Phosphate Inhibits Calcium-Sensing Receptor Expressed Endogenously in TT Cells

Abstract Disclosure: K.A. Alghamdi: None. D. Ward: None. Calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is the key controller of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and extracellular calcium homeostasis. Hyperphosphataemia increases PTH secretion and we reported recently that pathophysiologic phosphate (Pi) concentrations can attenuate CaR activity directly in transfected HEK-293 cells and can increase PTH secretion from human and murine parathyroid cells (1). This was investigated further using thyroidal C cell-derived TT cells (ATCC), which express CaR endogenously. Intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) mobilisation was assayed by epifluorescence microscopy, calcitonin secretion by ELISA, protein expression by immunoblotting and CaR mRNA expression by qRT-PCR. Co-stimulation of TT cells with the (CaR-activating) calcimimetic R568 (1µM) and spermine (1mM) elicited robust Ca2+i mobilisation, that was inhibited (33±4%; P<0.001; N=4) by 2mM (pathophysiologic) Pi-containing buffer vs 0.8mM Pi control. In contrast, raising Pi concentration was without effect on carbachol-induced Ca2+i mobilisation (acting via muscarinic receptors) (P=0.89; N=3). Also, 1.2mM (high) sulphate elicited a similar CaR inhibition as for Pi vs 0.3mM control (-28±16%; P<0.05; N=4). Next, it was found that CaR-mediated stimulation of the TT cells with 1µM R568 & 1mM spermine (in 2mM Ca2+ and 0.8mM Pi) increased calcitonin secretion, as expected, whereas the same stimulation in 2mM Pi (in the presence of 2.2mM Ca2+ to correct for any reduction in free Ca2+) significantly blunted this response (-59.7±15%; P<0.05;N=4). Interestingly, CaR mRNA expression was significantly downregulated 45±13%; P<0.05;N=6) after 48 hours treatment with media containing 2mM Pi (vs 0.8mM control). However, while CaR protein expression in the TT cells was confirmed by immunoblotting, its abundance was unaffected by the same 2mM Pi cotreatment (P=0.79; N=8). Therefore, pathophysiologic Pi treatment inhibits endogenous CaR-induced signalling, calcitonin secretion and CaR mRNA expression in thyroidal TT cells but without affecting CaR abundance. These results further support the idea that the CaR represents a mineral sensor, at which Pi acts directly as a non-competitive antagonist to limit CaR-induced suppression of PTH secretion. Reference: (1) Centeno et al. Nat Commun. 2019;10:4693. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023