Evidence for coordinated regulation of osteoblast function by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone

From several animal studies and clinical observations it became evident that at target tissue level 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) must act in an interrelated manner. In the present study we examined the interaction between 1,25-(OH)2D3 and PTH in the target cell of these hormones in bone, the osteoblast. In addition we studied the role of PTH-activated signal pathways. The three osteoblastic cell lines UMR 106, ROS 17/2.8 and MG-63 were used as model systems. In UMR 106 cells 1,25-(OH)2D3 and PTH caused a synergistic up-regulation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) which was accompanied by a synergistic induction of VDR mRNA expression whereas in both ROS 17/2.8 and MG-63 cells no interaction was observed. In UMR 106 cells the effect of PTH on homologous up-regulation of VDR could be mimicked by the cAMP agonist forskolin and by dibutyrylic-cAMP. Phorbol ester activation of protein kinase C reduced basal as well as 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced up-regulation of VDR. 1,25-(OH)2D3 induced 24-hydroxylase activity in UMR 106 and MG 63 cells and, in contrast to VDR regulation, in both cell lines PTH and 1,25-(OH)2D3 synergistically induce 24-hydroxylase activity. Similar to VDR regulation the effect of PTH was mimicked by activation of cAMP production whereas protein kinase C activation reduced the induction by 1,25-(OH)2D3. Finally, we examined the interaction with respect to osteocalcin synthesis. In ROS 17/2.8 and MG-63 cells 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulated osteocalcin production. In ROS 17/2.8 cells PTH as well as stimulation of cAMP production by forskolin enhanced 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced osteocalcin production whereas, as we have shown previously, activation of protein kinase C does not change 1,25-(OH)2D3-stimulated osteocalcin production. In MG-63 cells neither PTH nor forskolin significantly changed 1,25-(OH)2D3 induction of osteocalcin synthesis. From the present study it can be concluded that indeed at target cell level 1,25-(OH)2D3 and PTH act in a coordinated manner. On basis of the potentiation of 1,25-(OH)2D3 action by PTH in osteoblasts together with the previously reported inhibition of PTH-stimulated cAMP production by 1,25-(OH)2D3 we postulate a negative feedback-loop at target cell level. The activation of the cAMP pathway results in an enhancement of the 1,25-(OH)2D3 action whereas the protein kinase C pathway attenuates the 1,25-(OH)2D3 action. Finally, the present study provides a basis for the indications from in vivo observations about an interrelated action of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and PTH at the target cell. More generally it demonstrates on the basis of analyses of endogenous cellular responses evidence for an interplay between receptor-activated pathways of peptide and steroid hormones.