Metabolism of parathyroid hormone by fetal rat calvaria.

These studies examine the metabolism of highly purified bovine parathyroid hormone [bPTH-(1--84)] by fetal rat calvaria. Enzymatically dispersed bone cells and intact (minced) calvaria were incubated with bPTH-(1--84) and the incubation medium was analyzed for degradation of PTH by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Eluates of gel slices were assayed for immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) in carboxy- and amino-terminal RIAs. Both bone preparations metabolized bPTH-(1--84). The intact hormone progessively decreased with time and carboxy-terminal iPTH fragments were evident by 5 min of incubation. In the isolated cell preparations, intact hormone was completely degraded at submaximal doses of PTH (5 X 10(-9) M), as assessed by cAMP production. Degradation was incomplete in intact calvarial preparations at all doses studied. Intact calvaria were less sensitive to PTH with regard to cAMP production. No amino-terminal fragments were detected in the medium with either cell preparation. Oxidized (biologically inactive) bPTH-(1--84) was not metabolized in these systems. These findings contrast with studies in liver and kidney preparations, where oxidized bPTH has been shown to be degraded. These findings contrast with studies in liver and kidney preparations, where oxidized bPTH has been shown to be degraded. These data suggest that biological activity may be necessary for the metabolism of intact bPTH-(1--84) by bone cells and that skeletal tissue may contribute to the immunoheterogeneity of circulating PTH in the rat.     

Metabolism of amino- and carboxyl-sequence immunoreactive parathyroid hormone in the bovine: evidence for peripheral cleavage of hormone.

Radioimmunoassays that detect specifically peptide sequences within either the biologically active amino region (N-assay) or inactive carboxyl region (C-assay) of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were used to evaluate the metabolism of PTH during and after infusion and injection of homogeneous (containing less than 0.1% hormonal fragments) intact bovine PTH (bPTH) into calves. During continuous infusions of hormone, when constant blood levels of immunoreactive PTH were reached, a dissociation between the concentrations of amino versus carboxyl immunoreactivity was observed; concentrations of hormone measured by the C-assay rose to a level of approximately three times higher than that measured by the N-assay. Analysis by gel filtration of immunoreactive PTH in plasma samples from calves after injection of hormone showed the rapid disappearance of intact hormone (N- and C-assays) and the appearance of a large fragment detected by the C-assay but not by the N-assay. The hormonal fragment lacked antigenic determinants within the amino peptide sequence required for biologic activity. No additional fragments of PTH were detected by gel filtration using the N- and C-assays. No detectable conversion of intact PTH to hormonal fragments occurred during incubation in vitro in bovine serum. The results are consistent with the concept that PTH is metabolized after entry into the circulation at peripheral sites located outside the vascular space, resulting in the rapid disappearance from blood of intact hormone and the appearance of a biologically inactive hormonal fragment(s). These studies done in calves agree with earlier studies done in dogs and man and point to the existence in mammals of common pathways for the peripheral metabolism of PTH.     

Sites of clearance of endogenous parathyroid hormone in the vitamin D-deficient dog.

The sites of clearance of endogenous parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in dogs who developed secondary hyperparathyroidism on a vitamin D-deficient diet. Simultaneous blood samples were obtained from the femoral artery, and the hepatic, renal, portal, and femoral veins. Radioimmunoassay of canine immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) in a heterologous bovine PTH (bPTH) system indicated that the kidney and liver extracted 49% and 46%, respectively, of the iPTH circulating through these organs. Characterization of the circulating iPTH in these animals was carried out by gel filtration and radioimmunoassay of the eluant fractions utilizing specific amino- and carboxyl-terminal antisera. The hormone in the peripheral circulation co-eluted with [125I]-iodobPTH and no fragments of iPTH were detected. Immunochemical differences between bovine and canine PTH were detected in the carboxyl-terminal region of the molecule. The results indicate that endogenous PTH in the vitamin D-deficient, hypocalcemic dog is cleared by the kidney and liver and that the predominant form of the hormone in this animal is similar to glandular bPTH 1-84.     

Bone collagen synthesis in vitro: structure/activity relations among parathyroid hormone fragments and analogs

The structural requirements for the inhibition of net bone collagen synthesis by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in vitro have been examined by study of the effects of selected fragments and analogs of bovine PTH (bPTH) upon the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible and -nondigestible proteins by neonatal mouse calvarial bone in organ culture. At concentrations of 10(-10)-10(-7) M, the amino-terminal fragment bPTH-(1-34) was found to be as potent as intact bPTH in the specific suppression of net bone collagen synthesis after 24 h in culture. The synthetic fragments bPTH-(1-30), bPTH-(1-28), and bPTH-(3-34) were approximately 3%, 1%, and 0.2% as active, respectively, as bPTH-(1-34), in good agreement with previous estimates of the relative potencies of these hormonal fragments on bone resorption in vitro and in vivo and on adenylate cyclase activation in and receptor binding to isolated renal membranes. The amino-terminal analog [Ser1]bPTH-(1-34) displayed no reduction in biological activity compared with bPTH-(1-34), as previously found for bone resorption in vivo. The overall results with this assay system indicate a minimum sequence for biological activity that extends from residues 3-28 of intact bPTH, which is consistent with similar estimates in other test systems and emphasizes the importance of the aminoterminus of the hormone in the expression of its biological effects on bone formation as well as resorption. Moreover, these findings support the potential usefulness of the mouse calvarial culture system in predicting the skeletal activity in vivo of new synthetic analogs of PTH.     

In vivo demonstration of receptors in rat liver to the amino-terminal region of parathyroid hormone

The specific binding of the amino-terminal region of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to liver has been assessed by in vivo radioautography employing a biological active 125I-labeled synthetic bPTH analog ([Nle-8,18, Tyr-34]bPTH-(1-34) amide) as a probe. Two minutes after intrajugular injection of the labeled analog into rats, free hormone was separated from that bound to cells by intracardiac perfusion with buffer (30 sec), followed by perfusion-fixation with glutaraldehyde. By light and electron microscope radioautography, the distribution of silver grains over the liver sections revealed localization over the periphery of hepatocytes as well as over endothelial cells. In simultaneous control experiments, the unlabeled synthetic active fragment bPTH-(1-34) and unlabeled intact native bPTH-(1-84) significantly inhibited binding of the labeled analog to liver hepatocytes but not to endothelial cells. Greater uptake of the 125I-labeled bPTH analog was found in rat liver (28% of the injected dose) than in kidney, bone, or other organs examined. In parallel experiments using purified plasmalemma fractions from hepatocytes, both bPTH-(1-34) and intact bPTH-(1-84) demonstrated a dose-dependent activation of adenylate cyclase which was less than that of glucagon but greater than that of epinephrine. The combined results support the concept of the liver as a target organ for the amino-terminal biologically active region of PTH.     

Binding of radioiodinated bovine parathyroid hormone-(1-84) to canine renal cortical membranes

Binding of PTH to purified canine renal cortical membranes was investigated using biologically active radioiodinated bovine PTH-(1-84) [bPTH-(1-84)] as radioligand. PTH-(1-84) is thought to be the major circulating form of bioactive PTH, but oxidative inactivation upon iodination has prevented its use as a radioligand probe of PTH receptors. We have labeled PTH-(1-84) by a microelectrolytic constant current method to a high specific activity (180-220 muCi/micrograms), corresponding to an average ratio of 1 mol 125I/mol peptide. Affinity purification on chick renal membranes consistently improved the radioligand-binding properties, with a 6-fold increase in fraction specifically bound. Analysis of equilibrium (180 min at 15 C) competition curves showed two classes of binding sites for bPTH-(1-84). A high affinity binding site appeared to be coupled to activation of adenylate cyclase and exhibited affinity varying between 1.9 and 4.3 X 10(8) M-1. The affinity of this site for bPTH was decreased more than 50% by the nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate. A low affinity binding site also was detected (Ka = 0.6-6.2 X 10(6) M-1), and its affinity for bPTH was modulated by the concentration of magnesium. The high affinity sites exhibited hormonal specificity and guanine nucleotide dependency characteristic of peptide hormone receptors, while the low affinity sites did not. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or high pressure liquid chromatography of the radioligand incubated with or released from purified canine renal cortical membranes revealed a single peak of radioactivity that comigrated with [125I]iodo-bPTH-(1-84). It appears from these studies that cleavage of amino-terminal to residue 43 ([125I]tyrosine) was not required for binding or release of hormone. These experiments indicate that radioiodinated bPTH-(1-84) is a useful probe for further characterization of PTH receptors in kidney and other organs.     

Measurement of parathyroid hormone

Interpretation of serum immunoreactive PTH measurements requires an understanding of the secretion, metabolism, and heterogeneity of circulating immunoreactive PTH. Both intact hormone and biologically inactive carboxyl fragments containing the middle and C-terminal regions are secreted by the parathyroid glands. Inactive fragments also are produced peripherally by metabolism of intact hormone by liver and kidney. Inactive fragments represent 75 to 95% of the total immunoreactivity in serum, a consequence of their long half-life in vivo as compared with intact hormone. Immunoassays for PTH can be divided into those measuring intact hormone (N-terminal, intact) and those measuring both inactive fragments and intact hormone (mid-region, C-terminal, polyvalent). The latter principally measures inactive fragments because of their greater concentration as compared with intact hormone in peripheral serum. The clinical utility of PTH assays varies considerably because of differences in their specificity and sensitivity. Serum PTH levels have been more often observed to be elevated in individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism with the use of research quality radioimmunoassays that recognize both inactive fragments and intact hormone than with conventional N-terminal or intact assays. Homologous mid-region assays have provided exceptional clinical sensitivity in confirming primary hyperparathyroidism. Comparison of a sensitive mid-region radioimmunoassay with a recently developed two-site, noncompetitive chemiluminescent immunoassay for intact PTH indicated that both methods were highly useful in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia. The mid-region assay provided the best diagnostic sensitivity in primary hyperparathyroidism with more elevated levels of PTH. The sensitivity of the intact assay was good, a significant improvement over conventional N-terminal and intact assays. The specificity of the intact assay was clearly superior, with measured PTH levels found to be suppressed to below normal in most subjects with hypercalcemia associated with malignancy. In contrast, measured levels were primarily normal with the mid-region assay. The higher levels of immunoreactive PTH observed in nonparathyroid hypercalcemia with the mid-region assay are in agreement with the measurement of biologically inactive carboxyl fragments, which continue to be secreted in hypercalcemia.     

Influence of calcium on the metabolism of intact parathyroid hormone by isolated perfused rat kidney and liver

The metabolism of synthetic human PTH [PTH-(1-84)] 10(-9) M was studied in isolated rat kidneys and livers, perfused at a calcium concentration of 1 mM or 4 mM. Clearances were measured by an assay specific for intact PTH, and by assays specific for NH2-terminal, mid-molecule, and COOH-terminal immunoreactive PTH (iPTH). Production of PTH fragments was analyzed by HPLC. The kidneys cleared PTH mainly by filtration. The glomerular filtration rate was not lower at 4 mM calcium than at 1 mM calcium, and no significant differences were found between the clearance of PTH at 4 mM and at 1 mM calcium. At 1 mM calcium the kidneys cleared intact PTH without release of detectable fragments. At 4 mM calcium there was significant (P less than 0.05) accumulation of mid-molecule and COOH-terminal iPTH in the perfusate. Both at low and at high calcium the livers cleared NH2-terminal iPTH at the same rate as intact PTH, whereas mid-molecule and COOH-terminal iPTH was cleared significantly (P less than 0.005) slower. In the livers, metabolic clearance of PTH was 60% faster at 4 mM calcium than at 1 mM calcium (P less than 0.001). Assuming that the hepatic metabolism of PTH represents degradation of the biologically active hormone and hormone fragments, rather than activation of the hormone, the present results suggest a homeostatic control of PTH degradation in the liver to enhance inactivation of the hormone at high serum levels of calcium.     

Parathyroid hormone secretion and action: evidence for discrete receptors for the carboxyl-terminal region and related biological actions of carboxyl- terminal ligands

PTH is a major systemic regulator of the concentrations of calcium, phosphate, and active vitamin D metabolites in blood and of cellular activity in bone. Intermittently administered PTH and amino-terminal PTH peptide fragments or analogs also augment bone mass and currently are being introduced into clinical practice as therapies for osteoporosis. The amino-terminal region of PTH is known to be both necessary and sufficient for full activity at PTH/PTHrP receptors (PTH1Rs), which mediate the classical biological actions of the hormone. It is well known that multiple carboxyl-terminal fragments of PTH are present in blood, where they comprise the major form(s) of circulating hormone, but these fragments have long been regarded as inert by-products of PTH metabolism because they neither bind to nor activate PTH1Rs. New in vitro and in vivo evidence, together with older observations extending over the past 20 yr, now points strongly to the existence of novel large carboxyl-terminal PTH fragments in blood and to receptors for these fragments that appear to mediate unique biological actions in bone. This review traces the development of this field in the context of the evolution of our understanding of the "classical" receptor for amino-terminal PTH and the now convincing evidence for these receptors for carboxyl-terminal PTH. The review summarizes current knowledge of the structure, secretion, and metabolism of PTH and its circulating fragments, details available information concerning the pharmacology and actions of carboxyl-terminal PTH receptors, and frames their likely biological and clinical significance. It seems likely that physiological parathyroid regulation of calcium and bone metabolism may involve receptors for circulating carboxy-terminal PTH ligands as well as the action of amino-terminal determinants within the PTH molecule on the classical PTH1R.     

Parathyroid hormone receptors coupled to cyclic adenosine monophosphate formation in an established renal cell line

We examined the relationship between PTH binding and stimulation of cAMP formation in a cell line derived from opossum kidney (OK). In the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine (1 mM) bovine PTH(1-34) [bPTH(1-34)] (244 nM) stimulated cAMP accumulation in confluent cultures up to 40-fold over basal; this response to PTH was stable for 35 passages. The concentration of bPTH(1-34) required to raise cell cAMP levels half-maximally was 5-12 nM. Binding of [125I]bPTH(1-34) to OK cells was saturable; Scatchard analysis of competitive binding data yielded a dissociation constant (KD) = 6 +/- 2 nM, with 1.0 pmol binding sites/mg cell protein. Under steady state binding conditions 89% of labeled PTH remained precipitable by 10% trichloroacetic acid, suggesting minimal metabolism of the hormone. The PTH antagonist (8Nle, 18Nle, 34Tyr)bPTH(3-34)amide competed for [125I]bPTH(1-34) binding sites and inhibited the action of bPTH(1-34) to raise cAMP levels. The intact PTH molecule, bPTH(1-84), and the weak agonist hPTH(1-34) synthesized by Brewer were both less potent than bPTH(1-34) (6 times and 30 times, respectively) with regard to binding and cAMP production. Calcitonin and arginine vasopressin did not bind to PTH receptors but raised cAMP levels in OK cell cultures 3- and 10-fold, respectively; neither glucagon nor ACTH(1-24) influenced PTH binding of cAMP in OK cells. Varying the extracellular calcium concentration in the medium bathing cells did not influence basal or PTH-stimulated cAMP generation. These data suggest that PTH receptors in OK cells are of high affinity, are selective for PTH, and are coupled to adenylate cyclase. This established epithelial cell line provides a model in which to study the mechanism of action of PTH in the kidney.     

Metabolism of parathyroid hormone: physiologic and clinical significance

Recent findings concerning the metabolism of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the heterogeneity, or multiple forms, of circulating PTH have spurred widespread investigation of the nature, origin and physiologic significance of the circulating fragments of PTH.Studies of endogenous PTH in man and cow, and of bovine PTH administered to dogs, have been performed utilizing sensitive, specific immunochemical and radiochemical technics. These studies indicate that fragments of the hormone are responsible for most of the immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) detected in the general circulation and that hormonal cleavage occurs after secretion but not in the intravascular space. Studies of parathyroid effluent plasma have established that the principal secretory product of the parathyroid glands is intact hormone; whether other immunoreactive forms of the hormone are also secreted from the gland is uncertain.In all species studied, the predominant form of circulating hormone is the large fragment consisting of the middle and COOH-terminal portions of the molecule; it lacks more than a third of the NH₂-terminal portion. Because the NH₂-terminal portion of the hormone sequence is required for biologic activity, this large fragment must be biologically inactive.Analysis of cleavage patterns of intact hormone indicates that an NH₂-terminal fragment containing the necessary structural requirements for biologic activity may be produced by this cleavage. This may be of considerable physiologic significance regardless of whether this NH₂-terminal fragment circulates or is present only outside the intravascular space. Although the significance of hormone metabolism is still unclear, the present findings are helpful in the application and interpretation of radioimmunoassays for PTH.     

Protein kinase-A and the effects of parathyroid hormone on phosphate uptake in opossum kidney cells

Current evidence indicates that signal transduction after receptor binding of PTH involves the stimulation of adenylate cyclase as well as stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism. Recent studies, showing that PTH alters phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells at concentrations which do not increase cAMP production and that activators of protein kinase-C also alter phosphate transport, have led to the suggestion that there is a dual mechanism for the regulation of phosphate transport by PTH, namely, protein kinase-C at physiological levels of PTH and cAMP at higher levels of PTH. The present studies were designed to evaluate the relationship between cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A), a more sensitive indicator of alterations in cAMP metabolism than measurements of total cellular cAMP, and phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells, in response to bovine (b)PTH 1-34 and [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide. While bPTH 1-34 markedly stimulated cAMP accumulation (half-maximal stimulation between 1 and 10 nM), PTH 3-34 analog did not. Phosphate transport was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by bPTH 1-34, with half-maximal effect occurring between 0.1 and 1 nM. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide also altered phosphate transport, although this peptide was 3 orders of magnitude less potent than bPTH 1-34. PK-A activity increased in response to bPTH 1-34 and correlated closely with the effects of PTH on phosphate transport. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide, which did not appear to increase cAMP, also resulted in a significant increase in the activity of PK-A. Studies of inhibition of cAMP accumulation using 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine demonstrated that while this agent markedly inhibited the accumulation of cAMP in response to PTH, the effects of PTH on phosphate transport were not altered. However, in spite of the reduction in cAMP the activation of PK-A was similar to control. These data indicate that the effects of PTH peptides on phosphate transport are more closely related to changes in the activity of PK-A than to levels of total cAMP. Activation of PK-A in response to PTH is demonstrable at the lowest doses of PTH that alter phosphate transport.     

Age-related changes in serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and its biological action in healthy men and women

Circulating levels of PTH and related parameters of calcium and phosphate metabolism were measured in healthy free-living elderly and young subjects residing in the Southwest to determine if parathyroid function changes with aging. Serum immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) was measured with two well characterized antisera; an amino (N)-terminal antiserum which cross-reacts with the biologically active domain (1-34) and recognizes intact hormone, and a midregion (44-68) antiserum which cross-reacts with intact hormone and biologically inactive midregion/C-terminal fragments. Serum iPTH in both RIAs was significantly increased in the elderly population. An age-related increase was also found for total urinary cAMP and serum alkaline phosphatase, whereas the tubular reabsorptive maximum for phosphate (TmP/GFR) decreased with age. No difference was found between men and women of the same age group for serum iPTH, urinary cAMP, or serum alkaline phosphatase. TmP/GFR declined with age in men, but not women. Correspondingly, serum phosphate was significantly lower in elderly men than in elderly women. Urinary calcium excretion was higher in elderly women than in men of the same age group. Neither serum total or ionized calcium decreased with age. In conclusion, the age-related increase in N-terminal PTH and alterations in associated parameters of phosphate and calcium metabolism are consistent with increased parathyroid function as men and women age. Factors other than PTH are responsible for the sex-related differences observed in TmP/GFR, calcium excretion, and serum phosphate. The cause of the increased circulating levels of apparently biologically active PTH is unclear, but extends beyond the age-related decrease in renal function.     

Studies of the biological and immunological properties of parathyroid hormone, labeled selectively on the methionine residues by [3H]methyl exchange to high specific activity.

A technique is described for labeling bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH) with tritium by [3Hmethyl exchange. The methionine residues were first methylated with [3H]methyl iodide at pH 4, and the reaction products were separated by cation exchange chromatography. The major peak consisted to hormone in which both methionines were converted to [3H]methyl methionine sulfonium iodide (3H-methylated bPTH). This product was then demethylated with 2-mercaptoethanol (6 M) at pH 8.6 to regenerate the hormone in an unmodified but tritiated form ([3H]bPTH), with a specific activity of 1.7 Ci/mmol. High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis showed that 96% of the radioactivity was incorporated into the methionine residues. There was no evidence of any alteration in the primary structure, as [3H]bPTH was found to run in the same position as unlabeled bPTH on cation exchange chromatography and disc gel electrophoresis and to have an identical absorption spectrum in the 240- to 330-nm range. Moreover, [3H]bPTH had full biological activity, as measured by an in vitro bioassay based on activation of rat renal cortical adenylate cyclase, although 3H-methylated bPTH was almost completely inactive. Similarly, while 3H-methylated bPTH had reduced potency in a RIA specific for antigenic sites in the 1--34 region of the sequence, [3H]bPTH was found to have full activity. The preparation of labeled bPTH was repeated using [14C]methyl iodide, with similar results, although [14C]bPTH was found to have somewhat reduced immunological and biological activities. While [3H]bPTH had a lower specific activity than can be obtained by various other techniques for incorporating tritium or 125I into peptides, biosynthetic labeling is at present the only alternative method for preparing biologically active, labeled bPTH without altering the primary structure. By comparison with this technique, the present method gave a product of a much higher specific activity which was labeled specifically in the biologically essential amino-terminal region. The same simple chemical procedures are clearly of wide potential application to the preparation of other labeled peptides.     

Actions of parathyroid hormone-related protein on the rat kidney in vivo

Peptides containing residues 1-34 of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and of bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH), and recombinant full-length PTHrP(1-141) were infused i.v. into anaesthetized thyroparathyroidectomized rats to compare their action and potency on the renal handling of calcium, phosphate and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in vivo. All three peptides decreased the excretion of calcium and increased the excretion of phosphate and cAMP in the urine, with PTHrP(1-34) and PTHrP(1-141) having virtually equipotent effects. Thus the essential requirements for the major physiological activity of PTHrP on the kidney are contained within the 34 amino-terminal amino acids. For all three peptides, the lowest infusion rate that increased phosphate and cAMP excretion was 0.01 nmol/kg per h, whereas the lowest infusion rate that decreased calcium excretion was 0.025 nmol/kg per h for the PTHrP peptides and 0.1 nmol/kg per h for bPTH(1-34). The response to the PTHrP peptides was maximal at an infusion rate of 0.1 nmol/kg per h for both calcium and phosphate. Since the kidney is either equally sensitive to PTHrP and bPTH(1-34), or more sensitive to PTHrP than to bPTH(1-34), the hypercalcaemia of humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy may develop because uncontrolled secretion of PTHrP increases the renal reabsorption of calcium to such an extent that even a modest increase in the inflow of calcium into the blood raises plasma calcium concentration.     

Relative effectiveness of magnesium and calcium on the secretion and biosynthesis of parathyroid hormone in vitro.

The effects of varying extracellular concentrations of calcium and magnesium were compared on the release of 3H-labeled and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) by bovine parathyroid slices incubated for 4 h in vitro in media containing [3H]leucine. The quantity of [3H]PTH or immunoreactive PTH released was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Biosynthesis of PTH in response to extracellular concentrations of magnesium and calcium was evaluated by radioimmunoassay of amounts of proparathyroid hormone (PROPTH) in extracts of the parathyroid tissues and by electrophoretic analyses of [3H]ProPTH synthesized during a 35 min pulse-labeling of parathyroid slices. Rates of hormone release were found to vary in response to changes in concentrations of either calcium or magnesium. The effects, however, of these two cations on hormone release, although additive, were not equipotent. On a molar basis, approximately 2.5 times as much magnesium as calcium was required to produce equivalent secretory responses. Effects of the cations on hormone biosynthesis wer small; magnesium had no effect and calcium altered synthesis by approximately 15%. Neither cation affected conversion of ProPTH to PTH. The results agree with those reported previously from studies of the effects on hormone secretion of calcium and magnesium in vivo and serve to emphasize that, within normal physiological concentrations of these two cations, calcium is the predominant regulator of PTH secretion and synthesis.     

Evaluation of an in vitro parathyroid hormone antagonist in vivo in dogs

A potent competitive inhibitor of PTH-stimulated biological responses in vitro, [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34] bovine PTH (bPTH)-(3-34)amide, was evaluated in vivo in dogs. These studies confirm observations in vitro, suggesting that positions 1 and 2 of the peptide are critical to its biological activity. However, unlike the results from studies in vitro, this PTH analog is a weak agonist with effects on parathyroid target tissues that produce hypercalcemia and phosphaturia and increase urinary cAMP excretion. Assessed by these three parameters of hormonal action in vivo, the estimated potency of this analog is less than 1% of that of the intact hormone. In addition, PTH-induced biological responses were not inhibited by relatively large doses of the bPTH-(3-34) analog. These results emphasize the need for a systemic, integrated approach, combining chemical with biological studies, to design effective inhibitors of hormonal action in vivo. Although the rationale for introducing particular modifications into the peptide structure is most frequently based on bioassays performed in vitro, the success of the strategy chosen must rely, ultimately, upon the demonstration of specific biological properties in vivo.     

Binding of intact parathyroid hormone to rat osteosarcoma cells: major contribution of binding sites for the carboxyl-terminal region of the hormone

Most studies of PTH receptor binding have been carried out with amino-terminal radioligands which only detect binding within that region of the hormone molecule. We studied the binding of electrolytically labeled intact bovine PTH [bPTH-(1-84)], and its amino-terminal fragment, bPTH-(1-34) to intact cloned rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8). We also measured the effects of these hormones on cell cAMP accumulation. Binding equilibrium for the two radioligands was reached by 2 h of incubation at 22 C. However, the cells had higher binding capacity (8-9% or 0.22-0.25 fmol/2 X 10(6) cells) for [125I]bPTH-(1-84) than for [125I]bPTH-(1-34) (4% or 0.11 fmol/2 X 10(6) cells). On the other hand [125I]bPTH-(1-34) bound to ROS cells with higher affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) = 19 nM] than did [125I]bPTH-(1-84) (Kd = 210 nM). Measurements of trichloroacetic acid precipitability and analysis of rebinding of previously incubated radioligand to fresh cells ruled out degradation of the tracer as an explanation for these differences. The maximum cell cAMP response to bPTH-(1-34) (Vmax = 780 +/- 32 pmol/2 X 10(6) cells X 5 min) was reached at 10(-7) M concentration with an affinity [Michaelis-Menten constant (Km)] of 3 nM. On the other hand, the Vmax with intact bPTH-(1-84) was lower (400 +/- 7 pmol/2 X 10(6) cells X 5 min), with a Km of 60 nM). Further studies with the bPTH-(1-84) tracer showed inability of hormonal fragments to compete completely for binding. At a concentration of 3 microM, bPTH-(1-84) reduced tracer binding by 82.5%, compared to 18% by bPTH-(1-34) and 10% by (Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34)bPTH-(1-34)amide, 60% by human PTH (hPTH)-(53-84), and 70% by the combination of bPTH-(1-34) and hPTH-(53-84). hPTH-(53-84) itself did not elicit a cAMP response after 5 min or 1 h of incubation nor did it significantly alter the cAMP response of the cells to bPTH-(1-84). These studies suggest that PTH binds to ROS 17/2.8 cells by sites carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) to position 34, in addition to sites within the amino-terminal portion of the hormone molecule; 72% of the binding of intact hormone to these cells was to the C-terminal 35-84 region of the PTH molecule. The significance of the C-terminal binding sites is presently unclear, but they do not appear to be coupled to adenylate cyclase. Further work is needed to determine the effects of C-terminal PTH fragments on bone cell metabolism.     

Inhibition of the in vivo parathyroid hormone-mediated calcemic response in rats by a synthetic hormone antagonist.

The parathyroid hormone (PTH) analog, [Tyr34]bovine PTH-(7-34)-amide, can inhibit the PTH-mediated elevation of plasma calcium in thyroparathyroidectomized rats in vivo. The analog is devoid of PTH-like agonist activity in this system. Repeated doses of analog inhibit the animal's calcemic response to PTH. The elevation in serum calcium levels mediated by PTH in this assay reflects PTH action (calcium mobilization) on bone. Earlier studies demonstrated antagonist properties of the analog in a renal-based assay; PTH-stimulated increases in urinary phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion were completely inhibited by the synthetic analog. Along with previous studies, this report indicates that [Tyr34]bovine PTH-(7-34)-amide is an effective in vivo antagonist for several major parameters of PTH action in both kidney and bone.     

Calcium-dependent intracellular degradation of parathyroid hormone: a possible mechanism for the regulation of hormone stores.

The dynamics of parathyroid hormone (PTH) biosynthesis, storage, and secretion in bovine parathyroid slices in vitro in response to alterations in the concentrations of extracellular calcium were studied. Hormone biosynthesis was evaluated by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to measure incorporation of [3H]leucine into newly synthesized PTH and proparathyroid hormone (ProPTH) during short (35 min) incubations. Amounts of newly synthesized PTH stored in and secreted from the tissue slices were determined by electrophoretic analysis of [3H]PTH in extracts of tissue and media. Total PTH and ProPTH is slices and media were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. PTH secretion rates changes 5-fold when calcium was lowered from 2mM to 1mM. Secretion of some PTH continued despite high concentrations of calcium (5 mM). Biosynthesis of ProPTH was changed only slightly, and conversion of ProPTH to PTH was independent of the extracellular calcium concentration. Tissue stores of PTH increased during incubation of parathyroid slices in medium containing high amounts of calcium. The increase in stores was much less, however, than predicted by the findings of marked suppression of secretion and little change in rates of PTH biosynthesis. In high concentrations of calcium, a large fraction (up to 50%) of newly synthesized PTH was degraded within the tissue, whereas in low concentrations of calcium, little (less than 10%) of the PTH was degraded. No fragments of PTH or ProPTH were identified in either extracts of tissue or media, suggesting that degradation occurred rapidly by general proteolysis rather than by limited, specific endopeptidase activity. The data suggest that the parathyroid cell contains a calcium-sensitive degradative pathway for PTH and that this pathway may be involved in the regulation of hormone production and secretion.