Expression of parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor in vascular endothelial cells

Functional parathyroid hormone receptors are present in an umbilical vein endothelial cell line

Acute parathyroid hormone exposure induces vascular smooth muscle relaxation. In contrast, continuous infusion of parathyroid hormone leads to vasoconstriction and an elevation of blood pressure. Despite the known effects of parathyroid hormone on vascular smooth muscle, possible direct effects on the vascular endothelium have not previously been investigated. Using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, we found that parathyroid hormone increased both intracellular calcium and cellular cAMP content in these endothelial cells. Furthermore, exposure of these cells to increasing concentrations of parathyroid hormone stimulated both [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and endothelin-1 secretion. Parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related peptide receptor mRNA could be detected at low levels in these cells. In summary, these data demonstrate that endothelium-derived cells contain functional parathyroid hormone receptors. The potential physiological role of these receptors remains to be determined.

Studies on flow-mediated vasodilation and intima-media thickness of the brachial artery in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

The endothelium is a newly recognized target organ of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and may contribute to its effects on vascular tone and blood pressure regulation. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), brachial and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were studied in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and controls to evaluate endothelial function and structural arterial vessel wall alterations. Sixteen patients with pHPT (mean +/- SEM, age 44 +/- 5 years; PTH 229 +/- 72 ng/L; serum calcium 3.0 +/- 0.06 mmol/L; serum phosphate 2.0 +/- 0.2 mg/L) and 16 normocalcemic control subjects matched for age, sex, and blood pressure were included. Diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease were excluded in both groups. End-diastolic diameter, flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated (NMD) dilation of the brachial artery were measured by a multigate pulsed Doppler system (echo-tracking). IMT was determined using automatic analysis of the M-line signal. Endothelium-dependent FMD was impaired in patients compared to controls (4.6 +/- 1.6% v 19.2 +/- 3.9%, P < .001). NMD (23.8 +/- 3.1% v. 22.4 +/- 2.8%, P = NS), carotid and brachial IMT (0.60 +/- 0.04 mm v 0.64 +/- 0.06 mm, P = NS, and 0.46 +/- 0.04 mm v 0.47 +/- 0.08 mm, P = NS, respectively) and artery diameters were not different. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism despite normal IMT. Endothelial dysfunction may contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in pHPT.

Endothelial vasodilatory dysfunction in primary hyperparathyroidism is reversed after parathyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is accompanied by hypertension and a cardiovascular mortality. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV) occurs in hypertension but has not been fully investigated in HPT despite the vasoactive influences of parathyroid hormone.

METHODS

Twenty-five HPT patients and 25 normocalcemic control subjects, matched for age and gender, underwent forearm venous occlusion plethysmography. EDV and endothelium-independent vasodilatation (EIDV) were evaluated during local infusion of metacholine (2 and 4 micrograms/min) and nitroprusside (5 and 10 micrograms/min), respectively. The endothelial function index was calculated as the ratio of forearm blood flows during the high doses of metacholine and nitroprusside. Ambulatory 24-hour blood pressures and thickness of the intima-media complex of the carotid arteries were also measured; the latter is considered an early marker of atherosclerosis.

RESULTS

Endothelial function index was lower in the HPT patients compared with control subjects (1.01 +/- 0.26 vs 1.27 +/- 0.31, P = .003). Reinvestigation 10 months after parathyroidectomy showed normalization of the index (1.31 +/- 0.39, P = .01) due to a numeric increase in EDV and decrease in EIDV. The carotid intima-media thickness and blood pressure were similar in the groups and unaltered postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Endothelial vasodilatory dysfunction is another indicator of the vascular disturbance of HPT and can be normalized by parathyroidectomy.