Bioactivity of amino terminal fragments of parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone related peptide in rat kidney slices: no effect of dietary phosphate deprivation

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy has been associated with the production of a recently cloned peptide human parathyroid hormone related protein (hPTHRP). One of the markers of this disease is an increased urinary excretion of cyclic AMP. The postreceptor mechanism of action and physiological role of hPTHRP remain obscure. To study the activity of hPTHRP 1-34 compared to rat and human parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1-34 we incubated these peptides with rat kidney slices and measured the cyclic AMP generated in the supernatant. hPTHRP 1-34 was equipotent with human PTH 1-34 but both were 5 times less active than rat PTH 1-34. Previous studies have suggested that a low dietary phosphate intake results in renal resistance to the phosphaturic action of PTH perhaps mediated by reduced adenylate cyclase activation by PTH. To determine whether, during dietary phosphate restriction, hPTHRP 1-34 has actions different from hPTH 1-34 we studied their effects following dietary phosphate deprivation. Dietary phosphate restriction had no significant effect on the cyclic AMP generating activity of any of the peptides. We conclude that hPTHRP 1-34 may be operating through similar mechanisms as human PTH 1-34 and that the previously observed effects of dietary phosphate deprivation on PTH mediated cyclic AMP generation in a broken cell preparation do not occur in intact cell preparations.     

Parathyroid hormone and prostaglandin E2 stimulate both inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP accumulation in mouse osteoblast cultures.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are physiological agonists which stimulate bone cells to resorb bone, a process by which the mineralized extracellular bone matrix is dissolved. Bone resorption has a key role in the maintenance of plasma calcium levels. It has been established that both PTH and PGE2 activate adenylate cyclase in osteoblasts, but it is apparent that (1) the two agents have qualitatively different effects on osteoblasts, and (2) the generation of cyclic AMP cannot account for all the effects of PTH on bone cell metabolism. Others have demonstrated that PTH and PGE2 may also elevate intracellular calcium levels, but the mechanism by which this is achieved has not been fully defined. Here we have investigated the effects of PTH on neonatal mouse osteoblasts in culture and shown that physiological concentrations of the hormone (50 nM) caused a small increase (22%) in total inositol phosphates accumulation, with a larger increase (40%) in inositol trisphosphate. We found that this activation occurred at lower concentration than was necessary to activate adenylate cyclase. PGE2 was a more effective activator of inositol phosphates accumulation than PTH, causing up to 300% increase in the total inositol phosphates after 30 min. Both PTH and PGE2 stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, but the activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin did not enhance inositol phosphates production. We conclude that both PTH and PGE2 stimulate phosphoinositide turnover in mouse osteoblasts and suggest that this mechanism may contribute to their elevation of intracellular calcium in bone cells.     

人甲状旁腺激素的研究

人甲状旁腺激素(hPTH)是甲状旁腺分泌的多肽激素。它能与骨基质和肾细胞膜上专一性的受体相结合,将调节细胞中钙磷浓度的信号传导到膜内。hPTH活性片段在N端,其N端氨基酸序列与牛、猪PTH高度同源。hPTH及其活性片段在治疗骨及肌肉疾病方面有重要作用,重组hPTH已获成功。     

Calcium rather than cyclic AMP is an intracellular messenger of parathyroid hormone action on glycogen metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The synthetic 1-34 fragment of human parathyroid hormone (1-34hPTH) stimulated glucose production in isolated rat hepatocytes. The effect of 1-34hPTH was dose-dependent and 10(10) M-1-34 hPTH elicited the maximum glucose output, which was approx. 80% of that by glucagon. Although 1-34hPTH induced a small increase in cyclic AMP production at concentrations higher than 10(-9) M, 10(-10) M-1-34hPTH induced the maximum glucose output without significant elevation of cyclic AMP. This is in contrast to the action of forskolin, which increased glucose output to the same extent as 10(-10) M-1-34hPTH by causing a 2-fold elevation of cyclic AMP. In addition to increasing cyclic AMP, 1-34hPTH caused an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c). When the effect of 1-34hPTH on [Ca2+]c was studied in aequorin-loaded cells, low concentrations of 1-34hPTH increased [Ca2+]c: the 1-34hPTH effect on [Ca2+]c was detected at as low as 10(-12) M and increased in a dose-dependent manner. 1-34hPTH increased [Ca2+]c even in the presence of 1 microM extracellular calcium, suggesting that PTH mobilizes calcium from an intracellular pool. In line with these observations, 1-34hPTH increased the production of inositol trisphosphate. These results suggest that: (1) PTH activates both cyclic AMP and calcium messenger systems and (2) PTH stimulates glycogenolysis mainly via the calcium messenger system.     

Cerebral Vascular Adenylate Cyclase: Evidence for Coupling to Receptors for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Parathyroid Hormone

We have studied the responsiveness of vascular adenylate cyclase to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) using preparations of cerebral microvessels and arteries. Cerebral microvessels obtained from rats, guinea-pigs, cattle, and pigs all responded potently to bovine (b) PTH-(1-34), whereas considerable between-species variability was observed in the responsiveness to VIP. The homologous peptide to VIP, PHI (porcine heptacosapeptide), stimulated adenylate cyclase in both rat microvessels and a broken-cell preparation of bovine arteries. The ED50 values for activation of bovine arterial adenylate cyclase by VIP, PHI, and bPTH-(1-34) were 6.9 nM, 10 nM, and 100 nM, respectively, with the following order of efficacy: VIP = PHI greater than bPTH-(1-34). The other related peptides, hpGRF (human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor), secretin, and glucagon, and the fragment VIP-(10-28) were inactive. The PTH antagonist, [Nle8, Nle18, Tyr34]bPTH-(3-34) amide, inhibited bPTH-(1-34) activation of vascular adenylate cyclase but did not affect activation by VIP using either microvessels or arteries. VIP or PHI demonstrated an additive effect with bPTH-(1-34) on vascular adenylate cyclase activity. However, the effects of VIP and PHI were nonadditive with each other. These data suggest that VIP and bPTH-(1-34) activate cerebral vascular adenylate cyclase by interacting with pharmacologically distinct receptors, whereas PHI and VIP likely interact with a common receptor.     

Plasminogen activator regulation in osteoblasts: parathyroid hormone inhibition of type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor and its mRNA.

In order to determine the mechanism by which parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates plasminogen activator (PA) activity in rat osteoblasts, we investigated the effect of human PTH(1-34) [hPTH(1-34)] on the synthesis of mRNAs for tissue-type PA (tPA), urokinase-type PA (uPA), and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and on release of PA activity and PAI-1 protein in both normal rat calvarial osteoblasts and UMR 106-01 osteogenic sarcoma cells. hPTH(1-34) (0.25-25 nM) decreased PAI-1 mRNA and protein, and increased PA activity in both cell types in a dose-dependent manner with ED50 of about 1 nM for both responses. Forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine also stimulated PA activity and decreased PAI-1 protein and mRNA in both cell types. hPTH(1-34) did not show any consistent effect on tPA and uPA mRNA in calvarial osteoblasts, but a modest (two-fold) increase of both mRNAs was observed in UMR 106-01 cells treated with 25 nM hPTH(1-34). However, when protein synthesis was inhibited with 100 microM cycloheximide, the increase of tPA and uPA mRNA by hPTH(1-34) was enhanced in UMR 106-01 cells and became evident in calvarial osteoblasts. Fibrin autography also revealed that hPTH(1-34) increases tPA and uPA activity, especially after cycloheximide treatment in UMR 106-01 cells. These results strongly suggest that PTH increases PA activity predominantly by decreasing PAI-1 protein production through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent mechanism in rat osteoblasts. The reduction of PAI-1 protein by PTH results in enhanced action of both tPA and uPA, and would contribute to the specific roles of these PAs in bone.     

The central part of parathyroid hormone stimulates thymidine incorporation of chondrocytes

The stimulation of DNA synthesis in primary cell cultures of chicken chondrocytes by parathyroid hormone was studied by assaying [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Optimal assay conditions were determined by varying cell age, plating density, and incubation time. Under these conditions DNA synthesis was significantly stimulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and some of its fragments: cells treated with human (h)PTH(1-84), bovine (b)PTH(1-34) and [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)amide and hPTH(13-34) displayed 2.6-fold enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner. The fragment hPTH(28-48) led to a similar stimulation, whereas [Tyr43]hPTH(43-68) and [Tyr52,Asp76]hPTH(52-84) had no effect. Using a series of synthetic hPTH peptides covering the central region of the hormone molecule (residues 25-47), we could delimitate further this putative mitogenic functional domain to a core region between amino acid residues 30 and 34. The effect of PTH on [3H]thymidine incorporation could not be mimicked by forskolin, indicating that the corresponding signal is not mediated by cAMP. It is, however, inhibited by EGTA and cannot be provoked in the absence of calcium ions in the medium. Therefore, the results presented indicate a hitherto unidentified functional domain of PTH in the central part of the molecule which exerts its mitogenic effect on chondrocytes in a cAMP-independent manner but seems to involve calcium ions for signal transduction.     

Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 inhibit parathyroid hormone-responsive adenylate cyclase in clonal osteoblast-like cells by down-regulating parathyroid hormone receptors.

The effects of the monokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL 1) on parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive adenylate cyclase were examined in clonal rat osteosarcoma cells (UMR-106) with the osteoblast phenotype. Recombinant TNF and IL 1 incubated with UMR-106 cells for 48 hr each produced concentration-dependent inhibition of PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase, with maximal inhibition of PTH response (40% for TNF, 24% for IL 1) occurring at 10(-8) M of either monokine. Both monokines also decreased adenylate cyclase stimulation by the tumor-derived PTH-related protein (PTHrP). In contrast, TNF and IL 1 had little or no inhibitory effect on receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol and nonreceptor-mediated enzyme activation by cholera toxin and forskolin; both monokines increased prostaglandin E2 stimulation of adenylate cyclase. Binding of the radioiodinated agonist mono-[125I]-[Nle8,18, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34)NH2 to UMR-106 cells in the presence of increasing concentrations of unlabeled [Nle8,18, Tyr34]bPTH-(1-34)NH2 revealed a decline in PTH receptor density (Bmax) without change in receptor binding affinity (dissociation constant, Kd) after treatment with TNF or IL 1. Pertussis toxin increased PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity but did not attenuate monokine-induced inhibition of PTH response. In time course studies, brief (1 hr) exposure of cells to TNF or IL 1 during early culture was sufficient to decrease PTH response but only after exposed cells were subsequently allowed to grow for prolonged periods. Inhibition of PTH response by monokines was blocked by cycloheximide. The results indicate that TNF and IL 1 impair responsiveness to PTH (and PTHrP) by a time- and protein synthesis-dependent down-regulation of PTH receptors linked to adenylate cyclase.     

Increase of adenylate cyclase catalytic-unit activity by dexamethasone in rat osteoblast-like cells.

Glucocorticoids are known to increase the cyclic AMP response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) in cultured bone organs or bone cells. Using the osteoblast-like cell line ROS 17/2.8, which possesses receptors for both PTH and glucocorticoids, we investigated which component of the complex hormone receptor-guanine nucleotide regulatory unit--adenylate cyclase was affected by dexamethasone treatment. In response to PTH, isoproterenol or forskolin, a compound that is supposed to act directly on the catalytic unit, cyclic AMP production by intact cells and adenylate cyclase activity in purified plasma membrane were markedly increased by dexamethasone. Whereas NaF, guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate and Mn/ stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were similarly enhanced in membranes isolated from glucocorticoid-treated cells, the activity of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory unit, as assessed by reconstitution into membranes from the CYC- clone, which is genetically devoid of this component, was not altered. Thus in osteoblast-like cells dexamethasone appears to increase cyclic AMP synthesis by influencing the catalytic unit. Moreover, since it has been reported that glucocorticoids may produce changes in cell calcium metabolism, we evaluated cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and intracellular Ca2+ stores mobilizable by the bivalent-cationophore ionomycin, by using the intracellular fluorescent indicator Quin-2. The results indicated that dexamethasone treatment did not influence [Ca2+]i but markedly decreased ionomycin-releasable Ca2+ stores.     

Characterization of the rabbit renal receptor for native parathyroid hormone employing a radioligand purified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Iodinated native bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH(1-84)) was separated from uniodinated hormone by reversed-phase liquid chromatography techniques after lactoperoxidase labeling. Analysis of iodinated residues after enzymatic digestion indicated that the major labeled product was largely monoiodinated on the sole tyrosine residue. This material retained full bioactivity in an in vitro renal adenylate cyclase assay. Binding of 125I-bPTH(1-84) to rabbit renal membranes at 4 degrees C was proportional to membrane protein concentration and was saturable and dissociable. Radioligand binding was inhibited by concentrations of unlabeled bPTH(1-84) required to stimulate adenylate cyclase in the same membrane preparation but was not inhibited by non-PTH peptides other than adrenocorticotropin at high concentrations (greater than 10 microM). Synthetic NH2-terminal analogues of bPTH(1-84) all elicited approximately equivalent inhibition of radioligand binding which was, however, less potent than unlabeled bPTH(1-84), suggesting a role for the carboxyl region of the molecule in the interaction of bPTH(1-84) with its receptor. Activity of the NH2-terminal agonists was similar to bPTH(1-84) in stimulating adenylate cyclase. Although substitution in sequence position one, of serine in human PTH(1-34) for alanine in bPTH(1-34), reduced activity in the adenylate cyclase assay, inhibition of 125I-bPTH(1-84) binding by both peptides and by an analogue of bPTH(3-34) was equivalent, consistent with a minimal contribution of the first 2 residues for receptor binding of the NH2-terminal region of PTH. The results illustrate the utility of the radiolabeled preparation of native bPTH we have developed and emphasize the importance of probing the PTH receptor with an intact hormone to maximize information concerning the mechanism of PTH action.     

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Studies of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) have provided evidence that tumors produce a protein that acts through the parathyroid (PTH) receptor but is immunologically distinct from PTH. We have recently purified and cloned a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) implicated in HHM from a human lung cancer cell line (BEN). Full-length cDNA clones have been isolated and found to encode a prepropeptide of 36 amino acids and a mature protein of 141 amino acids. Eight of the first 13 amino-terminal residues are identical with human PTH, although antisera directed to the amino-terminus of PTHrP do not recognize PTH. The striking homology with PTH about the amino-terminal region is not maintained in the remainder of the molecule. PTHrP therefore represents a previously unrecognized hormone. A 34-amino acid synthetic peptide, PTHrP(1-34) was 2-4 times more potent than bovine or human PTH(1-34) in bioassays promoting the formation of cAMP and plasminogen activity in osteogenic sarcoma cells and activation of adenylate cyclase in chick kidney membranes. Like PTH, PTHrP peptides of less than 30 residues from the amino-terminus showed substantially reduced activity. PTHrP(1-34) was also more potent than hPTH(1-34) in stimulating cAMP and phosphate excretion and reducing calcium excretion in the isolated perfused rat kidney. Immunohistochemical localization of PTHrP was consistently demonstrated in squamous cell carcinomas. In normal tissues PTHrP has been immunohistochemically localized in keratinocytes and PTHrP-like activity has been extracted from ovine placenta and fetal ovine parathyroids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stimulation of membrane-associated protein kinase-C activity in spleen lymphocytes by hPTH-(1-31)NH2, its lactam derivative, [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-30)NH2.

Human parathyroid hormone, hPTH-(1-34), stimulates adenylyl cyclase and phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase-C (PIP2-PLC), as indicated by increased membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) activity in ROS 17/2 rat osteosarcoma cells. The C-terminally truncated hPTH-(1-31)NH2 stimulates adenylyl cyclase as strongly as hPTH-(1-34) in these cells, but it does not stimulate PKC activity. Even [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2, a 6-fold stronger adenylyl cyclase stimulator than hPTH-(1-34), cannot stimulate PKC activity in ROS cells. Therefore PTH required its 32-34 region to stimulate PIP2-PLC/PKCs in this osteosarcoma line. In contrast, hPTH-(1-31)NH2 [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 and even hPTH-(1-30)NH2 can stimulate PKC activity in freshly isolated rat spleen lymphocytes as strongly as hPTH-(1-34)NH2. The difference in the ability of membrane-associated PKC activity in spleen lymphocytes, but not in ROS cells, to be stimulated by C-terminally truncated PTH fragments might be due to different receptor densities or to the lymphocyte's atypical PTH/PTHrP receptor.     

Dissociation by cooling of hormone and cholera toxin activation of adenylate cyclase in intact cells.

Cholera toxin, through adenylate cyclase activation reproduced cyclic AMP-mediated effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in dog thyroid slices, i.e. protein iodination, [1-14C]glucose-oxidation and hormone secretion. Iodide and carbamylcholine decreased the cyclic AMP accumulation induced by cholera toxin as well as by TSH, which supports the hypothesis of an action of these agents beyond the steps of hormone-receptor and receptor-adenylate cyclase interaction. Cooling to 20 degrees C did not impair the TSH induced cyclic AMP accumulation in thyroid slices, but completely suppressed the cholera toxin effect. This observation has been extended to other hormones and target tissues, such as the parathyroid hormone (PTH) (kidney cortex), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (adrenal cortex) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (ovary systems). As in thyroid, cooling dissociated the cholera toxin and hormonal effects on cyclic AMP accumulation. In homogenate, cooling decreased cyclic AMP generation in the presence of cholera toxin but at 20 degrees C and 16 degrees C a cholera toxin stimulation was still observed. These results bear strongly against the hypothesis that the glycoprotein hormones TSH and LH acetivate adenylate cyclase by a mechanism identical to cholera toxin.     

Distribution of parathyroid hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase in plasma membranes of cells of the kidney cortex.

Free flow electrophoresis was employed to separate renal cortical plasma membranes into luminal (brush border microvilli) and contraluminal (basal-lateral membrane) fractions. During the separation adenylate cyclase activity was found to parallel the activity of Na+-K+-activated ATPase, an enzyme which is present in contraluminal but not in luminal membranes. In the basal-lateral membrane fraction the specific activities of adenylate cyclase and Na+-K+-activated ATPase were 4.4 and 4.6 times greater, respectively, than in the brush border fraction. The adenylate cyclase of the basal-lateral membrane fraction was specifically stimulated by parathyroid hormone which maximally increased enzyme activity eightfold. The biologically active (1-34) peptide fragment of paratyhroid hormone produced a 350% increase in adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, calcitonin, epinephrine and vasopressin maximally stimulated the enzyme by only 55, 35 and 30%, respectively. These results indicate that adenylate cyclase, specifically stimulated by parathyroid hormone, is distributed preferentially in the contraluminal region of the plasma membrane of renal cortical epithelial cells.     

Parathyroid hormone receptor internalization is independent of protein kinase A and phospholipase C activation

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) binding to their common receptor stimulates second messenger accumulation, receptor phosphorylation, and internalization. LLC-PK(1) cells expressing a green fluorescent protein-tagged PTH/PTHrP receptor show time- and dose-dependent receptor internalization. The internalized receptors colocalize with clathrin-coated pits. Internalization is stimulated by PTH analogs that bind to and activate the PTH/PTHrP receptor. Cell lines expressing a mutant protein kinase A regulatory subunit that is resistant to cAMP and/or a mutant receptor (DSEL mutant) that does not activate phospholipase C internalize their receptors normally. In addition, internalization of the wild-type receptor and the DSEL mutant is stimulated by the PTH analog [Gly(1),Arg(19)]hPTH-(1-28), which does not stimulate phospholipase C. Forskolin, IBMX, and the active phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, did not promote receptor internalization or increase PTH-induced internalization. These data indicate that ligand-induced internalization of the PTH/PTHrP receptor requires both ligand binding and receptor activation but does not involve stimulation of adenylate cyclase/protein kinase A or phospholipase C/protein kinase C.     

Parathyroid hormone stimulates adenylate cyclase in rat cerebral microvessels

We have studied the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on adenylate cyclase of microvessels isolated from rat cerebral cortex. Native bovine (b) PTH-(1–84), the synthetic amino-terminal fragment bPTH-(1–34) and the synthetic analog [Nle⁸, Nle¹⁸, Tyr³⁴]-bPTH- (1–34) amide stimulated adenylate cyclase in a dose-dependent manner with apparent ED₅₀ values of 16 nM, 6.3 nM and 15 nM respectively. The stimulation by bPTH was greatly enhanced by guanosine triphosphate. The PTH antagonist, [Nle⁸, Nle¹⁸, Tyr³⁴]-bPTH-(3–34) amide inhibited the action of bPTH-(1–84) and bPTH-(1–34). In summary, PTH stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat cerebral microvessels in a very similar manner to its stimulation in the renal cortex.     

Interactions Between Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Dopamine in the Rabbit Retina: Stimulation of a Common Adenylate Cyclase

Although 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine, DA) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) have been reported to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in the rabbit retina, possible interactions between VIP-sensitive and DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase systems have not been previously investigated. To elucidate the interactions between these two putative transmitter-stimulated cyclase systems, the effects of VIP, DA, and VIP + DA on the conversion of [alpha-32P]ATP to [32P]cyclic AMP in rabbit retinal homogenates were measured. VIP stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a biphasic manner, suggesting that two classes of VIP receptors may be involved in the induction of cyclic AMP formation. DA was less potent than VIP, and stimulated cyclase activity with a monophasic dose-response curve. When assayed together, these stimulations were partially nonadditive, implying the existence of a common adenylate cyclase pool that may be stimulated by both putative neurotransmitters. The dopaminergic antagonist (+)-butaclamol completely blocked dopaminergic stimulation, but had no significant effect on VIP-induced stimulation, indicating that VIP interacts with specific VIP receptor sites, which are distinct from the dopaminergic receptor sites. Furthermore, the specific D-2 dopaminergic receptor agonist LY141865 demonstrated no inhibitory effect on adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting that the interaction between the VIP- and DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase systems does not result from a D-2 receptor-mediated cyclase inhibition in the rabbit retina. Finally, at maximally effective concentrations, DA and VIP were less potent than fluoride or forskolin in the stimulation of cyclic AMP formation, suggesting that adenylate cyclase pools that are not sensitive to DA and VIP may also be present in this retina.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stimulation by defined parathyroid hormone fragments of cell proliferation in skeletal-derived cell cultures.

We have reported previously that parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts on cultured bone cells to stimulate creatine kinase (CK) activity and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA via phosphoinositide turnover, in addition to its other actions via increased cyclic AMP production. We also found that mid-region fragments of PTH stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation into avian chondrocytes. In the present study of mammalian systems, we demonstrate differential effects of defined synthetic PTH fragments on CK activity and DNA synthesis, as compared with cyclic AMP production, in osteoblast-enriched embryonic rat calvaria cell cultures, in an osteoblast-like clone of rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) and in chondroblasts from rat epiphysial cartilage cell cultures. Unlike full-length bovine (b)PTH-(1-84) or the fully effective shorter fragment human (h)PTH-(1-34), fragments lacking the N-terminal region of the hormone did not increase cyclic AMP formation, whereas they did stimulate increases in both DNA synthesis and CK activity. Moreover, the PTH fragment hPTH-(28-48) at 10 microM inhibited the increase in cyclic AMP caused by 10 nM-bPTH-(1-84). The increase of CK activity in ROS 17/2.8 cells caused by bPTH-(1-84) or hPTH-(28-48) was completely inhibited by either cycloheximide or actinomycin D, as was shown previously for rat calvaria cell cultures. These results indicated the presence of a functional domain of PTH in the central part of the molecule which exerts its mitogenic-related effects on osteoblast- and chondroblast-like cells in a cyclic AMP-independent manner. Since cyclic AMP formation by PTH leads to bone resorption, specific mid-region fragments of PTH might prove suitable for use in vivo to induce bone formation without concomitant resorption.     

The roles of calcium and cyclic AMP in the stimulatory action of parathyroid hormone on thymic lymphocyte proliferation

Both the parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the calcium ion increase the cellular content of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), promote the initiation of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and stimulate the proliferation of rat thymocytes maintained in vitro. The ability of cyclic AMP to serve as the mediator of the mitogenic actions of both PTH and calcium is established by the fact that cyclic AMP itself stimulates cell proliferation in the absence of PTH and extracellular calcium. Neither PTH nor calcium appear to raise the cellular cyclic AMP level by increasing the nucleotide's synthesis by adenylate cyclase (formerly adenyl cyclase); PTH concentrations as high as 50 μg per ml of medium do not increase the enzyme's activity (in the presence or absence of calcium) and mitogenic calcium concentrations inhibit it. PTH also does not directly affect isolated thymocyte phosphodiesterase, but mitogenic calcium levels inhibit the enzyme's activity. Additional experiments show that it is calcium which raises the cyclic AMP level in cells treated with PTH, and some possible calcium-mediated mechanisms by which the hormone could elevate the cellular cyclic AMP levels are discussed. Thus, the mitogenic action of PTH is primarily mediated by calcium while cyclic AMP is the ultimate implementor of the hormonal action. However, calcium has a dual role and evidence is presented which indicates that besides raising the cellular cyclic AMP level, it also controls the operation of cyclic AMP's mitogenic end-reaction.     

Activation of renal adenylate cyclase by forskolin: assessment of enzymatic activity in animal models of the secondary hyperparathyroid state

The effects of forskolin on kidney slice cyclic AMP content and membrane adenylate cyclase activity were studied in order to determine whether or not activation of the enzyme by forskolin was affected in experimental animal models of the secondary hyperparathyroid state. Forskolin was found to be a potent activator of renal adenylate cyclase in rats and chicks, and the diterpene produced a marked potentiation of the cyclic AMP response to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The diterpene had no effect on the binding of PTH to renal receptors. Activity of adenylate cyclase in the presence of forskolin was similar in renal membranes from either vitamin D-deficient rats or chicks compared to control. Forskolin did not restore full responsiveness to PTH in renal slices from chicks raised on diets that were deficient in either vitamin D or calcium although the diterpene was capable of potentiating the cyclic AMP response to PTH in these tissues. Forskolin also augmented the activation of membrane adenylate cyclase by PTH although this effect of the diterpene was much less prominent in membrane preparations than that observed in renal slices. This study provided additional evidence that the downregulation of renal PTH-dependent adenylate cyclase in experimental models of secondary hyperparathyroidism is due to a specific reduction in receptor-mediated regulation of cyclic AMP formation. Adenylate cyclase activity as assessed by forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity was fully maintained in kidney membranes from these animal models. Thus, forskolin appears to be a useful drug for measuring total enzymatic activity in situations where altered responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to hormones has been demonstrated to be mediated by changes in hormone receptors.