title: Calcium-sensing receptor gene transcription is up-regulated by the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1beta. Role of the NF-kappaB PATHWAY and kappaB elements.
abstract: The calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) in parathyroid, thyroid, and kidney is essential for calcium homeostasis. Hypocalcemia is common in critically ill patients having increased circulating proinflammatory cytokines, although the causes are unknown. We hypothesized that the cytokines increase CASR expression and reduce the set point for parathyroid hormone suppression by extracellular calcium, leading to hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism. Here, we show in vivo in the rat that parathyroid, thyroid, and kidney CASR mRNA and protein increased after injection of interleukin-1beta. This was associated with decreased circulating parathyroid hormone, calcium, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. Interleukin-1beta stimulated endogenous CASR gene transcripts and transfected promoter reporter activity in human thyroid C-cells (TT cells) and kidney proximal tubule (HKC) cells. Cotransfection of NF-kappaB proteins enhanced activity of the reporter constructs, whereas cotransfection with inhibitor-kappaB or application of an NF-kappaB nuclear localization sequence peptide abrogated responsiveness to cytokine or NF-kappaB proteins. Mutagenesis of some, but not all, of the potential kappaB elements in the 5' part of the CASR gene led to loss of responsiveness to cytokine. These elements conferred cytokine responsiveness to a heterologous promoter, and in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, NF-kappaB complexes formed on the same three kappaB elements. In summary, the CASR gene has several functional kappaB elements that mediate its upregulation by proinflammatory cytokines and probably contribute to altered extracellular calcium homeostasis in the critically ill.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Human Genetics, McGill University and Calcium Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canaff
authors.forename: Geoffrey N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Hendy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; C473605:extracellular calcium cation-sensing receptor, rat; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium