A Novel Perspective for Alzheimer's Disease: Vitamin D Receptor Suppression by Amyloid-beta and Preventing the Amyloid-beta Induced Alterations by Vitamin D in Cortical Neurons

Amyloid-beta (A beta) is the core component of amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effects of A beta include damage to neuronal plasma membrane, disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis, and alterations of neurotrophic factor levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of A beta treatment on vitamin D receptor (VDR), L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels A1C (LVSCC A1C), NGF, and observing the effects of vitamin D treatment on A beta induced alterations in primary cortical neurons. As to the latter, we aimed to test the suggested neuroprotective role of vitamin D as a neglected neurosteroid.