J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 24, 11224-11229, Aug, 1986
Evidence for calcium-dependent control of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 production by rat kidney proximal tubules
MJ Favus and CB Langman
The role of calcium in the parathyroid hormone-mediated increase in
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) production was evaluated using
isolated proximal tubules from rats fed a low calcium diet (0.002% Ca) for
14 days. Tubules were prepared by collagenase digestion and centrifugation
through Percoll. Tubules from rats fed a low calcium diet produced
1,25-(OH)2D3 at rates 10 times that of tubules from rats fed normal calcium
diet (1.2% Ca). In vitro 1,25-(OH)2D3 biosynthesis was highly dependent
upon extracellular calcium with inhibition in the absence of medium calcium
and maximal production at 0.25 mM medium calcium (0.9 +/- 0.25 versus 15.1
+/- 2.3 nmol/mg protein/5 min, p less than 0.03). Inhibition of
1,25-(OH)2D3 production was partly due to depressed ATP content (0 versus
1.2 mM calcium, 6.8 +/- 0.6 versus 12.7 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg protein, p less
than 0.006). EGTA reduced 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis and total cell calcium and
ATP production. Ruthenium red blocked the inhibitory effects of EGTA on
1,25-(OH)2D3 production. Barium (1.0 mM) inhibited 1,25-(OH)2D3 production
(7.2 +/- 0.5 versus 3.4 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.001) without altering ATP
production. The calcium ionophore A23187 increased 1,25-(OH)2D3 production
in a calcium- dependent manner. It is concluded that parathyroid
hormone-mediated increases in 1,25-(OH)2D3 production, as during low
calcium diet, require extracellular calcium. Extracellular calcium
maintains mitochondrial calcium at optimal concentrations for normal ATP
production, a requirement for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase (25-OH-
D3-1-hydroxylase) activity. Inhibition of 25-OH-D3-1-hydroxylase activity
by barium without an alteration of ATP suggests calcium may also control
1,25-(OH)2D3 production independent of its effects on oxidative
phosphorylation, perhaps through a direct interaction with one or more
components of the 25-OH-D3-1-hydroxylase.