Colonic vitamin D receptor expression is inversely associated with disease activity and jumonji domain-containing 3 in active ulcerative colitis

Figure 1 Study overview. ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; H3K27me3: Trimethylated H3 lysine 27; HGB: Hemoglobin; Jmjd3: Jumonji domain-containing 3; UC: Ulcerative colitis; VDR: Vitamin D receptor.

Figure 2 Vitamin D status in healthy controls and ulcerative colitis patients and its relationship with disease activity, age and duration of disease. A: Serum levels of vitamin D in control and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (control: 56; UC 100; mild activity: 29; moderate activity: 32; severe activity: 39); B: Serum vitamin D levels in smokers (13.5 ± 2.7 ng/mL, n = 40) and non-smokers (13. 8 ± 2.9 ng/mL, n = 60); C: Serum vitamin D levels in patients receiving steroids (13.3 ± 3.3 ng/mL, n = 31) and non-steroids (13.8 ± 2.6 ng/mL, n = 69); D: Correlation between vitamin D level and the Mayo score in patients with UC; E: Correlation between vitamin D level and age in patients with UC; F: Correlation between vitamin D level and duration of disease in patients with UC. ^bP < 0.01 and ^cP < 0.001.

Figure 3 Correlation between vitamin D level and C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin and alkaline phosphatase. A: Correlation between vitamin D level and C-reactive protein; B: Correlation between vitamin D level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; C: Correlation between vitamin D level and hemoglobin; D: Correlation between vitamin D level and alkaline phosphatase; E: Correlation between hemoglobin and the Mayo score; and F: Correlation between alkaline phosphatase and the Mayo score. ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HGB: Hemoglobin.

Figure 4 Vitamin D receptor and trimethylated H3 lysine 27 expression significantly decreased and Jumonji domain-containing 3 increased in the inflamed mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients. A: Vitamin D receptor was determined by immunostaining for control mucosa (a), for ulcerative colitis (UC) normal (b), and for UC diseased (c). Jumonji domain-containing 3 was determined by immunostaining for control mucosa (d), for UC normal (e) and for UC diseased (f). Trimethylated H3 lysine 27 was determined by immunostaining for control mucosa (g), for UC normal (h), and for UC diseased (i); B: The mean optical density of vitamin D receptor staining in colonic mucosal specimens from controls (n = 22) and UC (n = 56), including UC with mild activity (n = 16), moderate activity (n = 27) and severe activity (n = 13) and UC normal (n = 18) and UC diseased (n = 18); C: The mean optical density of Jumonji domain-containing 3 staining; D: The mean optical density of trimethylated H3 lysine 27 staining. Data, mean ± standard deviation. Original magnification, ´400. Scale bars = 50 μm. ^aP < 0.05 and ^cP < 0.001. H3K27me3: Trimethylated H3 lysine 27; Jmjd3: Jumonji domain-containing 3; UC: Ulcerative colitis; VDR: Vitamin D receptor.

Figure 5 Vitamin D receptor expression was negatively correlated with Jumonji domain-containing 3 and positively correlated with trimethylated H3 lysine 27 Levels. A: Correlation between vitamin D level and vitamin D receptor (VDR); B Correlation between the Mayo score and VDR; C: Correlation between VDR and Jumonji domain-containing 3; D: Correlation between VDR and trimethylated H3 lysine 27; and E: Correlation between trimethylated H3 lysine 27 and Jumonji domain-containing 3 H3K27me3: Trimethylated H3 lysine 27; Jmjd3: Jumonji domain-containing 3; VDR: Vitamin D receptor.