Calcium/phosphate balance Flashcards
functions of calcium (6)
- formation of bone and teeth
- muscle contraction
- enzyme function
- blood clotting
- cellular functions - eg apoptosis, role as secondary messenger, metabolic regulator eg for the krebs
- normal heart rhythm
dietary requirement for Ca
around 500
1000 for pregnant and lactating women (bcos of milk production)
FORMS OF CALCIUM IN THE BODY
intake = diet
- plasma: present as protein bound, chelated and ionised
- ECF (<1%)
- bones (85%)
- kidneys
output = faeces from colon, sweat and urine from kidneys
describe the 3 types of calcium present in plasma
40% protein boud (albumin) - cant be utilised by tissues
50% ionised Ca2+ which is used by tissues (exchangeable)
10% chelated Ca (ie bound to anion complexes like phosphate and bicarbonate) which IS exchangeable
how do pH changes affect serum calcium
AFFECTS THE 40% OF CALCIUM THAT IS PROTEIN BOUND:
in acidosis –> albumin releases more Ca (bcos there are more protons competing for albumin binding sites) so you have an increase in ionised Ca2+
in alkalosis –> the opposite, decrease in ionised Ca2+
what would be the effect of a liver disorder on the calcium in the serum
LIVER DISORDER - would mean less albumin synthesised
hence a decrease in protei bound calcium of serum, and a big increase in ionised Ca2+
RESULT: hyperalcemia (and hence all its consequences)
how is calcium UPTAKEN into cells
Either through transporters (high to low conc gradient) in the membrane OR via electroporation (the membrane becoming more permeable for calcium)
what is needed for Ca to enter the cells via transporters
to set up a conc gradient - this is done by keeping Ca2+ cytosolic conc low so that there is a movement from high to low conc from outside to inside the cell
IN 3 WAYS:
1. Ca2+ associating with storage proteins in the cytosol like calmodulin
2. SERCA pump moving Ca into the SER
3. uptake into mitochondria (MCU) for krebs
how is calcium RELEASED from cells (4 ways)
- PMCA - plasma membrane calcium ATPase
- NCX channels (sodium calcium exchangers)
- NCKX (sodium calcium potassium exchangers)
- electroporation (permeabilising the membrane)
ways that Ca2+ cna be absorbed at intestine (2)
- transcellular (active transport)
- paracellular (passive transport)
!! 2 mechanisms exist for the sake of redundancy
describe transcellular Ca absorption at intestine (3 steps)
ACTIVE PROCESS
- Ca2+ enters across brush border through voltage gated channels
- internalised calcium moves to the basolateral membrane and associates with CALBINDINS (proteins with high affinity for Ca)
- Ca2+ extrusion at basal membrane into blood via: PMCA, NCX
describe paracellular Ca absorption at intestine
Movement of Ca2+ between the cells, passing through the tigh junctions of adjacent enterocytes. (mainly composed of occludin and claudins)
PASSIVE PROCESS
calcium reabsorption at the kidney
90% of the calcium is reabsorbed in the PCT/TAL
the other 10% is reabsorbed at the level of the DCT/CD with VARIABILITY depending on the Ca2+ level od the body at that moment.
HENCE these are the regions where PTH/ aldosterone have an effect on the reabsorption
differences in the mechanism of calcium reabsorption in the diff regions of the kidney tubular system
PCT - mainly paracellular
TAL –> presence of CASR
DCT –> mainly transcellular
CD –> specific AQP2 for water transport also affected by ADH
structure and function of CASR
CASR = calcium sensing receptor
-G protein C receptor that senses levels of ionised calcium (active form)
-expressed in TAL, parathyroid gland and brain
IN KIDNEY: INHIBITS THE REABSORPTION OF CA, K, Na AND H2O. Hence allows -ve feedback when Ca is sensed.
MECHANISM: binding of a factor on CASR induces PKC response to increase IP3 and DAG hence increasing intracellular Ca2+ (and its associated responses)
OVERVIEW OF CALCIUM REGULATION FACTORS AND THEIR ROLE
PTH: released by chief cells in parathyroid gland when calcium is too low to increase it again
CALCITRIOL (VD3): released in C cells of thyroid when calcium is too low to increase it again
CALCITONIN: produced (in skin, liver and kidney) when calcium is too high to decrease it again
(FGF23 plays role in Ca conservation in the kidneys)
phosphorys functions (2)
- structural (hydroxyapatite crystals, DNA and RNA, phospholipids)
- buffering
phosphorus distribution in the body
INPUT = DIET
- serum phosphorus (HPO42- and H2PO4-)
- ECF (<1%)
- bones (85%)
- kidneys
OUTPUT = faeces + urine
dietary requirement for phosphorus
baby =100-300
child = 400 - 500
teen= 1250
adult = 900
general statement connecting calcium and phosphate control
INVERSE CONTROL: increasing calcium levels decreases phosphate levels and vice versa
intestinal absorption of phosphate
TRANSCELLULAR: Na+ dependent, secondary active transport using the conc gradient set up by Na/K ATPase
passage into the enterocyte occurs through NaPi transporters
how does serum phosphate change with changes in pH
NORMALLY: the majority of ions are in the form of HPO42- and the minority as H2PO4-
in acidic conditions: there is a relative increase in H2PO4- for acid base balance (ie buffering) and hence a decrease in HPO4-
PTH mechanism of action for Ca and Pi
INTESTINE: increases both Ca and Pi absorption
BONE: increases Ca and Pi by stimulating osteoclasts and causing bone reabsorption and osteolysis
KIDNEY: increases reabsorption of Ca but decreases reabsorption of Pi (hence less Ca and more Pi is excreted)
OTHER: Stimulates VitD3 and FGF23 - both for Ca conservation
CALCITONIN mechanism of action
!! action through cAMP/PLC cascades
INTESTINE: inhibits Ca absorption
BONE: inhibits osteoclasts to reduce bone resorbtion and stimulates osteoblasts to increase mineralisation (hence decrease Ca)
KIDNEY: decreases reabsorption of Ca and increases its excretion
