease progression in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is poorly understood. We addressed the effect of VC and mechanisms involved in renal dysfunction in a murine model of insulin resistance and obesity (ob/ob), comparing with their healthy littermates (C57BL/6). We analyzed VC and renal function in both mouse strains after challenging them with Vitamin D3 (VitD3). Although VitD3 similarly increased serum calcium and induced bone disease in both strains, 24-hour urine volume and creatinine pronouncedly decreased only in ob/ob mice. Moreover, ob/ob increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), indicating kidney dysfunction. In parallel, ob/ob developed extensive intrarenal VC after VitD3. Coincidently with increased intrarenal vascular mineralization, our results demonstrated that Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) was highly expressed in these arteries exclusively in ob/ob. These data depict a greater susceptibility of ob/ob mice to develop renal disease after VitD3 in comparison to paired C57BL/6. In conclusion, this study unfolds novel mechanisms of progressive renal dysfunction in diabetes mellitus (DM) after VitD3 in vivo associated with increased intrarenal VC and highlights possible harmful effects of long-term supplementation of VitD3 in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents / pharmacology
  • Cholecalciferol / pharmacology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / physiopathology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Vascular Calcification / complications*

Substances

  • Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents
  • Cholecalciferol