Prolonged therapy with phenobarbital may cause vitamin D deficiency or osteomalacia. In the current study, we propose a novel mechanism for drug-induced osteomalacia involving impaired bioactivation of vitamin D3 due to decreased 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 in liver. The present data, using the pig as model, demonstrate direct effects by phenobarbital on the expression of CYP27A1 and CYP2D25, two important 25-hydroxylases. Treatment by phenobarbital markedly reduced the rate of 25-hydroxylation by primary hepatocytes and suppressed the cellular CYP27A1 mRNA levels. The rate of 25-hydroxylation by two different purified 25-hydroxylases, microsomal CYP2D25, and mitochondrial CYP27A1, respectively, was dose-dependently inhibited by phenobarbital. Reporter assay experiments in liver-derived HepG2 cells revealed a marked PXR-mediated transcriptional downregulation of the CYP2D25 promoter. In addition, the data indicate that phenobarbital might affect the mRNA stability of CYP2D25. Taken together, the data suggest that vitamin D3 25-hydroxylation may be suppressed by phenobarbital. A downregulation of 25-hydroxylation by phenobarbital may explain, at least in part, the increased risk of osteomalacia, bone loss, and fractures in long-term phenobarbital therapy.
Vitamin D metabolism was studied in primary human dermal fibroblasts with focus on drug-mediated gene regulation related to adverse side effects of antiretroviral drugs used in HIV therapy. The fibroblasts expressed mRNA for cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes catalysing bioactivating (CYP2R1, CYP27A1 and CYP27B1) and catabolic reactions (CYP24A1). The cells produced both 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The results demonstrate that primary dermal fibroblasts have an active vitamin D3 metabolising system. High incidence of low bone mineral density is a concern for HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral drugs. Osteomalacia and severe vitamin D deficiency have been reported. We investigated whether drug-mediated gene regulation could be a possible mechanism behind these adverse drug effects. Fibroblasts were treated with different drugs used in HIV therapy and the 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels and relative mRNA-levels for crucial enzymes were determined. Efavirenz, stavudine and ritonavir significantly downregulated the bioactivating CYP2R1 and upregulated the catabolic CYP24A1. The drugs reduced bioactivating enzyme activities and cellular levels of 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The current results indicate that effects on gene expression may lead to disturbed vitamin D-metabolism and decreased cellular levels of active vitamin D3. The data are consistent with the impaired bone health in patients treated with certain antiretroviral drugs.