Vitamin D and its analogues: Do they protect against cardiovascular disease in patients with kidney disease?  Adeera Levin, Y.A.N. Chun Li  Kidney International  Volume 68, Issue 5, Pages 1973-1981 (November 2005) DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00651.x Copyright © 2005 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Inverse relationship between plasma matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels and vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D). These data were obtained from apparently healthy subjects of Bangladeshi origin living in London, United Kingdom (from Timms et al, Q J Med 95:787-796, 2002, with permission). Kidney International 2005 68, 1973-1981DOI: (10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00651.x) Copyright © 2005 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Changes of left ventricular mass (LVM) index before and after calcitriol therapy in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The patients received intravenous injection of calcitriol for 15 weeks (from Park et al, Am J Kidney Dis 33:73-81, 1999, with permission). Kidney International 2005 68, 1973-1981DOI: (10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00651.x) Copyright © 2005 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Inverse relationship between plasma renin activity and 1,25-dihydroxyvitmain D levels in patients with essential hypertension (from Resnick et al, Ann Intern Med 105:649-654, 1986, with permission). Kidney International 2005 68, 1973-1981DOI: (10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00651.x) Copyright © 2005 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 Stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system in mutant mice lacking either the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene or the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase (1α-hyd) gene. A marked increase in renin mRNA transcript was seen in both vitamin D receptor knockout mice (A) and 1α-hydroxylase knockout mice (B). Left panels are Northern blot, and right panels are PhosphorImager quantitative results of renin mRNA levels detected by Northern blot analysis. *P < 0.01 vs. wild-type mice. Kidney International 2005 68, 1973-1981DOI: (10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00651.x) Copyright © 2005 International Society of Nephrology Terms and Conditions