Figure 3.

Anti-hypertensive properties of the calcitriol-VDR complex reducing CKD Progression. Calcitriol ameliorates hypertension-driven renal damage by suppression of renin gene expression, responsible for elevations in circulating Angiotensin II; Inhibition of ADAM17 expression to effectively counteract Angiotensin II-mediated increases in TGFα/EGFR signals responsible for CKD progression; Induction of ACE2 for Angiotensin 1-7 synthesis and Angiotenisn 1-7/MAS receptor anti-hypertensive, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory signals, and Inhibition of TNFα expression, whose induction of the ADAM17 gene further augments systemic inflammation and renal injury.