Down-regulation of calcitonin receptors in T47D cells by internalization of calcitonin-receptor complexes

Prolonged calcitonin receptor signaling by salmon, but not human calcitonin, reveals ligand bias

Salmon calcitonin (sCT) and human calcitonin (hCT) are pharmacologically distinct. However, the reason for the differences is unclear. Here we analyze the differences between sCT and hCT on the human calcitonin receptor (CT_(a)R) with respect to activation of cAMP signaling, β-arrestin recruitment, ligand binding kinetics and internalization. The study was conducted using mammalian cell lines heterologously expressing the human CT_(a) receptor. CT_(a)R downstream signaling was investigated with dose response profiles for cAMP production and β-arrestin recruitment for sCT and hCT during short term (<2 hours) and prolonged (up to 72 hours) stimulation. CT_(a)R kinetics and internalization was investigated with radio-labeled sCT and hCT ligands on cultured cells and isolated membrane preparations from the same cell line. We found that sCT and hCT are equipotent during short-term stimulations with differences manifesting themselves only during long-term stimulation with sCT inducing a prolonged activation up to 72 hours, while hCT loses activity markedly earlier. The prolonged sCT stimulation of both cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin recruitment was attenuated, but not abrogated by acid wash, suggesting a role for sCT activated internalized receptors. We have demonstrated a novel phenomenon, namely that two distinct CT_(a)R downstream signaling activation patterns are activated by two related ligands, thereby highlighting qualitatively different signaling responses in vitro that could have implications for sCT use in vivo.

Calcitonin-induced change in serum calcium levels and its relationship to osteoclast morphology and number of calcitonin receptors

It has been shown that, in live subjects, the ability of calcitonin (CT) to decrease serum calcium (Ca) levels can be lost in response to its continued or repeated administration. The present study investigated the relationship between such changes of in vivo serum Ca levels and the response of osteoclasts to CT administration, including the downregulation of their CT receptors (CTRs). Rats were either given a single injection of CT or repeated injections at either 6- or 24-h intervals, after which their serum Ca levels were evaluated. Their parietal bones were dissected, and the amount of 125I-labeled elcatonin (125I-eCT) binding to their osteoclasts measured using autoradiography. Ultrastructural changes in the osteoclasts were also examined. Twenty-four hours after a single CT administration, serum Ca levels had dropped, and there was an absence of ruffled borders on the osteoclasts. Less 125I-eCT binding to the osteoclast was found than in the control group. Forty-eight and 72 h after CT administration, serum Ca levels had almost returned to control levels, and the osteoclasts showed ruffled borders once again. The amount of 125I-eCT binding to the osteoclast also recovered to control levels. When these osteoclasts were then incubated in CT, their ruffled borders once again disappeared. In the 6-h interval multiple CT administration schedule subjects, upon inspection 72 h after their first administration (6 h following the final one), serum Ca levels were found to have almost returned to control levels with the presence of osteoclast ruffled borders. The amount of 125I-eCT binding to these osteoclasts was remarkably limited, and no disappearance of the ruffled borders occurred in response to additional CT incubation. In the 24-h interval multiple administration schedule subjects, upon inspection 72 h after their first CT administration (24 h following the final one), there was less 125I-eCT binding than in the single-dose subjects tested 24 h after their injection, and the ability of CT to lower their serum Ca levels was reduced. The ability of CT to lower serum Ca levels was therefore related to the response of osteoclasts to the CT (the disappearance of the ruffled borders), and this response was related to the amount of CTRs available for binding with CT on the osteoclast surface. Furthermore, the reduced effectiveness of CT in response to repeated CT administration was found to be related to the downregulation of the CTRs on the osteoclast surface.

Calcitonin (CT) rapidly increases NA(+)/H(+) exchange and metabolic acid production: effects mediated selectively by the C1A CT receptor isoform

Two isoforms of the calcitonin receptor are expressed in rabbit: the common C1a isoform and the calcitonin receptor Delta e13 isoform, which has a deletion in the seventh transmembrane domain. Using microphysiometry, we investigated the effects of calcitonin on proton efflux from HEK293 cells stably transfected with C1a, calcitonin receptor Delta e13, or empty vector. In C1a-expressing cells only, calcitonin rapidly induced a biphasic elevation in proton efflux consisting of an initial transient and a sustained plateau, accompanied by an increase in lactate efflux. Inhibitors of Na(+)/H(+) exchange abolished only the initial transient, whereas removal of extracellular glucose abolished only the sustained plateau. These data suggest that activation of Na(+)/H(+) exchange mediates the initial transient, whereas increased glucose metabolism underlies the sustained plateau. Because both receptor isoforms activate adenylyl cyclase, the lack of effect of calcitonin on proton efflux from calcitonin receptor Delta e13-expressing cells argued against involvement of cAMP in activating proton efflux. Similarly, studies involving elevation or buffering of cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration argued against involvement of Ca(2+). Activation of PKC mimicked the plateau phase of calcitonin-induced proton efflux from C1a cells, whereas inhibition or depletion of PKC suppressed it. Activation of proton transport and production are novel cellular responses to calcitonin, mediated selectively by the C1a receptor isoform via a mechanism involving PKC.

In vitro metabolism of human and salmon calcitonins in rat liver and kidney evaluated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

1. Using LC-MS and LC-MS/MS, an in vitro study was conducted on the metabolism of human calcitonin (hCT) and salmon calcitonin (sCT) in rat liver and kidney to determine the rates of metabolism and the positions of hydrolytic cleavage in both peptides. 2. In lysosomal fractions of rat liver and kidney, hCT was degraded 9-12 times faster than sCT. Many metabolites of hCT were produced in the lysosomal fractions, whereas the metabolites of sCT were scarcely found. 3. In the case of the cytosolic fractions, three positions of initial endoproteolytic cleavage were found in hCT, leading to the production of many peptide fragments via subsequent exoproteolytic metabolism. The initial cleavage position of sCT could not be identified precisely, but it was postulated that the rate-determining step in the metabolism of sCT is the endoproteolytic hydrolysis. 4. The studies using pure proteases and protease inhibitors indicated that the metabolism of calcitonins proceeds by initial endoproteolytic cleavage and subsequent exoproteolytic digestion, catalysed by an aspartate-protease in lysosomes and by a metalloprotease and cysteine-protease in combination in the cytosol. 5. The result suggested that the higher in vivo pharmacological activity of sCT compared with that of hCT may be due to a slower metabolism of the former.

Calcitonin receptor mRNA in mononuclear leucocytes from postmenopausal women: decrease during osteoporosis and link to bone markers with specific isoform involvement

Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption via its receptor (CTR) on osteoclasts. Two hCTR isoforms, hCTR1 and hCTR2, give proteins that differ in their structure and signaling pathways. We investigated whether specific isoforms or quantitative changes in total hCTR mRNA were associated with high bone resorption and turnover in menopause or osteoporosis. The hCTR mRNA in mononuclear blood cells of premenopausal (PreM), healthy (PostM), and osteoporotic (OsteoP) postmenopausal women was assessed using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. hCTR1 and hCTR2 were investigated for 59 total RNA samples, and semiquantitative analysis of total hCTR mRNA was performed for 71. Serum calcitonin, free urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), serum bone alkaline phosphatase (SBAP), and osteocalcin (SOC) were also evaluated. Serum calcitonin levels did not differ in PostM and OsteoP. The prevalence of each isoform was similar in the three groups. Healthy postmenopausal women and OsteoP with hCTR2 had lower bone turnover (D-Pyr: 6.79 +/- 0.54, n = 25; SBAP: 11.63 +/- 1.47, n = 26; SOC: 8.31 +/- 0.58, n = 26) than those without hCTR2 (D-Pyr: 9.90 +/- 1.95, n = 5; SBAP: 21 +/- 5.19, n = 5; SOC: 11.9 +/- 2.10, n = 5; p < 0.05). Total hCTR mRNA levels were not different in PreM and PostM. By contrast, values were strikingly lower in OsteoP (0.57 +/- 0.17, n = 28) than in PostM (2. 25 +/- 0.61, n = 19, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with bone markers values in both. We suggest that a specific isoform and amounts of total hCTR mRNA are linked to increased bone resorption in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Role of phosphodiesterase 4 isoenzyme in alkaline phosphatase activation by calcitonin in porcine kidney LLC-PK1 cells

To confirm the intracellular signal transduction in regulation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by calcitonin in kidney tubular cells, effects of several inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) on the action of salmon calcitonin in porcine kidney tubular epithelial cells LLC-PK1 were examined. A confluent culture of LLC-PK1 cells was treated with calcitonin and inhibitors in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin, and intracellular cyclic AMP content and ALP activity were measured after incubation for 30 min and 48 hr, respectively. Calcitonin and PDE 4 inhibitors increased cyclic AMP level and ALP activity in the cells, and PDE 4 inhibitors synergistically potentiated the effects of calcitonin. Calcitonin induced ALP activation by treatment for the first 1 hr, as well as continuous treatment for 48 hr, while it never increased the enzyme activity just after 1-hr exposure. Rolipram, an inhibitor of PDE 4 isoenzyme, induced ALP activation by itself and in combination with calcitonin by only a long term treatment (48 hr). The activation of ALP by calcitonin and rolipram each alone and in combination was completely abolished by a PKA inhibitor, H-89. These results confirm that calcitonin induces ALP activation through the cyclic AMP-PKA pathway and that PDE 4 isoenzyme is closely associated with the calcitonin-receptor system and plays a major role in hydrolysis of cyclic AMP produced in the kidney tubular cells.

Calcitonin receptor mRNA is expressed in human medullary thyroid carcinoma

We recently reported the presence of a truncated form (h-CTR2) of the human calcitonin receptor (CTR) in TT cells, a cell line derived from medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This form (h-CTR2), characterized by the absence of 16 amino acids in the first intracellular domain, was also detected in two cases of MTC. In the present study we determined the expression of CTR mRNA in a larger sample, representative of the different clinical forms of MTC, and in normal thyroid. h-CTR2 was expressed in all MTC specimens (both sporadic and familial) and in the normal thyroid samples. The expression of the receptor mRNA was higher in MTC compared with normal thyroid. Moreover, CT and CTR mRNA levels were modified significantly during proliferation. This result suggests that CT may be involved in proliferation of MTC via autocrine/paracrine regulation. Calcitonin secretion by MTC may play a role in the development and spread of these tumors.

Calcitonin receptors on neoplastic mononuclear cells cultured from a human giant-cell tumor of the sacrum

Saturable, specific, high-affinity calcitonin receptors were demonstrated in cultured neoplastic mononuclear spindle cells from a giant-cell tumor of the sacrum of a 38-year-old woman. The receptor was analyzed by autoradiography and 125I-calcitonin binding assay. Binding reversibility of 125I-calcitonin to the cells was not complete and the structural specificity was indicated by the inability of unrelated hormones to compete with calcitonin. The 24,000 receptors/cell and dissociation constant (Kd) of 8.0 x 10(-10) M, calculated from linear Scatchard plots, suggested the existence of a single class of calcitonin binding sites in the neoplastic mononuclear cells. Flow-cytometric analysis in the primary culture showed that mononuclear cells consisted of mononuclear round cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage, which express more calcitonin receptors than neoplastic mononuclear spindle cells. Administration of calcitonin caused morphological and physiological alterations, resulting in involutional or irregular cytoplasmic shapes and inhibition of DNA synthesis in neoplastic mononuclear cells accompanied by the escape phenomenon. Cells preincubated with calcitonin showed a decrease in 125I-calcitonin binding activity, which could account for the escape phenomenon. The decrease in 125I-calcitonin binding was rapid, but the recovery was not observed for 24 h after elimination of calcitonin. This decrease may be caused by the disappearance of residual receptors or by a decrease in calcitonin affinity. The calcitonin-induced morphological changes and the inhibition of DNA synthesis of cells were revealed to be mediated by calcitonin receptors.

N-glycosylation plays a role in biosynthesis and internalization of the adenylate cyclase stimulating vasopressin V2-receptor of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells: an effect of concanavalin A on binding and expression

The role of N-glycosylation in the function and biosynthesis of the vasopressin V2-receptor in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells was examined using various lectins and inhibitors operating at different steps of the glycosidic pathway. Tunicamycin, which blocks all N-glycosylation, and castanospermine, which inhibits glycosidase I and hence blocks formation of high-mannose-type N-glycosylated intermediates, resembled one another in affecting V2-receptor biosynthesis and internalization in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, swainsonine, an inhibitor of mannosidase II and hence of complex-type oligosaccharide formation, had no effect. Interestingly, the alpha-D-mannose/alpha-D-glucose-specific lectin concanavalin A, (Con A), in contrast to the beta-D-galactose-specific lectin ricin, had a marked effect on the V2-receptor in LLC-PK1 cells, increasing both receptor numbers up to twofold in vivo and specific [3H]AVP binding up to 50% in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentrations inducing half-maximal response were about 0.2 and 20 micrograms/ml for the in vivo and in vitro responses, respectively, implying distinct effects on V2-expression and ligand binding. That the in vitro effect on binding was due to a direct effect on the V2-receptor could be shown by the lack of a Con A effect on [3H]AVP binding in membranes prepared from LLC-PK1 cells down-regulated for the V2-receptor or from cells of the LLC-PK1 V2-receptor deficient mutant M18. All results were consistent with a functional role for N-glycosylation of the V2-receptor in LLC-PK1 cells.

A new in vitro bioassay for human calcitonin: validation and comparison to the rat hypocalcemia bioassay

The human breast cancer cell line T 47 D expresses calcitonin (CT) receptors that are coupled to adenylate cyclase and which reveal a dose-dependent cyclic AMP response to CT. We used this model to establish an in vitro bioassay for synthetic human CT (hCT) preparations to overcome some of the obstacles of the standard rat hypocalcemia in vivo bioassay. The detection limit of the in vitro bioassay was 1 x 10(-10) M hCT (EC 50: 8.7 pM +/- 26%) compared to 7.3 x 10(-9) M (EC 50: 7.2 microM +/- 32%) for the in vivo bioassay. The relative potencies of test preparations revealed a good correlation (r = 0.89) and several hCT-related substances produced comparable results when tested by the two methods. The standard deviations of precision and accuracy, however, were significantly smaller (P less than 0.05) for the in vitro bioassay. According to these data the T 47 D in vitro bioassay is more sensitive, superior in precision and accuracy, and comparable in specificity to the rat hypocalcemia bioassay.

Characterization of ligand binding and processing by gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in a small-cell lung cancer cell line

The ligand-binding properties of the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptor and the cellular processing of GRP have been studied in the small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line COR-L42. Scatchard analysis of GRP receptor expression indicated a single class of high-affinity receptors (Kd 1.5 nM) and approx. 6700 receptors/cell. GRP bound to its receptor with a Ki of 2.4 nM. The bombesin-related peptides neuromedin B (NMB) and phyllolitorin also bound to GRP receptors with Ki values of 22.7 and 59.1 nM respectively. Binding of 125I-GRP to COR-L42 cells increased rapidly at 37 degrees, achieved a maximum at 10 min and declined rapidly thereafter. At 4 degrees C, maximum binding was achieved at 30 min and the subsequent decline in cell-associated radioactivity was slower than that seen at 37 degrees C. Acid/salt extraction, to separate surface-bound ligand from internalized GRP, indicated that after receptor binding 125I-GRP was rapidly internalized. To determine the pathway of 125I-GRP degradation, binding studies were carried out with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine (5 mM), and with phosphoramidon (10 microM), an inhibitor of the membrane-bound enzyme (EC 3.4.24.11). Both agents markedly inhibited the degradation of GRP, indicating that this process involves a lysosomal pathway and a phosphoramidon-sensitive pathway, possibly involving the EC 3.4.24.11 enzyme. GRP receptor down-regulation was observed following a 10 min exposure to 100 nM-GRP. With longer pretreatment times the number of binding sites recovered to 80% of control values. Treatment with 5 mM-chloroquine plus GRP or cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml) plus GRP demonstrated that the majority of GRP receptors are recycled. NMB and phyllolitorin pretreatment did not influence the subsequent binding of 125I-GRP, suggesting that these peptides do not down-regulate GRP receptors.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation affects vasopressin V2-receptor number and internalization in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells

The relationship between activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) and ligand binding and internalization by the vasopressin renal (V2-type) receptor of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells was examined. Upon cAMP-PK activation through 1 h treatment with the cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP (BrcA), a marked reduction in V2-receptor steady state number and internalization in LLC-PK1 cells was effected. In cells treated for 17 h with BrcA and hence down-regulated for cAMP-PK, the V2-receptor number was normal but internalization was markedly reduced. Cells of the LLC-PK1 mutant FIB4, which possesses about 10% parental cAMP-PK catalytic subunit activity, exhibited lower V2-receptor steady state number and internalization in comparison to untreated LLC-PK1 cells. A negative correlation was thus evident between cAMP-PK activation and V2-receptor number, and internalization. Phosphorylation by cAMP-PK may effect ligand-independent removal of receptor from the plasma membrane.

Ammonium chloride affects receptor number and lateral mobility of the vasopressin V2-type receptor in the plasma membrane of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells: role of the cytoskeleton

The acidotropic agent ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) not only affects receptor metabolism by inhibiting lysosomal acidification, but can also affect the targeting of proteins to specific membranes in polarized cells, possibly through effects mediated by the cytoskeleton. The present study examines the effects of NH4Cl and perturbers of cytoskeleton structure on vasopressin V2 receptor expression in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells. Surprisingly, long-term pretreatment of cells with NH4Cl or short-term treatment with the actin perturber cytochalasin B resulted in an up to 70% increase in specific Arg-8-vasopressin binding compared to control cells, which was independent of the presence of NH4Cl in the binding test, and apparently the result of increased V2 receptor expression. Perturbers of microtubules such as colchicine and vinblastine had no such effect. A rhodamine-labeled analog of vasopressin was used to fluorescently label the V2 receptor of LLC-PK1 cells, and microscopic measurements of membrane-localized fluorescence confirmed the increased V2 receptor expression in the basal plasma membrane subsequent to NH4Cl pretreatment. Lateral mobility of the V2 receptor was measured in living cells using the technique of microphotolysis (photobleaching). The fraction of mobile receptors was 0.2 in cells pretreated with NH4Cl, markedly reduced compared to that of 0.9 in untreated cells. The apparent lateral diffusion coefficient D was about 3 x 10(-10) cm2/s in both pretreated and untreated cells. Results for fluorescence labeling of the actin cytoskeleton indicate that NH4Cl pretreatment of LLC-PK1 cells results in perturbation of microfilament structure. All results imply that the cytoskeleton plays a central role in V2 receptor expression and lateral mobility.