Nonclassical effects of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and its analogs

The activated form of vitamin D-3, 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3, not only plays a c entral role in bone and calcium metabolism but has also potent antiprolifer ative and prodifferentiating effects. Moreover, the combined presence of 25 (OH)D-3-1 alpha-hydroxylase as well as the vitamin D receptor in several ti ssues introduced the idea of a paracrine role for 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3. By introducing chemical modifications into the flexible parent molecule 1 alph a,25(OH)(2)D-3, a whole generation of vitamin D analogs was created, Due to a clear dissociation of the antiproliferative and prodifferentiating effec ts from calcemic effects, these analogs can be used not only for the treatm ent of bone disorders but also for non-classical applications. Copyright (C ) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.