[Calcium receptor (CaR): a new approach to regulation of calcium homeostasis]

In recent years the receptor sensing calcium (CaR) has been discovered on the surface of parathyroid cells and some other organs cells which revised our understanding of mechanisms involved in regulation of body calcium balance. It was shown that stimulation of CaR induced by an increase of extracellular ionized calcium concentration resulted in an increase of intracellular calcium and subsequent decrease of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion from parathyroid cells. Calcium receptor was also discovered in nephron segments reabsorbing calcium which allowed to understand the mechanisms underlying some inherited disturbances of calcium balance regulation i.e. in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia or hypercalciuric hypocalcemia. Investigations on CaR structure revealed the mutations in those inherited syndromes leading to increase or decrease of parathyroid and nephron cells receptor sensitivity to calcium. The description of the receptor properties resulted in development of a new group of compounds called calcimimetics which are more efficient than calcium itself in stimulation of CaR and subsequent decrease of PTH secretion. Calcimimetics in perspective might have a therapeutic application. Under investigation is synthesis of calcilytics, compounds which through an interaction with CaR result in increase of PTH secretion potentially leading to a clinical application.