title: Parathyroid hormone induces the NR4A family of nuclear orphan receptors in vivo.
abstract: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has both anabolic and catabolic effects on bone metabolism, although the molecular mechanisms mediating these effects are largely unknown. Among the transcription factors induced by PTH in osteoblasts are the nerve growth factor-inducible factor B (NR4A; NGFI-B) family of orphan nuclear receptors: Nurr1, Nur77, and NOR-1. PTH induces NR4A members through the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway in vitro. We report here that PTH rapidly and transiently induced expression of all three NR4A genes in PTH-target tissues in vivo. In calvaria, long bones, and kidneys, NR4A induction was maximal 0.5-1 h after a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 80 microg/kg PTH. Nur77 demonstrated the highest expression, followed, in order, by Nurr1 and NOR-1. In calvaria and long bone, PTH-induced expression of each NR4A gene was detectable at 10 microg/kg i.p. with maximum induction at 40-80 microg/kg. PTH (3-34) did not induce NR4A mRNA levels in calvaria, long bone, and kidney in vivo, confirming our in vitro results that NR4A genes are induced primarily through the cAMP-PKA pathway. The magnitude of PTH-induced NR4A expression was comparable in vivo and in vitro. However, NR4A mRNA levels peaked and returned to baseline faster in vivo. Both in vivo and in vitro, PTH induced NR4A pre-mRNA levels suggesting that induction of these genes is, at least in part, through activation of mRNA synthesis. The in vivo induction of the NR4A family members by PTH suggests their involvement in, at least some, PTH-induced changes in bone metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. fqpirih@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Flavia Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Pirih
authors.forename: Tara L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Aghaloo
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bezouglaia
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nervina
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tetradis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C539818:Nr4a1 protein, mouse; C539883:Nr4a2 protein, mouse; C490411:Nr4a3 protein, mouse; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011988:Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; D014157:Transcription Factors