Vitamin D Activates miR-126a-5p to Target GSK-3β and Alleviates Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in MRL/LPR Mice.

Background: The etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is complex, and the disease is thus difficult to cure. In this regard, it has been established that SLE patients are characterized by differing levels of vitamin D-hydroxylation; however, the direct effects of vitamin D (VitD) in these patients remain unknown.

Objective: Therefore, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of VitD in the context of SLE.

Twenty-three-year review of disease patterns from renal biopsies: an experience from a pediatric renal center.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics as well as their associations with trends for diseases in 1,579 pediatric renal biopsies from 1989 to 2012.

Methods: The clinical and pathological data were retrospectively analyzed for children undergoing renal biopsy from 1989 to 2012 in our hospital.

Results: Primary glomerulonephritis (PGN) accounted for 60.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 ameliorates podocytopenia in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy.

Objective: To investigate the role of α3β1 integrin and α/β-dystroglycan in protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on podocytes in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (NC), nephropathy group (NE), and nephropathy+1,25(OH)2D3 group (ND). Rats in NE and ND group were injected intravenously with adriamycin (0.

1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 decreases adriamycin-induced podocyte apoptosis and loss.

Background: Selective proteinuria is frequently observed in glomerular diseases characterized by podocyte injury. Although, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] has potential therapeutic effects on chronic kidney diseases through decreasing podocyte loss, the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on podocytes remains still unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) directly reduced podocyte apoptosis and loss.