Action of phosphorus on calcium release in isolated perfused rat tails

Tradeoff-in-the-Nephron: A Theory to Explain the Primacy of Phosphate in the Pathogenesis of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). The cardinal features of SHPT are persistence of normocalcemia as CKD progresses and dependence of the parathyroid hormone concentration ([PTH]) on phosphate influx (IP). The tradeoff-in-the-nephron hypothesis integrates these features. It states that as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls, the phosphate concentration ([P]CDN) rises in the cortical distal nephron, the calcium concentration ([Ca]CDN) in that segment falls, and [PTH] rises to maintain normal calcium reabsorption per volume of filtrate (TRCa/GFR). In a clinical study, we set GFR equal to creatinine clearance (Ccr) and IP equal to the urinary excretion rate of phosphorus (EP). We employed EP/Ccr as a surrogate for [P]CDN. We showed that TRCa/Ccr was high in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and normal in those with SHPT despite comparably increased [PTH] in each group. In subjects with SHPT, we examined regressions of [PTH] on EP/Ccr before and after treatment with sevelamer carbonate or a placebo. All regressions were significant, and ∆[PTH] correlated with ∆EP/Ccr in each treatment cohort. We concluded that [P]CDN determines [PTH] in CKD. This inference explains the cardinal features of SHPT, much of the evidence on which other pathogenic theories are based, and many ancillary observations.

The calcium-sensing receptor: a key factor in the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism

Serum calcium levels are regulated by the action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Major drivers of PTH hypersecretion and parathyroid cell proliferation are the hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia that develop in chronic kidney disease patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) as a result of low calcitriol levels and decreased kidney function. Increased PTH production in response to systemic hypocalcemia is mediated by the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR). Furthermore, as SHPT progresses, reduced expression of CaRs and vitamin D receptors (VDRs) in hyperplastic parathyroid glands may limit the ability of calcium and calcitriol to regulate PTH secretion. Current treatment for SHPT includes the administration of vitamin D sterols and phosphate binders. Treatment with vitamin D is initially effective, but efficacy often wanes with further disease progression. The actions of vitamin D sterols are undermined by reduced expression of VDRs in the parathyroid gland. Furthermore, the calcemic and phosphatemic actions of vitamin D mean that it has the potential to exacerbate abnormal mineral metabolism, resulting in the formation of vascular calcifications. Effective new treatments for SHPT that have a positive impact on mineral metabolism are clearly needed. Recent research shows that drugs that selectively target the CaR, calcimimetics, have the potential to meet these requirements.

Down-regulation of human osteoblast PTH/PTHrP receptor mRNA in end-stage renal failure

BACKGROUND

Resistance to the action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been demonstrated in end-stage renal failure and is considered to be important in the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The mechanism of resistance is unknown. However, altered regulation of cellular PTH/PTH-related protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor (PTH1R) has been assumed to be important.

METHODS

We have used in situ hybridization to examine PTH1R mRNA expression by osteoblasts in human bone and have compared the expression in high- and low-turnover renal bone disease, high-turnover nonrenal bone disease (healing fracture callus and Pagetic bone), and normal bone. Bone biopsies were formalin fixed, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid decalcified, and paraffin wax embedded. A 1.8 kb PTH1R cDNA probe, labeled with 35S, was used, and the hybridization signal was revealed by autoradiography. The density of signal over osteoblasts was quantitated using a semiautomated Leica image analysis software package.

RESULTS

The mean density of PTH1R mRNA signal over osteoblasts in renal high-turnover bone was only 36% of that found in nonrenal high-turnover bone (P < 0.05) and 51% of that found in normal bone (P < 0.05). Osteoblast PTH1R mRNA signal in adynamic bone from individuals with diabetes mellitus was 28% of normal bone (P < 0.05) and 54% of that found in renal high-turnover bone (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate a down-regulation of osteoblast PTH1R mRNA in end-stage renal failure in comparison to normal and high-turnover bone from otherwise healthy individuals, and provide an insight into the mechanisms of "skeletal resistance" to the actions of PTH.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism in renal failure: the trade-off hypothesis revisited

Our understanding of the mechanism responsible for secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH) has advanced significantly since the "trade-off" hypothesis was formulated. It appears that in early renal failure a deficit of calcitriol synthesis is an important factor. However, additional factors, such as a defect of the vitamin D receptor or the newly cloned calcium sensor receptor (BoPCaR1), may be present in the parathyroid cells. As renal failure progresses, the lack of calcitriol becomes more pronounced, inducing HPTH. With advanced chronic renal failure, hyperphosphatemia is an additional important factor in worsening HPTH. In addition, resistance of the parathyroids to calcitriol due to a reduced density of calcitriol receptors also may contribute to HPTH. Finally, uremia per se not only may cause a receptor abnormality in the parathyroid but at the level of the bone it may aggravate the impaired calcemic response to PTH. In conclusion, after reviewing the "trade-off" hypothesis, although some of the original concepts may have been simplistic, most of the factors postulated 30 years ago are still operative in the pathogenesis of secondary HPTH in renal failure.

Phosphorus and protein restriction and parathyroid function in chronic renal failure

Phosphorus retention as a result of chronic renal failure (CRF) induces secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT II) while supplemented low-phosphorus low-protein diets (LPD) prevent it. The aim of this study was to assess in seven patients with advanced CRF and biological HPT II the effects of a LPD providing daily 5 to 7 mg/kg phosphorus, 0.4 g/kg protein, 300 mg calcium (Ca) and supplemented with amino acids, ketoacids, CaCO3 and vitamin D2, on the relationship between ionized Ca (iCa) and PTH concentrations. Hyper- and hypocalcemia were induced by CaCl2 and Na2-EDTA infusion. After three months of LPD, serum phosphorus decreased from 1.59 +/- 0.15 to 1.26 +/- 0.24 mmol/liter (mean +/- SEM, P < 0.02), basal PTH levels from 251 +/- 25 to 127 +/- 16 pg/ml (P < 0.03), while basal iCa and GFR did not vary. The sigmoidal PTH-calcium curve shifted downward with maximal PTH decreased from 482 +/- 86 to 319 +/- 60 pg/ml (P < 0.02) and minimal PTH from 35 +/- 4 to 21 +/- 4 pg/ml (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the slope of the % maximal PTH-iCa curve, which is an indicator of the sensitivity of the parathyroid cell to changes in iCa concentrations, did not vary significantly. The set point of Ca and calcitriol levels were not modified. These results demonstrate a direct inhibition of PTH secretion over a wide range of iCa concentration by LPD in patients with advanced CRF and mild HPT II over a three months period. This effect is independent of changes in plasma calcitriol levels.

The calcemic response to PTH in the rat: effect of elevated PTH levels and uremia

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT) is a consistent finding in renal failure. A decreased calcemic response (CR) to parathyroid hormone (PTH) contributes to the development of 2 degrees HPT. Since parathyroidectomy (PTX) corrects the decreased CR to PTH in azotemic animals, down-regulation of PTH receptors induced by an elevation of PTH has been advanced as an important factor in the development of 2 degrees HPT. The goal of the study was to determine in azotemic rats whether a progressive reduction of PTH improves the CR to PTH and whether the maintenance of normal PTH levels corrects the CR to PTH. Seven groups of pair-fed rats were studied. Three groups of rats had normal renal function (NRF groups) and received either a high phosphorus (HPD-NRF), a moderate phosphorus (MPD-NRF), or a low phosphorus (LPD-NRF) diet. Three azotemic (NX) groups received similar diets (HPD-NX, MPD-NX and LPD-NX groups) in order to vary the magnitude of 2 degrees HPT. A PTX was performed in a fourth azotemic group (PTX-NX) to induce the complete absence of PTH. After 14 to 16 days on the maintenance diets, the CR to PTH was determined with a 48 hour infusion of 1-34 rat PTH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: bone disease in kidney failure: diagnosis and management

Recent technologic and therapeutic advances have improved the life of the patient with end-stage renal disease. High efficiency and high-flux hemodialyzer membranes have shortened the time required to dialyze, and recombinant erythropoietin has all but eliminated anemia as a major cause of morbidity, but the problem of renal osteodystrophy remains. The following discussion examines the spectrum of bone and joint disease in the patient with end-stage renal disease. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies currently being tried in the management of these disorders are discussed.

Calcemic response to parathyroid hormone in renal failure: role of phosphorus and its effect on calcitriol

The calcemic response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) is decreased in renal failure. The reduction of hyperphosphatemia improves the calcemic response to PTH in animals with advanced renal failure. However, since low calcitriol levels in renal failure may also contribute to the decreased calcemic response to PTH, the improved calcemic response observed during the reduction of serum phosphorus may be partially mediated by an increase in serum calcitriol levels. The present study evaluated the calcemic response to PTH in rats with moderate and advanced renal failure and how this response was modified by a high and a low phosphorus diet. In addition, the effect of a change in dietary phosphorus on calcitriol levels was also evaluated. A 48-hour continuous infusion of 1-34 rat PTH increased the serum calcium level to 18.2 +/- 0.4 mg/dl in normal rats, versus 13.7 +/- 0.9 and 12.1 +/- 0.2 mg/dl in rats with moderate and advanced renal failure, respectively. During the PTH infusion, a high phosphorus diet increased the serum phosphorus and resulted in a reduced calcemic response to PTH at each level of renal function; respective serum calcium levels were 13.8 +/- 0.6 mg/dl in normals, 11.2 +/- 0.2 mg/dl in moderate renal failure and 9.6 +/- 0.5 mg/dl in advanced renal failure. In normal rats and in rats with moderate renal failure, dietary phosphorus restriction during the PTH infusion increased serum calcitriol levels. In rats with advanced renal failure, serum calcitriol levels were lower than in the other two groups and were not affected by changes in dietary phosphorus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcitonin, an important factor in the calcemic response to parathyroid hormone in the rat

The role of calcitonin on the calcemic response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) in renal failure has not been evaluated previously. Often animal studies evaluating the calcemic response to PTH in renal failure are performed in thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) animals, and thus eliminate any potential physiologic effect of calcitonin. In addition, parathyroidectomy (PTX), presumably by reduction of high PTH levels, has corrected the calcemic response to PTH in animals with renal failure. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of endogenous calcitonin production on the calcemic response to PTH in rats with renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism, and in rats with normal renal function with diet induced hyperparathyroidism. Four groups of rats were evaluated: 1) chronic renal failure plus TPTX with autotransplant of the parathyroid gland, (CT-) CRF; 2) chronic renal failure plus selective PTX with autotransplant of the parathyroid gland, (CT+) CRF; 3) normal renal function plus TPTX with autotransplant of the parathyroid gland, (CT-) NRF; and 4) normal renal function plus selective PTX with autotransplant of the parathyroid gland, (CT+) NRF. Renal failure was surgically induced by a two-stage 5/6 nephrectomy, and exogenous thyroxine was administered to the two thyroidectomized (CT-) groups. Hyperparathyroidism was induced with a high phosphate diet (1.2%), and thus at the time of PTH infusion, PTH levels were (CT-) CRF 84 +/- 16, (CT+) CRF 89 +/- 21, (CT-) NRF 37 +/- 7, and (CT+) NRF 31 +/- 4 pg/ml, respectively (normal 21 +/- 3 pg/ml). Rat 1-34 PTH (2.6 U/hr) was infused for 48 hours via a subcutaneously implanted Alzet pump.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)