Calcium and Phosphate Regulation Flashcards
List the general functions of calcium
Membrane stability and cell function Neuronal transmission Bone structure/formation Blood coagulation Muscle function Hormone secretion
List the general functions of phosphate
Cellular energy metabolism (ATP) Intracellular signaling pathways Nucleic acid backbone Bone structure Enzyme activation/deactivation
What is a good indicator of free calcium availability?
Albumin levels - calcium is bound to albumin
What is the most abundant cation?
Calcium! tightly regulated in plasma (.2-2.6 mM)
What can result from hypocalcemia?
Muscle failure, tetany, convulsions, death
What can result from hypercalcemia?
renal dysfunction, calcification of soft tissues, muscle weakness, coma
What would result in hyperphosphatemia?
Crush injury- 10x more phosphate than Ca in soft tissue
What are the two primary regulators of calcium?
PTH
Vit D/Calcitriol (skin, diet)
Calcitonin (thyroid) probably not important in humans
What are the three organs regulating Ca homeostasis?
Kidneys
Gut
Bone
Discuss the daily calcium turnover in humans
Intake ~1000mg
Gut takes up ~500 but also secrets some, making the net absorption only ~200mg
Urinary excretion same as gut absorption
Discuss the general anatomy of the PT glands
paired glands, 4 total, located at posterior borders on lateral lobes of the thyroid gland, usually embedded in a capsule
What kind of cells synthesizes PTH?
Chief cells (aka principal cells)
What are oxyphil cells?
no known function, increase with age and chronic kidney disease
What directs newly synthesized PTH to the ER?
signal peptide
What is the form of PTH that is a clinically important measurement, and what is its half life?
Intact 1-84 fragment, half life of 4 minutes
What is the biologically active form of PTH?
N-terminal 1-34 fragment, binds to the PTH receptor
What segment of PTH has the longest half life? Is it active or inactive?
C-terminal 35-84, inactive
What is the role of parathyroid hormone related peptide?
mimics activity of PTH in bone and kidney
normally very low concentrations, does not regulate plasma Ca
What produces abnormally high concentrations of PTHrP?
many tumors, resulting in hypercalcemia
what is the primary receptor of PTH?
PTH 1R
Where is PTH 1R found?
Bone and kidney
What are the secondary signaling pathways that PTH 1R utilizes?
GPCR
G-alpha-s: adenylyl cyclase/cAMP
G-alpha-q: PLC/IP3/DAG
What does PTH 1R bind?
1-34 fragment, 1-84, PTHrP
What is an additional PTH receptor?
PTH 2R
What is the function of PTH 2R and what does it bind?
function unclear
binds 1-34 fragment, does not bind PTHrP
What does PTH target?
Bone and kidneys
What is the overall effects of PTH?
Increase in plasma Ca
Decrease in plasma phosphate
Where is the majority of body Ca found?
99% body Ca2+ content in bone
What is the function of osteoblasts?
bone formation and mineralization
What do osteoblasts express at high concentrations
Receptors for PTH
What are osteoblasts derived from?
mesenchymal stem cells
What is the function of osteoclasts?
Bone resorption
What are osteoclasts derived from?
hematopoietic stem cells
Do osteoclasts express PTH receptors?
NO!
what are osteocytes and what are the derived from?
make up most of the bone matrix
terminally differentiated from osteoblasts
What does PTH stimulate in osteoblasts?
macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)
RANK Ligand
What does M-CSF stimulate?
differentiation of osteoclast precursors
How does PTH stimulate osteoclasts?
Indirectly! via M-CSF