Endocrine Control Of Calcium & Phosphate Homeostasis Flashcards
What tissues regulate calcium and phosphate homeostasis? How?
- PT glands: detect Ca/PO4 levels + make PTH
- Kidney: site of regulated Ca/PO4 reabsorption + site of vitamin D activation
- Gut: site of Ca/PO4 uptake
- Thyroid: site of calcitonin synthesis + detects serum Ca levels
- Bone: body store of Ca/PO4 + makes fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23)
What are the 6 roles of calcium (Ca)?
- Bone and teeth formation (growth/remodelling)
- Muscle contraction
- Nerve function
- Enzyme co-factor
- IC 2nd messenger
- Stabilisation of membrane potentials
What is the distribution of calcium (Ca) in the body?
Most is in the skeleton, some is IC and a tiny amount is EC. EC in the plasma, it can either be ionised or mostly, bound. 10% is bound to anions (e.g. bicarb or phosphate) whilst 45% is bound to plasma proteins (e.g. albumin + globulins). Adjusted calcium level calculation adjusts for the amount of albumin.
What is the UK dietary requirements for calcium (Ca)? What is the total body calcium (Ca)?
- 700mg in an adult increasing in older adults, teenagers and lactating/post-menopausal women
- Total body Ca = 1-2kg
What is the step-by-step process of calcium (Ca) homeostasis when there is low calcium (Ca)?
- Low Ca is sensed by the parathyroids which increase PTH
- PTH stimulates bone resorption and kidney reabsorption of Ca
- PTH stimulates 1α-OHase enzyme in the kidneys which converts 25(OH)D (calcidiol/inactive vit D) to 1,25(OH)2D (calcitriol/active vit D)
- Vit D increases bone resorption, kidney reabsorption and gut absorption of Ca
- Vit D and Ca -vely feedbacks to the PT glands
- Increased Ca in blood stimulates thyroid gland to release calcitonin which inhibit bone resorption and kidney reabsorption of Ca
What are the parathyroid (PT) glands? What do they do?
4 glands on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland but that have independent blood supply. The tissue is responsible for sensing the circulating [Ca] and chief cells synthesise and secrete PTH.
What is parathyroid hormone (PTH)? How does it have its affect?
Peptide hormone (T1/2 of mins) that acts via a GPCR called PTHR1 which is bound and activated by PTH but also, PTHrP. Enough PTH is stored for 60-90 minutes release and then more must be synthesized. Sustained release requires gene expression (hrs-dys), proliferative activity of PT cells (dys-wks/>) where eventually gland size increases.
What is the extracellular (EC) calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR)? What does it do?
A 7 transmembrane glycosylated protein that interacts with G proteins:
- Low Ca = decreased CaSR signalling, increased cAMP and production/secretion of PTH
- Normal Ca = basal PTH secretion
- High Ca = Ca + CaSR activates PLC suppressing PTH secretion and gene expression AND activates G-protein signalling inhibiting AC, decreasing cAMP and suppressing PTH production
What is parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP)? What does it do?
A hormone that mimics PTH elevating plasma Ca
(not vit D) via PTHR1 binding. It has a paracrine and autocrine action. It is used for regulation of endochondral bone formation/mineralisation and Ca regulation in foetus and lactation. Its made by many tissues (esp. malignant tissues) so its levels are not raised in hyperparathyroidism and other non-malignant hypercalaemias but in malignant hypercalaemias.
What is the purpose of constant bone remodelling?
- Repairs damage (microfractures)
- Buffers Ca/PO4 as resportion increases blood concentration whereas formation deposits them so decreases blood concentration
What is bone remodelling? What controls it?
When bone resorption is followed by bone formation in a constant cycle - under hormonal control
How is calcium (Ca) absorbed in the GI tract?
All intake comes from the intestine esp. the duodenum and upper jejunum and it is facilitated by vitamin D by 3 methods:-
Low serum Ca:
- TRPV6 channels bring Ca into epithelial cells where it binds CaBP and leaves via active uptake and extrusion using NCX/PMCA
- TRPV6 channels bring Ca into epithelial cells where it binds CaBP in a vesicle and the complex undergoes endocytosis and exocytosis
High serum Ca:
3. Paracellular transport bound to CaBP
How does vitamin D (vit D) facilitate calcium (Ca) absorption in the GI tract?
Upregulates:
- Luminal Ca channels (TRPV6)
- Calcium binding protein (CaBP)
- Basolateral Ca2+ efflux transporters: CaNa exchanger (NCX) and CaATPase (PMCA)
Where is calcitonin (CT) synthesized?
In the neuroendocrine parafollicular (C) cells of the thyroid gland
What are the actions of calcitonin (CT)?
Released when high serum Ca acts on CaSR and acts via GPCRs on:
1. Primarily bone: inhibits bone resorption by preventing osteoclast action
2. Kidney: decreases reabsorption of Ca/PO4
= decrease [Ca/PO4] into blood
What are the 3 roles of the kidney?
- Most Ca is reabsorbed from filtrate passively in PT and TALH or actively (regulated by PTH, vit D or CT) in DT and CD
- Phosphate reabsorption from filtrate - stimulated by vit D but inhibited by PTH, FGF23 and CT
- Makes 1,25(OH)2D/calcitriol/active vit D
How is calcium (Ca) reabsorbed actively in the kidneys?
PTH and vit D upregulate luminal Ca channels (TRPV5) and basolateral Ca2+ efflux transporters (NCX/PMCA) in the DT