Parathyroid hormone-related peptide may increase mammary blood flow

Parathyroid hormone-related protein and its receptors: nuclear functions and roles in the renal and cardiovascular systems, the placental trophoblasts and the pancreatic islets

The cloning of the so-called 'parathyroid hormone-related protein' (PTHrP) in 1987 was the result of a long quest for the factor which, by mimicking the actions of PTH in bone and kidney, is responsible for the hypercalcemic paraneoplastic syndrome, humoral calcemia of malignancy. PTHrP is distinct from PTH in a number of ways. First, PTHrP is the product of a separate gene. Second, with the exception of a short N-terminal region, the structure of PTHrP is not closely related to that of PTH. Third, in contrast to PTH, PTHrP is a paracrine factor expressed throughout the body. Finally, most of the functions of PTHrP have nothing in common with those of PTH. PTHrP is a poly-hormone which comprises a family of distinct peptide hormones arising from post-translational endoproteolytic cleavage of the initial PTHrP translation products. Mature N-terminal, mid-region and C-terminal secretory forms of PTHrP are thus generated, each of them having their own physiologic functions and probably their own receptors. The type 1 PTHrP receptor, binding both PTH(1-34) and PTHrP(1-36), is the only cloned receptor so far. PTHrP is a PTH-like calciotropic hormone, a myorelaxant, a growth factor and a developmental regulatory molecule. The present review reports recent aspects of PTHrP pharmacology and physiology, including: (a) the identification of new peptides and receptors of the PTH/PTHrP system; (b) the recently discovered nuclear functions of PTHrP and the role of PTHrP as an intracrine regulator of cell growth and cell death; (c) the physiological and developmental actions of PTHrP in the cardiovascular and the renal glomerulo-vascular systems; (d) the role of PTHrP as a regulator of pancreatic beta cell growth and functions, and, (e) the interactions of PTHrP and calcium-sensing receptors for the control of the growth of placental trophoblasts. These new advances have contributed to a better understanding of the pathophysiological role of PTHrP, and will help to identify its therapeutic potential in a number of diseases.

The impact of mammalian reproduction on cancellous bone architecture

Pregnancy and lactation make demands on maternal calcium homeostasis which may affect bone strength. Recently, changes in cancellous architecture have been described in iliac crest bone biopsies from normal pregnant women but the rarity of such human material means an animal model is essential. The microanatomy of cancellous bone was compared in uniparous and multiparous rats using undecalcified histological sections of lumbar and caudal vertebrae and also proximal femora. An automated trabecular analysis system (TAS) measured a comprehensive range of structural variables including the trabecular number, connectivity and width. In the first pregnancy cycle an early stimulation of bone formation (which quadrupled at some sites) was indicated by an increase in the skeletal uptake and spacing of double calcein labels and the immediate generation of thicker more numerous and interconnected trabeculae. A 40% increase in cancellous bone volume was observed in the lumbar spine in comparison with age-matched virgin controls. In contrast, a rapid succession of 3 pregnancy cycles (including lactation) culminated in cancellous atrophy of 15% at the same site, with a loss in trabecular number ranging from 20% (caudal vertebra) to 30% (lumbar vertebrae). In comparison, the proximal femur lost 40% of its struts but, nevertheless, uniquely sustained its cancellous bone volume. When lactation was excluded the number of struts lost was halved although trabecular thinning then took place which was sufficient to maintain the previous 15% deficit in bone volume. It was concluded that a single pregnancy strengthens the cancellous component of the maternal skeleton while a quick succession of pregnancies weakens it. Lactation influences the pattern of bone loss but not its amount.

Mechanical stretch increases secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein by cultured bladder smooth muscle cells

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) immunoreactivity has been detected in the bladder and increases in response to dilatation secondary to obstruction. The hypothesis that PTHrP could be increased solely by stretch rather than other possible in vivo variables was tested by stretching cultured bladder smooth muscle cells and analyzing the culture medium for this protein. In response to mechanical stretch, PTHrP was increased in smooth muscle cell cultures. Immunoradiometric assay revealed maximal rates of secretion for the first eight hours. Comparison of percent change in PTHrP secretion of flexed cells for the various flex parameters revealed a difference (p = .006) when the degree of stretch (i.e. percent elongation) was altered. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide inhibited basal and stretch-induced PTHrP secretion. PTHrP (1-100 nM) relaxed carbachol-contracted bladder body and base by 15% and 45% respectively. PTHrP did not affect bladder contractions induced by potassium (124 mM) or alpha-beta MeATP (10 microM). Increased PTHrP secretion in response to stretch of smooth muscle raises the possibility of an autocrine action to relax the bladder during filling. PTHrP may also exert a paracrine action on vessels regulating blood flow during bladder filling or it may modulate neural activity.

Mechanical stretch increases secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein by cultured bladder smooth muscle cells

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) immunoreactivity has been detected in the bladder and increases in response to dilatation secondary to obstruction. The hypothesis that PTHrP could be increased solely by stretch rather than other possible in vivo variables was tested by stretching cultured bladder smooth muscle cells and analyzing the culture medium for this protein. In response to mechanical stretch, PTHrP was increased in smooth muscle cell cultures. Immunoradiometric assay revealed maximal rates of secretion for the first eight hours. Comparison of percent change in PTHrP secretion of flexed cells for the various flex parameters revealed a difference (p = .006) when the degree of stretch (i.e. percent elongation) was altered. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide inhibited basal and stretch-induced PTHrP secretion. PTHrP (1-100 nM) relaxed carbachol-contracted bladder body and base by 15% and 45% respectively. PTHrP did not affect bladder contractions induced by potassium (124 mM) or alpha-beta MeATP (10 microM). Increased PTHrP secretion in response to stretch of smooth muscle raises the possibility of an autocrine action to relax the bladder during filling. PTHrP may also exert a paracrine action on vessels regulating blood flow during bladder filling or it may modulate neural activity.

In vitro model of parathyroid hormone-related protein secretion from mammary cells isolated from lactating cows

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is produced by the lactating mammary gland and is present in milk in a biologically active form. The goal of this investigation was to determine if cells cultured from the lactating mammary glands of cows would secrete PTHrP in vitro. Mammary acini were isolated from lactating cows at 1-6 wk after calving, and fresh or cryopreserved mammary acini were cultured for 14 d on Type I collagen. Cultures on thick layers of collagen (2.5 mm) were detached and allowed to contract on Day 6. PTHrP production was measured by N-terminal radioimmunoassay and bioassay (increased cAMP levels in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells). The mammary cells reached confluence at Day 6. PTHrP production was low at Day 2 (< 0.5 ng/ml) but increased to peak production (2-4 ng/ml) at approximately Day 6 and remained constant until Day 14. Immunoreactive and bioactive PTHrP levels in the culture medium correlated well. The cultures produced lactoferrin (2,000-2,300 ng/ml and alpha s1-casein (14-19 ng/ml). Prolactin stimulated PTHrP production approximately 50% on Days 6-14. PTHrP production was increased approximately 100% by treatment with epidermal growth factor (10 ng/ml) for 2 d. Morphologic evaluation of cultures on thick, contracted collagen at Day 14 revealed an inner layer of mammary epithelial cells overlying myoepithelial cells and an outer layer of collagen containing stromal cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining for PTHrP and cytokeratin in both mammary epithelial and myoepithelial cells and alpha-smooth muscle actin in myoepithelial cells. These data demonstrated that cryopreserved mammary tissue from lactating cows could be cultured in vitro and secreted PTHrP in a regulated manner. This in vitro model will be useful to investigate the function and regulation of PTHrP in the lactating mammary gland.

Distribution and functions of parathyroid hormone-related protein in vertebrate cells

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) was isolated from tumors and identified as the agent of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) in 1987. Since then its gene structure in several mammalian and an avian species has been analyzed and its gene expression demonstrated in many adult and embryonic tissues derived from all three germ layers. The composition and structure of PTHrP peptide depends on both differential gene splicing and posttranslational processing, which result in a range of peptides of potentially diverse functions. This chapter describes the distribution of PTHrP in both normal and neoplastic adult and embryonic tissues. PTHrP is of fundamental importance to cell survival because the absence of the gene is fatal; this aspect of PTHrP function in cell physiology becomes overwhelmingly important in neoplasia. Intracrine or paracrine actions for PTHrP seem to be most likely in mammalian and avian physiology, but in fishes high circulating levels suggest classic endocrine functions as well. Much remains to be learned of the biology of this fascinating protein.

[Parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) and bone metabolism]

The discovery of PTHrP was the result of research on the mechanisms by which some cancers cause hypercalcemia (humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy) without necessarily metastasizing to bone. PTHrP is also present in various normal adult and fetal tissues. Its concentration is normally very low (picomolar) in blood, but it is more abundant in milk (nanomolar concentration). PTHrP seems able to exert autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine effects on bone metabolism. A major role for PTHrP in regulation of fetal bone metabolism has been demonstrated in mice. Homologous recombination has been used in these rodents to remove the major coding exon from one copy of the mouse PTHrP gene in embryonic stem cells. Subsequently generated chimeric mice transmit the mutant PTHrP allele through the germline. Homozygous mutants died immediately after birth and had a multitude of skeletal abnormalities. So PTHrP seems necessary to embryonic development of the skeleton. PTHrP (1-34), like PTH (1-34) fragments, might be responsible for both bone resorption and formation. Although the effects of the carboxyl-terminal fragments are still controversial, PTHrP (107-111) fragment seems able to inhibit osteoclast activity. PTHrP (1-34), whose 8 of the first 13 amino-acids are identical with those in PTH (1-34), acts through the same receptor as PTH on osteoblasts and renal cells membrane. The PTHrP/PTH receptor sequence is now well established. PTHrP-receptor coupling is mediated by cyclic AMP and/or inositols-phosphate. The consequent activation of protein kinase A and intracellular calcium or protein kinase C, respectively, locally induces growth factors or cytokines secretion, responsible for the observed effects. The role of PTHrP appears important during pregnancy and lactation, when it stimulates fetal bone growth by increasing calcium transport from the dam to its fetus and maternal bone resorption allowing calcium supply for milk production, respectively. Such a role would be particularly important in domestic ruminants, which are often simultaneously pregnant and lactating. The role of PTHrP during aging (especially in post-menopausal women in which bone loss may induce osteoporosis) remains unknown and might be of peculiar interest since PTHrP (1-34) and (107-111) are able to restore bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein: a regulated calcium-mobilizing product of the mammary gland

Parathyroid hormone-related protein shares similarities in sequence and function with the endocrine hormone, parathyroid hormone. However, unlike parathyroid hormone, a product of the parathyroid glands, parathyroid hormone-related protein has a wide distribution in tissues, including the mammary gland. Although during pregnancy the expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein in the mammary gland is low, following birth, protein levels rise sharply in the gland in response to elevations in serum prolactin. Large amounts of parathyroid hormone-related protein are secreted into milk, suggesting a possible role in the neonate. Transient phosphaturia and elevations of parathyroid hormone-related protein in mammary vein plasma support a possible endocrine function for parathyroid hormone-related protein during lactation. Recent evidence suggests a local function for parathyroid hormone-related protein in the lactating mammary gland, and evidence exists that parathyroid hormone-related protein stimulates calcium secretion by the goat mammary gland. Parathyroid hormone-related protein, a putative vasodilator, is produced by the external nutrient vasculature of the mammary gland, and levels within this tissue are regulated during lactation. Infusion of parathyroid hormone-related protein into the ovine mammary artery increases gland blood flow, suggesting a role for the protein in modulation of mammary gland hemodynamics. Regulation of parathyroid hormone-related protein synthesis by the lactating gland, together with the protein's actions on regional blood flow and calcium secretion, support an important function in the mammary gland during lactogenesis.