Cyclic AMP increases the release of parathyroid hormone-related protein from a lung-cancer cell line

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of malignant hypercalcemia by stimulating bone resorption and/or renal tubular reabsorption of calcium. In cultured cancer cells, its production can be influenced by various factors or ions, but the regulation of its production is still poorly understood. We investigated the effects of stimulators of cAMP synthesis on PTHrP release by a human lung squamous-carcinoma cell line (BEN). In superfused cells grown on microcarrier beads, PTHrP production was significantly increased after incubation with calcitonin for only 20 min. The release of immunoreactive and bioactive PTHrP was increased by incubating the cells with forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine or dibutyryl cAMP even in the presence of the protein-synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide for 6 hr. The calcitonin-mediated stimulation was not accompanied by concomitant changes in PTHrP mRNA. The microfilament-disrupter cytochalasin D was shown to enhance the basal and calcitonin-induced production of PTHrP. These results indicate that stimulators of cAMP synthesis enhanced PTHrP release by BEN cells.