title: Calcium-sensing receptor and calcimimetic agents.
abstract: Recognizing the role of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) in mineral metabolism greatly improves our understanding of calcium homeostasis. The biology of the low affinity, G-protein-coupled CaR and the effects of its activation in various tissues are reviewed. Physiological roles include regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by small changes in ionized calcium (Ca2+) and control of urinary calcium excretion with small changes in blood Ca2+. The CaR also affects the renal handling of sodium, magnesium and water. Mutations affecting the CaR that make it either less or more sensitive to Ca2+ cause various clinical disorders; heterozygotes of mutations causing the CaR to be less sensitive to extracellular Ca2+ cause familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, while the homozygous form results in severe infantile hyperparathyroidism. Mutations causing increased sensitivity of the CaR to extracellular Ca2+ produce hereditary forms of hypoparathyroidism. Disorders, such as primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, may exhibit acquired abnormalities of the CaR. Calcimimetic drugs, which amplify the sensitivity of the CaR to Ca2+, can suppress PTH levels, leading to a fall in blood Ca2+. Experiences with this agent in patients with secondary and primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid carcinoma are summarized. In animals and humans with hyperparathyroidism, this agent produces a dose-dependent fall in PTH and blood Ca2+, with larger doses causing more sustained effects. The treatment has been short-term except for one patient followed for more than 600 days for parathyroid carcinoma; nonetheless the drug did not cause major side-effects and appears to be safe. Further long-term controlled studies are needed with calcimimetic agents of this type.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Research Services, Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, California, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Coburn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elangovan
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Frazaõ
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010627:Phenethylamines; D011437:Propylamines; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; C107873:N-(2-chlorophenylpropyl)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethylamine; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010627:Phenethylamines; D011437:Propylamines; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D002118:Calcium