25(OH) vitamin D suppresses macrophage adhesion and migration by downregulation of ER stress and scavenger receptor A1 in type 2 diabetes

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Vitamin D deficiency is not only more prevalent in diabetics but also doubles the risk of developing CVD. However, it is unknown whether 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D₃] replacement slows monocyte adhesion and migration, critical mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis progression. In this study, monocytes from vitamin D-deficient diabetic patients were cultured either in the patient's serum or in vitamin D-deficient media with or without 25(OH)D₃ treatment. Adding 25(OH)D₃ to monocytes cultured in vitamin D-deficient serum or media decreased monocyte adhesion to fibronectin and migration stimulated by monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). Accordingly, 25(OH)D₃ decreased adhesion marker β1- and β2-integrin expression and migration receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) expression. 25(OH)D₃ treatment downregulated monocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and scavenger receptor class A, type 1 (SR-A1) expression. The absence of SR-A1 prevented the increased macrophage adhesion and migration induced by vitamin D deficiency. Moreover, the absence of SR-A1 prevented the induction of adhesion and migration and expression of their associated membrane receptors by Thapsigargin, an ER stress inducer. These results identify cellular activation of monocyte/macrophage vitamin D signaling through 25(OH)D₃ as a potential mechanism that could modulate adhesion and migration in diabetic subjects. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled '16th Vitamin D Workshop'.