Studies on calciferol metabolism. VII. The effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on the metabolism, tissue and subcellular localization, and action of vitamin D3

Ergocalciferol and cycloheximide in vivo stimulate protein kinase C of intestinal crypt cells

Previous reports have suggested that 1,25-dihydroxychole-calciferol regulated cellular differentiation via its effects on protein kinase C activity. This study examined the in vivo effects of ergocalciferol on the activity of protein kinase C, and whether the differentiation of crypt intestinal cells is dependent on the activation of this enzyme. Ergocalciferol in saline was injected intramuscularly into rats and the animals sacrificed 24 hr after fasting. Protein kinase C specific activity was determined from the rate of incorporation of 32p-ATP into protamine. Injections of 60 micrograms ergocalciferol/200 g of body wt, raised protein kinase C specific activity to 59818 +/- 4010 (SEM, n = 5) cpm 32p-protamine/min/mg cell protein, compared with a control of 46173 +/- 4612 (P < 0.0005). Optimal specific activities were seen within 72 hr of injection. Administration of 120 micrograms ergocalciferol/200 g of body wt, raised the concentrations of serum calcium to 9.8 and 10.4 mg/dl following the intramuscular injection by 24 and 72 hr, respectively, compared with a control of 7.7 mg/dl. Actinomycin D (intramuscular, 100 micrograms/200 g of body wt) together with ergocalciferol (120 micrograms/200 g of body wt) reduced protein kinase C activity by 51% 24 hr after injection. Cycloheximide blocked the activation, but when injected alone stimulated endogenous protein kinase C activity by 34% 24 hr injection. The study shows activation of crypt protein kinase C by ergocalciferol. The inhibition of activation by actinomycin D and cycloheximide suggests the involvement of both transcriptional and translational processes in this activation.

Effect of cortisol on [3H] 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 uptake and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in chick intestinal cells

The influence of cortisol on intestinal DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was studied in purified nuclei of vitamin D-deficient or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated chicks. Six- to 7-week-old vitamin D-deficient cockerels were given 5 mg of cortisol or vehicle intraperitoneally 24 and 48 hours before sacrifice. Three hours before sacrifice, 200 ng of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) was administered intracardially. Cortisol did not alter the uptake or metabolism of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the intestinal mucosa. After a 200 ng dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 the in situ intestinal ligated loop technique revealed a 39% increase in calcium absorption compared to control birds (P less than 0.001). The administration of cortisol (5 mg) to chickens given 1,25(OH)2D3, however, resulted in a significant decrease in intestinal calcium transport in vivo (P less than 0.0025). When intestinal nuclei were prepared from birds treated in a manner identical with that described above, 1,25(OH)2D3-treated and 1,25(OH)2D3 plus cortisol-treated chicks had intestinal RNA polymerase II transcriptional activities that were significantly greater than those of vitamin D-deficient controls (P less than or equal to 0.02, P less than or equal to 0.005). There was no difference between RNA polymerase II and I + III activities of the 1,25(OH)2D3-treated birds and that of the cortisol plus 1,25(OH)2D3-treated birds. Vitamin D-deficient chicks treated with cortisol alone showed RNA polymerase I + III activity that was significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.01) than that of birds treated with vehicle alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The action of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on rat small intestine: changes in translatable mRNA species

The time course of changes in translatable mRNA from small intestinal mucosa was studied in vitamin D-deficient rats following an intrajugular dose of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. L-[35S]Methionine-labeled translation products were analyzed by high-resolution one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Changes were detected in two distinct proteins, Mr 14,000/pI 6.24 (Band I), and Mr 5,200/pI 4.86 (Band II). These increased to maxima of 1-2% each of the total in vitro-synthesized protein at 12 h after dosing. This represented a 3- and 10-fold increase, respectively, over control values. The time course of these changes suggests that regulation of the levels of the mRNAs coding for these proteins is not involved in the initial (6 h) peak of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-stimulated intestinal calcium transport in the rat.

Blockade of the renal tubular effects of vitamin D by cycloheximide in the rat

To further characterize the mechanisms by which 25(OH) vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and 1.25(OH)2 vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) suppress the phosphaturic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) we have studied the effects of cycloheximide (cyclohex), a protein synthesis inhibitor, on the interaction between PTH and vitamin D metabolites in parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats, both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In clearance studies PTX PTH-infused rats were pretreated with cyclohex 2 h before the administration of vitamin D. In control, PTX PTH-infused rats not pretreated with cyclohex, the administration of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 was associated with a fall in fractional excretion of phosphate (CP/CIN) from 0.30 +/- 0.05 to 0.16 +/- 0.02 and from 0.31 +/- 0.05 to 0.13 +/- 0.01 (P less than 0.005) respectively. Cyclohex-pretreated PTX PTH-infused rats failed to respond to both 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3, and CP/CIN, which rose after PTH, remained 0.32 +/- 0.05 and 0.29 +/- 0.03 respectively. In vitro, both 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited the PTH-induced activation of adenylate cyclase in the renal isolated membrane fractions. Pretreatment with cyclohex abolished this effect of vitamin D metabolites. These results show that cyclohex blocks the antiphosphaturic effects of both 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 but does not alter the response to PTH. These findings are consistent with the possibility that the acute renal action of vitamin D depends on de novo synthesis of protein.

The duodenal mucosa in patients with renal failure: response to 1,25(OH)2D3

The structure of the duodenal mucosa was evaluated in duodenal biopsy samples obtained from patients with moderate renal failure (MRF) and in dialysis patients (HD) in an effort to examine the possibility that changes in duodenal mucosa may contribute to the impaired calcium absorption in renal failure (RF). The effect of therapy with 1,25(OH)2D3 on the duodenal mucosa in the HD patients was also studied. The results show that both MRF and HD patients have reduction in calcium reabsorption and in the length of their intestinal villi and crypts of Lieberkuhn. In the HD patients, these structural changes were more severe. Treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 produced significant improvement in calcium reabsorption (P less than 0.01) as well as in length of villus and crypt (P less than 0.02) and increased mitotic activity in the crypts (P 0.02). Electron microscopy revealed the microvilli to be shorter, irregularly distributed, moth-eaten, and grainy, with these abnormalities disappearing after treatment. The data show that duodenal mucosa in RF exhibits structural abnormalities, which were normalized after 1,25(OH)2D3 therapy, and suggest that these derangements may play a role in the defective calcium reabsorption in RF.

Subcellular mechanisms involving vitamin D

During the past 15 years a vitamin D endocrine system has been demonstrated in which vitamin D produced normally in the skin is activated first by conversion in the liver and subsequently in the kidney to a hormonal form, 1,25-(OH)2D3. The production of the hormonal form of vitamin D3, is regulated, and much has been learned regarding the molecular mechanism of the hydroxylations of vitamin D and regarding the physiologic regulators of the 25-OH-D-1-hydroxylase. Much remains to be learned regarding the mechanism whereby the 1-hydroxylase is modulated. 1,25-(OH)2D3 appears to function in the target organs of bone, intestine, kidney, and elsewhere by a nucleus-mediated process. Receptors for 1,25-(OH)2D3 have been clearly demonstrated and characterized in crude form. How the receptor and ligand interact with the nucleus is not clear, nor are the gene products that result from this interaction known. One product, a calcium binding protein, is known but its role in calcium transport is in debate. Although much has been learned in the last decade and a half, much remains to be learned regarding the molecular mechanisms whereby vitamin D brings about its remarkable changes in mineral metabolism.

The effect of the active principle of Solanum malacoxylon on rabbits and the inhibition of its action by actinomycin D

The oral administration of an aqueous extract of 2.5 g of the dried leaves of Solanum malacoxylon (DLSM) produced a rapid hyperphosphataemia, which becomes apparent 4 to 8 h after treatment, in the rabbit. This effect was not accompanied by any significant change in plasma calcium, mangesium, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine concentration. The urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate was markedly increased 24 and 48 h after treatment with the extract and was not accompanied by any significant change in the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. The hyperphosphataemic effect of the DLSM extract was inhibited by Actinomycin D. It appeared that DLSM does not cause bone resorption in normal rabbits maintained on a diet containing adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus. The increased urinary excretion of calcium magnesium and inorganic phosphate after treatment with DLSM extract appeared to be due to increased intestinal absorption. The absence of any significant change in plasma urea and creatinine concentration after treatment with DLSM extract, and the inhibition of the hyperphosphataemic effect by Actinomycin D, indicated that this was a characteristic response of the rabbit to the active principle, and that it was not due to renal damage. The inhibition of the hyperphosphataemic effect of DLSM by Actinomyein D showed that its action involves the transcription of DNA to RNA and protein synthesis.

Rapid enhancement of chick intestinal DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II activity by 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, in vivo

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) was examined for its ability to affect the DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) of rachitic chick intestinal cell nuclei in vivo. Nucleoplasmic (form II) RNA polymerase activity was stimulated 2-fold (P < 0.05) within 2-3 hr after an oral dose of 0.27 mug (0.65 nmol) of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) to rachitic chicks. The form II polymerase activity returned to control values by 5-9 hr after dosing with the sterol. In contrast, the nucleolar (form I) RNA polymerase was not increased within this period. Solubilization of nuclear protein and resolution of the two RNA polymerases on DEAE-Sephadex also revealed that there was an increase in polymerase II activity when assayed on exogenous DNA template. This evidence suggests that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) acts at the level of the enzymology of intestinal cell transcription and that increased mRNA synthesis after administration of this hormone cannot be due solely to a change in chromatin template activity.