Heparan Sulfate (HS), a linear, sulfated polysaccharide, plays pivotal roles in fundamental cellular activities such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, influencing various physiological functions. However, aberrations in HS expression are associated with various pathological conditions, including cancer, inflammation, and developmental disorders.
Our investigators developed a high throughput screening (HTS) to identify drugs capable of modulating HS-related gene expression. Using a stable cell line with promoter luciferase reporter of the HS-biosynthetic gene EXT1, the EXT1 and other HS-biosynthetic gene reporter cell lines were screened with an FDA-approved drug library. This research discovered that decreased HS gene expression, EXT1 gene expression, was achieved with vitamin D or its analogs (e.g. calcitriol). These inhibitors can potentially be administered in combination with a cancer therapy.
.
Vitamin D3 Dose Response Curve