1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 negatively regulates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which plays a critical role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. We tested if mice lacking the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are more susceptible to hyperglycemia-induced renal injury. Diabetic VDR knockout mice developed more severe albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis due to increased glomerular basement membrane thickening and podocyte effacement. More fibronectin (FN) and less nephrin were expressed in the VDR knockout mice compared to diabetic wild-type mice. In receptor knockout mice, increased renin, angiotensinogen, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and connective tissue growth factor accompanied the more severe renal injury. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitmain D3 inhibited high glucose (HG)-induced FN production in cultured mesangial cells and increased nephrin expression in cultured podocytes. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitmain D3 also suppressed HG-induced activation of the RAS and TGF-beta in mesangial and juxtaglomerular cells. Our study suggests that receptor-mediated vitamin D actions are renoprotective in diabetic nephropathy.

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The Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a third-generation synchrotron now in operation at Ar-gonne National Laboratory. A national user facility for research in the Earth sciences is being constructed by the GeoSoilEnviro group of the Consortium for Advanced Radiation Sources (GSECARS). One component of this effort is the program for diamond anvil cell (DAC) research, to study materials at ultrahigh pressure and temperature conditions using a variety of techniques.In this paper, we describe the DAC facility that is being developed at the GSECARS. Recent progress in developing a laser heating system is presented.