1. Vitamin D activates type A natriuretic peptide receptor gene transcription in inner medullary collecting duct cells 
S. Chen, K. Olsen, C. Grigsby, D.G. Gardner 
Kidney International 
Volume 72, Issue 3, Pages (August 2007)
DOI: /sj.ki
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
VDR and 25(OH)D3 1α-hydroxylase are expressed in IMCD cells and VDR is upregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 (D3) in dose-dependent fashion. VDR and 25(OH)D3 1α-hydroxylase expression levels were normalized for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase protein level. Representative autoradiographs (a for VDR, b for 25(OH)D3 1α-hydroxylase) and pooled data (c) from 3–5 independent experiments are shown. *P<0.01 vs control.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
1,25(OH)2D3 stimulates NPRA expression and activity. 1,25(OH)2D3 and its analogue, RO , increase (a) ANP-induced cGMP level and (b) NPR-A protein expression in IMCD cells. Data from 3–5 independent experiment are shown. *P<0.01 vs control.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
1,25(OH)2D3 stimulates NPR-A gene expression. Northern blot analysis of RNA from cultured IMCD cells treated with (a) 1,25(OH)2D3 or (b) RO using NPR-A cDNA probe. NPR-A signal was normalized to 18S ribosomal RNA signal following rehybridization of the same membrane with 18S probe. Representative pictures and pooled data (n=3) are demonstrated. *P<0.01 vs control.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
1,25(OH)2D3 amplifies NPR-A transcription by increasing its promoter activity. (a) One microgram of NPR-A-Luc with 0.5 μg Renilla-Luc were cotransfected into IMCD cells. After transfection for 24 h, cells were treated with different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h. (b) IMCD cells were transfected with NPR-A-Luc and Renilla-Luc with or without 0.1 or 0.5 μg of VDR expression vector. Twenty-four hours after transfection, cells were treated with 10-8 M 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h. NPR-A luciferase activity was normalized for Renilla-Luc activity in the individual cultures. The experiments were repeated three times. *P<0.01 vs control.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
VDR siRNA reduces basal VDR expression and NPR-A-Luc activity in IMCD cells. Three different VDR siRNAs (V1, V2, and V3) and control siRNA (C) were individually transfected into IMCD cells. Forty-eight hours later, cells were harvested and total protein was assayed for VDR or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression by Western blot analysis. VDR expression was normalized for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase protein levels. (a) Representative results and pooled data (n=3). In a separate experiment, the VDR siRNAs and control siRNA were individually cotransfected with NPR-A-Luc and Renilla-Luc into IMCD cells and cultured for 48–72 h. Cells were collected and luciferase activities were measured. NPR-A-Luc activity was normalized for Renilla luciferase activity in individual samples. (b) Pooled data (n=3). *P<0.01 vs control.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

7. Figure 6
Effects of sucrose, NaCl, and 1,25(OH)2D3 or RO on NPR-A promoter activity and the effect of mutation of the VDRE on this promoter. (a) IMCD cells were transfected with wild-type or VDRE-mutated NPR-A Luc, together with Renilla-Luc, and incubated with 10-8 M 1,25(OH)2D3 or 10-9 M RO for 48 h, or 75 mM NaCl or 150 mM sucrose for 24 h or a combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and hypertonic agents. Firefly luciferase activity was normalized for Renilla luciferase activity. Pooled data (n=3–5) are shown. *P<0.01 vs control. (b) 1,25(OH)2D3 promotes binding of VDR to VDRE on NPR-A promoter in IMCD cells. Three micrograms of nuclear extract from sham- vs VDR/RXR-transfected IMCD cells in the presence or absence of 10-8 M 1,25(OH)2D3 were incubated with 32P-labeled NPR-A4 oligonucleotide alone or in combination with unlabeled NPR-A4 or M2-NPR-A4 oligonucleotides and separated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Representative autoradiograph from three different experiments is shown.
Kidney International  , DOI: ( /sj.ki )
Copyright © 2007 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions