Vitamin D-sensitive calcium signaling in depression

Depression has been linked to (lack of) sunlight exposure and raised intracellular calcium levels. In this pathway, the role of the vitamin D pathway in calcium signaling in depression is shown. Active 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 is formed from 7-dehydrocholesterol by multiple conversion steps. It associates with RXR and VDR in the nucleus, which stimulates transcription of VDR target genes, resulting in lower intracellular calcium levels. Less sunlight exposure results in lower 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels and therefore higher calcium levels.

抑郁症与（缺乏）阳光照射及细胞内钙离子水平升高有关联。在此途径中，展示了维生素D途径在抑郁症中钙信号传导的作用。活性1,25-二羟基维生素D3通过多个转化步骤由7-脱氢胆固醇生成。它与核中的RXR和VDR结合，从而刺激VDR靶基因的转录，导致细胞内钙离子水平降低。阳光照射不足导致1,25-二羟基维生素D3水平降低，进而引起钙离子水平升高。