1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 attenuates adenylyl cyclase activity in rat thyroid cells: reduction of thyrotropin receptor number and increase in guanine nucleotide-binding protein Gi-2 alpha

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] is the most potent of the naturally occurring vitamin D metabolites. In rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells, 1,25-(OH)2D3 attenuated the increase in TSH-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity obtained by removing TSH from the culture medium. When cells were incubated with 1,25-(OH)2D3 (10 nmol/liter; 4 days), the binding capacity for specific [125I]TSH binding decreased from 20.1 +/- 1.8 to 8.8 +/- 1.6 fmol/10(6) cells (mean +/- SEM; n = 4; P < 0.01) compared to that in control cells. The Kd did not change (mean +/- SEM, 0.46 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.07 nmol/liter; n = 4; P = NS). Western blotting revealed no change in the membrane content of the adenylyl cyclase (AC) stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) alpha-subunit (Gs alpha) during 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment. Similarly, levels of the AC inhibitory G-protein Gi-3 alpha- and G-protein beta-subunits were not altered by 1,25-(OH)2D3. However, Western blotting with antibodies recognizing both Gi-1 alpha and Gi-2 alpha was augmented 4-fold, presumably representing an increase in Gi-2 alpha only, as Gi-1 alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) was not detected in FRTL-5 cells. 1,25-(OH)2D3 (10 nmol/liter; 4 days) reduced cholera toxin (10 nmol/liter)-stimulated AC activity to 85% of the control value (P < 0.05), whereas forskolin (100 mumol/liter)-stimulated direct activation of AC was inhibited by 39%. The TSH receptor mRNA level correlated to the beta-actin mRNA was 2-fold higher in control cells compared to that in 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cells 12 h after TSH removal. Only minor alterations in the Gs alpha mRNA/beta-actin mRNA and Gi-3 alpha mRNA/beta-actin mRNA ratios were observed during 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment, whereas Gi-2 alpha mRNA increased 3-fold compared to that in control cells. No change in the resting intracellular Ca2+ concentration could be detected after 4 days of 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment. Our studies show that 1,25-(OH)2D3 attenuates AC activity by reducing the TSH receptor number and increasing the level of the AC inhibitory G-protein Gi-2 alpha in FRTL-5 cells.

Calcitriol attenuates the thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated inositol phosphate production in clonal rat pituitary (GH4C1) cells

Three days pretreatment of the prolactin (PRL) secreting GH4C1 cells with 10 nM calcitriol attenuated both the basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated (1 microM, 5 s) inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production by 30 and 26%, respectively. The effect was detectable at 10 nM (basal) and 1 pM (TRH-stimulated), and maximal at 1 microM (basal) and 10 nM (TRH), respectively. Calcitriol was at least 100 times more potent than calcidiol and 24-hydroxycalcidiol, and the effect was reversible upon cessation of pretreatment. Calcitriol pretreatment (1 microM, 5 days) also decreased the levels of phosphatidyl-inositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate by 23, 55 and 32%, respectively. GTP gamma S-stimulated (100 microM, 30 s) IP3 production was decreased by 45% after calcitriol pretreatment (10 nM, 5 days). Pertussis toxin (1 nM, 4 h) attenuated both the basal and TRH-stimulated IP3 production, but this effect was omitted by calcitriol pretreatment. Thus, calcitriol specifically attenuates both the basal and TRH-stimulated inositol phosphate production in GH4C1 cells. The mechanism, at least partly, involves decreased availability of phosphoinositides for phospholipase C. Calcitriol regulation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein might also play some role.

Cholecalciferol metabolites attenuate cAMP production in rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5)

A rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5) was used to study the effect of cholecalciferols on cAMP production. The active cholecalciferol metabolite, calcitriol, caused a reduction in basal and thyrotropin (TSH)-stimulated cAMP production. The inhibitory effects were demonstrated after 1 and 2 days, respectively. The maximum effect on both basal and TSH-stimulated cAMP production was observed after 3-4 days of treatment. The effect was detectable at 10(-10) and maximal at 10(-8) mol/l. Calcitriol was about 300 times more potent than calcidiol in attenuating cAMP production, whereas (24R)-hydroxycalcidiol in concentrations up to 3 x 10(-8) mol/l had no effect. After removal of added calcitriol the cAMP response to TSH returned to normal within 8 days. Calcitriol (10(-8) mol/l) also inhibited cell growth. Our results show that calcitriol at physiological concentrations inhibits both basal and TSH-stimulated cAMP production in rat thyroid cells. This indicates that calcitriol may modulate the effect of TSH on thyroid function and growth.