Calcium & Phosphate homeostasis Flashcards
Name the 5 tissues involved in regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis
- Parathyroid glands
- Kidney
- Gut
- Thyroid
- Bone
Which tissue detects levels of plasma Ca2+ and PO4 levels?
Parathyroid gland
Where is Calcitonin synthesised?
Thyroid
What makes FGF-23?
bone
Name the 6 important physiological roles of calcium
- Bone formation (growth and remodelling)
- Muscle contraction (initiates attraction between actin/myosin –> remember calcium channel blockers & hypertension)
- Nerve function
- Enzyme co-factor (EDTA chelates chelates calcium, often added to blood tubes)
- Intracellular second messenger
- Stabilisation of membrane potentials
Why is it so important for calcium levels to be tightly regulated?
Calcium is involved in important mechanisms such as stabilisation of membrane potentials in cardiac contraction, if levels are too high/low this can lead to arrythmias
Outline the distribution of total body calcium
Explain what is meant by adjusted calcium in regards to plasma levels
The higher the albumin the higher the total calcium, but free calcium is unaffected by albumin (and visa versa), so adjusted calcium allows for the level of circulating calcium, so that the total calcium reflects the free calcium.
Calcium Homeostasis
Explain what happens when calcium levels are low
Low calcium causes PTH secretion
PTH:
- Increases bone resorption and release of calcium
- Increases calcium reabsorption in the kidneys
- Increases 1-a-hydroxylase activity to product more active vitamin D
Active vitamin D:
- further Increases calcium reabsorption in the kidneys
- increases release of calcium from bone
- increases absorption in the GI tract
(PTH does not directly alter GI absorption but does indirectly via altering levels of active vitamin D)
There is a negative feedback loop - calcium levels switch off PTH and so does vitamin D
Calcium Homeostasis
What happens when calcium levels are too high?
High calcium causes the thyroid to produce CALCITONIN
This inhibits bone resorption and inhibits calcium reabsorption in the kidneys to decrease serum calcium
How many parathyroid glands do we have?
4
What cells synthesise and secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
Chief cells
What sort of hormone is PTH?
What is its half life?
Peptide hormone, half life is minutes
What receptor type does PTH act on?
What else acts on thesame receptor as PTH?
via G-protein coupled receptor PTHR1
PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) also works here
If calcium levels are low, explain the effect on CaSR signalling and the resulting effect on PTH levels
- Decreased binding of Ca2+ leads to decreased CaSR signalling so inhibition is removed.
- Increase cAMP
- Increased production and secretion of PTH
If calcium levels are high, explain the effect on CaSR signalling and the resulting effect on PTH levels
- Ca2+ ans CaSR activates PLC
- leads to suppression of PTH secretion and gene expression
- Activation of GPCR signalling inhibits AC and decreases cAMP
- Leads to suppression of PTH production
How is the action of PTHrP classified?
Paracrine and Autocrine - only acts locally and not systemic
What are some important functions of PTHrP?
- mimics PTH elevating plasma Ca2+ by binding to PTHR1
- regulation of endochondral bone formation/mineralisation - important for chondrocytes and cartilage
- Calcium regulation in foetus and lactation
what effect does PTHrP have on vitamin D?
Does not cause increased levels like PTH does
How does PTHrP relate to cancer?
- PTHrP is produced by some cancers, it can cause hypercalcaemia
Why is bone remodelling important in calcium and phosphate metabolism?
Acts as a buffer to tweak levels
What effect does bone resorption and formation have on calcium and phosphate?
Bone resorption = releases Ca2+ and PO4
Bone formation deposits Ca2+ and PO4
Where is dietary calcium absorbed?
Mostly th eduodenum and upper jejunum of the intestine
Uptake is facilitated by vitamin D
High serum Ca = paracellular route
Low serum Ca = vit.D activation is triggered - TRPV6 + !,25D
Describe how calcium enters and exits cells in the intestine.
What effect does vitamin D have on these mechanisms?
- Enters via TRPV6 calcium channels
- Travels through the cell via CBP (calcium binding protein)
- Exits the cell via Ca2+/Na+ exchanger pr Calcium ATPase pump on the basolateral membrane
- Can also exit via exocytosis of Ca2+/CaBP complex
Vitamin D upregulates luminal Ca2+ channels, CaBP and basolateral Ca2+ efflux transporters
Where is calcitonin produced?
(Gland and cell type)
Thyroid
C cells - parafollicular cells
What actions does calcitonin (CT) have on bone?
- Acts via GPCR
- Inhibits bone resorption by preventing osteoclast action - Decr. Ca2+ and PO4 release