Calcipotriol (hydrate) is a low-calcemic vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist. Calcipotriol (hydrate) is about 200 times less potent in its effects on calcium metabolism than vitamin D (1,25[OH]D3). Binding of calcipotriol (hydrate) to the VDR increases AP-1, a transcription factor important for keratinocyte differentiation, and reduces expression of JunB protein, a transcriptional activator in the inflammatory response. Calcipotriol (hydrate) also induces expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, which triggers T-cell differentiation in keratinocytes.
ChEBI: A hydrate that is the monohydrate form of calcipotriol. It is used in combination with betamethasone dipropionate, a corticosteroid, for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients.