Effects of Vitamin D₃ and Related Compounds on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Activity of Endothelial Cells and on Release of Plasminogen Activator from Them

Abstract

Subculture of bovine endothelial cells with 33 μm vitamin D₃ or 25-(OH)-D₃ for 48 h caused marked morphological change. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity of the morphologically changed cells was decreased to approximately one-third and plasminogen activator (PA) activity released from them increased approximately 12-fold as compared to the control cells. Fibrin autography revealed both urokinase-type (53kDa) and tissue-type (80kDa) PAs in the culture medium of the cells treated with vitamin D₃ Neither 1, 25-(OH) ₂-D₃ nor 24, 25-(OH) ₂-D₃ had any effect on PA activity released from the cells, while ACE activity of the cells was decreased by the treatment with these dihydroxylated vitamins. Provitamin D₃ or cholesterol had no effect on PA or ACE activities of endothelial cells.