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Endocrinology Vol. 142, No. 5 1720-1726
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Dietary Phosphorus Deprivation Induces 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1{alpha}-Hydroxylase Gene Expression1

Tadashi Yoshida, Noriko Yoshida, Toshiaki Monkawa, Matsuhiko Hayashi and Takao Saruta

Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Matsuhiko Hayashi, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. E-mail: matuhiko{at}mc.med.keio.ac.jp


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Dietary phosphorus deprivation causes hypophosphatemia and an increase in serum 1{alpha},25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] concentrations. To determine the molecular mechanisms of this regulation, the effects of dietary phosphorus deprivation and hypophysectomy on 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1{alpha}-hydroxylase (1{alpha}-hydroxylase) protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were examined in rats. A low phosphorus diet (LPD) for 4 days resulted in hypophosphatemia and an increase in serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. This increase was caused by the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein and mRNA expression (4- and 10-fold increases, respectively). Administration of the LPD or normal phosphorus diet to hypophysectomized (HPX) rats resulted in hypophosphatemia and suppression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression, indicating that hypophosphatemia itself is not sufficient to induce 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression. Administration of GH to HPX rats fed LPD could partially restore 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression, whereas supplementation with insulin-like growth factor I, T3, estrogen, or corticosterone had no effect. We also examined Phex gene expression in the bone, because the clinical features of X-linked hypophosphatemia resemble those of HPX rats. Phex mRNA expression, however, was not altered in HPX rats. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the increase in serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels caused by dietary phosphorus deprivation is due to the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression, and this increase is mediated in part by a GH-dependent mechanism.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
VITAMIN D3 PLAYS a pivotal role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, bone growth, and cell differentiation. The active form of vitamin D3, 1{alpha},25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3], is synthesized by 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1{alpha}-hydroxylase (1{alpha}-hydroxylase) from its endogenous precursor, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1). This enzyme is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily and is predominantly localized in renal proximal tubular cells (2). The serum level of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is primarily controlled by this enzyme rather than by the other enzymes involved in vitamin D3 metabolism.

The activity of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase is closely regulated by a series of modulators, including PTH, calcitonin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and 1,25-(OH)2D3 itself (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Hypophosphatemia induced by dietary phosphorus deprivation is also an important up-regulator of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity in experimental animals (8, 9) and in humans (10, 11). Previous studies have shown that the increase in serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels in response to a low phosphorus diet (LPD) is not dependent on PTH, but can be completely blocked by hypophysectomy (9, 12). It has been proposed that the pituitary GH-IGF-I axis is the mediator of 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis by hypophosphatemia (13, 14, 15), although serum phosphate levels are not associated with changes in GH secretion (12).

Recently, we and other investigators have cloned rat, mouse, human, and porcine complementary DNAs (cDNAs) of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21), facilitating studies of the mechanism by which dietary phosphorus deprivation elevates serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations at the molecular level. In the present study we examined the effects of LPD and hypophysectomy on serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels, 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein expression, and 1{alpha}-hydroxylase messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in rats. Moreover, we tested whether the Phex gene, mutations in which cause X-linked hypophosphatemia (22), was involved in the regulation of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase by dietary phosphorus deprivation.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Animals
Male Sprague Dawley rats were obtained from SLC (Shizuoka, Japan) at 7–8 weeks of age (200–250 g). They were housed with a 12-h light, 12-h dark cycle. Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed on some animals by the supplier 7 days before they were received in the laboratory. Completeness of hypophysectomy was documented by monitoring body weight. Rats were fed a normal phosphorus diet (NPD; 1% calcium and 1% phosphorus, Teklad test diet 86129, Teklad, Madison, WI) or a LPD (Teklad test diet 86128, same as control diet except for phosphorus content of 0.03%) ad libitum for 4 days. They were then weighed, anesthetized, and exsanguinated from the heart. The kidneys were rapidly excised and stored at -80 C until analyses.

To examine the effect of IGF-I on hypophysectomized (HPX) rats fed LPD, we used surgically implantable Alzet miniosmotic pumps (model 2001, Alza Corp., Palo Alto, CA). Rats were anesthetized, an Alzet pump filled with recombinant human IGF-I (Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) dissolved in saline was inserted sc, and the incision was rapidly closed off. The animals received continuous infusion of IGF-I at 150 µg/day for 4 days. In an experiment designed to assess the effect of GH, T3, estrogen (E2), or corticosterone on (HPX) rats, hormone replacement experiments were performed. The doses used in this study were based on previous studies (13, 15, 23, 24). Human GH at a dose of 50 µg (Chemicon, Temecula, CA) was injected ip in four doses, given at 12-h intervals over the last 38-h period in HPX rats eating LPD for a total of 4 days. T3 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) at 1 µg/day, E2 (Sigma) at 2 µg/day, or corticosterone (Sigma) at 100 µg/day was injected ip for 4 days at 24-h intervals. The rats were killed 2 h after the fourth dose.

For the characterization of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody, thyroparathyroidectomized rats and rats fed a vitamin D3-deficient diet (25) were used. The animal protocol was reviewed and approved by the animal care and use committee at Keio University.

Antibody
Rabbit polyclonal antibody was raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 14 C-terminal amino acids of rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase. A cysteine residue was attached to the N-terminus of the peptide to introduce the SH residue for coupling. The 15-amino acid CLVPERSIHLQFVDR was synthesized by the f-moc method. The synthetic peptide conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin by the sulfo-m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydrosuccinimide method was used to immunize 2 New Zealand White rabbits with Freund’s complete adjuvant (first injection) or incomplete adjuvant (from second injection). After 5 injections, a sufficient increase in the antibody titer was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum was collected. Specific antibodies were prepared from the antiserum by affinity column chromatography using the antigen peptide coupled to 2-fluoro-1-methylpyridinium toluene-4-sulfonate-activated Cellulofine (Seikagaku Corp., Tokyo, Japan).

Immunoblotting
Kidneys were homogenized with a Teflon pestle in 10 vol 0.25 mol/liter sucrose, 1 mmol/liter EDTA, and 5 mmol/liter Tris-HCl, pH 7.4. All manipulations were performed at 4 C. The homogenate was centrifuged at 450 x g for 10 min. The supernatant was centrifuged at 5500 x g for 10 min. The mitochondrial pellet was dissolved in 1 mmol/liter EDTA and 50 mmol/liter Tris-HCl, pH 7.4. Thirty micrograms of mitochondrial protein were subjected to SDS-PAGE, followed by immunoblotting. SDS-PAGE was performed as described by Laemmli (26) on 7.5% gels. Proteins were transferred onto a Hybond enhanced chemiluminescence nitrocellulose filter (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden), and probed with anti-1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody. Bound antibodies were visualized using an enhanced chemiluminescence Western blotting system (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Signal intensities of the bands were measured with NIH image software version 1.57 (NIMH, Bethesda, MD).

Northern blot analysis
Total RNA was extracted by the acid guanidinium thiocyanate- phenol-chloroform method (27). Polyadenylated [poly(A)+] RNA was then prepared using a MicroPoly (A) Pure mRNA Purification Kit (Ambion, Inc., Austin, TX). Four micrograms of poly(A)+ RNA were denatured with glyoxal and dimethylsulfoxide, fractionated on a 1% agarose gel, and transferred onto a Hybond N+ nylon membrane (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Hybridization was carried out in PerfectHyb solution (TOYOBO Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) at 66 C for 8 h with a 32P randomly labeled rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase cDNA probe (17). A final high stringency wash was performed at 66 C in 0.1 x SSC (standard saline citrate) and 0.1% SDS, and the membrane was exposed to a BAS Imaging Plate (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The membrane was rehybridized with a ß-actin probe (CLONTECH Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alta, CA).

Measurement of serum levels of calcium, phosphate, and 1,25-(OH)2D3
Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were measured as described previously (28). Serum calcium and phosphate levels were measured using an autoanalyzer. Serum PTH levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech).

Preparation of complementary RNA (cRNA) competitor molecules
To enable quantification of Phex gene expression by competitive RT-PCR, internal heterologous cRNA competitor molecules for both Phex and ß-actin were designed and constructed. Briefly, {lambda}DNA was amplified by PCR with Phex primers (5'-ATTTAGGTGACACTATAGAATACAGAAATCAGTCAGTCGAAGGCGGTACGGTCATCATCT- GACAC-3' and 5'-TTATCATGAACCTCACTGGTTCGGTTCTCATGCGCCATCCTGGGAAGACTCC-3'; the underlined sequence corresponds to SP6 promoter sequence, and the italic sequence corresponds to {lambda}DNA sequence) or ß-actin primers (5'-ATTTA-GGTGACACTATAGAATACTGGAGAAGAGCTATGAGCTGGTACGGTCATCATCTGACAC-3' and 5'-TTATCATGAAACTTGCGCTCAGGAGGAGCAATGGCGTGAGTATTACGAAGGTG-3') using a Competitive DNA Construction Kit (Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd., Shiga, Japan). The resultant PCR products were in vitro transcribed into cRNA by SP6 RNA polymerase (Competitive RNA Transcription Kit, Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd.). Mutant heterologous cRNA competitor concentrations were measured by spectrophotometer.

Competitive RT-PCR
Expression of rat Phex mRNA was measured by two steps of competitive RT-PCR. The first step of RT-PCR was performed to measure ß-actin mRNA expression from total RNA at 200 ng, and the second step of RT-PCR was performed to quantify Phex gene expression from an equal amount of total RNA adjusted by ß-actin gene expression levels. First strand cDNA was prepared by concurrent RT of increasing dilutions of cRNA competitor and wild-type total RNA using random hexamer (GeneAmp RNA PCR Core Kit, PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After an initial denaturation for 3 min at 93 C, 30 cycles of PCR were performed for ß-actin with ß-actin-sense (5'-TGGAGAAGAGCTATGAGCTG-3') and ß-actin-antisense (5'-ACTTGCGCTCAGGAGGAGCAATG-3') primers, and 35 cycles for Phex with Phex-sense (5'-AGAAATCAGTCAGTCGAAGGCG-3') and Phex-antisense (5'-CCTCACTGGTTCGGTTCTCATG-3') primers. Each cycle was programmed as follows: 1-min denaturation at 93 C, 2-min annealing at 64 C, and 2-min extension at 72 C. The PCR products were separated by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis and stained by ethidium bromide. The image was scanned and analyzed using NIH Image software. The expression of wild-type mRNA was determined from the equivalence point i.e. where the ratio of wild-type mRNA to cRNA competitor equals 1.

Statistical analysis
Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Student’s unpaired t test and one-way ANOVA with Scheffé’s post-hoc test were used for statistical comparisons between experimental groups. P < 0.05 was considered significant.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Characterization of rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody
We generated a polyclonal antibody specific for rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase. This antibody was produced against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 14 C-terminal amino acids of rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase, which is unique for 1{alpha}-hydroxylase. The specificity of the antibody was tested by immunoblot analysis with homogenates prepared from thyroparathyroidectomized rats and vitamin D3-deficient rats. In the thyroparathyroidectomized rat, the serum level of 1,25-(OH)2D3 is low, providing a model of diminished 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity, whereas the vitamin D3-deficient rat is a model of elevated 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity. The antibody recognized a major band at approximately 55 kDa (Fig. 1AGo) in a homogenate of vitamin D3-deficient rat kidney. The band was abolished by pretreatment of the antibody with the antigen peptide (Fig. 1BGo). In contrast, only a nonspecific band was detected in the thyroparathyroidectomized rat kidney. The size and the pattern of regulation were consistent with previous studies (18, 25). These results indicate this antibody recognizes the 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein.



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Figure 1. Characterization of rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody by immunoblotting. A, The 1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody recognizes a 55-kDa band in homogenate from the vitamin D3-deficient rat (VDD), but not in homogenate from the thyroparathyroidectomized rat (TPTX). B, Pretreatment of the antibody with the antigen peptide abolished binding. The positions of molecular mass markers (kilodaltons) are shown on the left.

 
Effect of LPD on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein and mRNA expression
LPD induces hypophosphatemia and elevation of serum concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3, but the molecular mechanism of this effect remains unknown. We initially examined the effect of LPD on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein and mRNA expression in rats. LPD for 4 days significantly increased the serum concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (915 ± 68 pg/ml; vs. rats fed NPD, 288 ± 14 pg/ml; P < 0.05; Table 1Go) and also increased renal 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein (406 ± 18% of that in rats fed NPD; P < 0.05; Fig. 2Go). These increases were accompanied by a significant induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression (1070 ± 206% of that in rats fed NPD; P < 0.05; Fig. 3Go), indicating that the LPD modulates 1{alpha}-hydroxylase expression at the mRNA level.


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Table 1. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 in rats fed low phosphorus diet (LPD) or normal phosphorus diet (NPD)

 


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Figure 2. Expression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein in rats fed LPD or NPD. A, Mitochondrial proteins were prepared from rat kidney and 30 µg protein were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose, as described in Materials and Methods. The blot was probed with the rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase antibody. B, An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 compared with rats fed NPD.

 


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Figure 3. Expression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA in rats fed LPD or NPD. A, 1{alpha}-Hydroxylase mRNA levels were assessed by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA (4 µg/lane) using 32P-labeled rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase probe and ß-actin probe. B, The ratios of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase to ß-actin mRNA expression were calculated. An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 compared with rats fed NPD.

 
Effect of hypophysectomy on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression
Previous studies have suggested pituitary involvement in the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity by phosphorus deprivation (9, 12). We examined the effect of hypophysectomy on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression. HPX rats receiving LPD or NPD for 4 days developed hypophosphatemia (Table 2Go); however, neither treatment increased serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels (HPX rats fed LPD, 130 ± 45 pg/ml; HPX rats fed NPD, 292 ± 32 pg/ml) nor 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression (HPX rats fed LPD, 69 ± 17%; HPX rats fed NPD, 186 ± 61% of normal rats fed NPD; Fig. 4Go). Conversely, serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels were lower in HPX rats fed LPD than in HPX rats fed NPD (P < 0.05). To examine the involvement of other hormones in this paradoxical regulation, we measured serum PTH concentrations in HPX rats fed LPD or NPD. However, serum PTH levels were decreased and not different in the two groups (HPX rats fed LPD, 1.3 ± 0.3 pg/ml; HPX rats fed NPD, 1.6 ± 0.4 pg/ml). Other factors may contribute to this phenomenon.


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Table 2. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 in hypophysectomized (HPX) rats fed LPD or NPD

 


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Figure 4. Expression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA in hypophysectomized (HPX) rats. HPX rats were fed LPD (HPX-LPD) or NPD (HPX-NPD) for 4 days. A, 1{alpha}-Hydroxylase mRNA levels were assessed by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA (4 µg/lane) using 32P-labeled rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase probe and ß-actin probe. B, The ratios of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase to ß-actin mRNA expression were calculated. An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4).

 
Effects of GH and IGF-I on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression in HPX rats
GH and its mediator IGF-I are possible to restore the suppression of 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels and the down-regulation of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in HPX rats (13, 14, 15, 29). We performed continuous infusion of IGF-I or intermittent ip injection of GH (50 µg/dose, four times) in HPX rats given LPD. Infusion of IGF-I at 150 µg/day for 4 days had no effect on serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels (73 ± 22 pg/ml; Table 3Go), nor did it restore 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression (87 ± 39% of that in normal rats fed NPD; Fig. 5Go), whereas the same dose of IGF-I increased serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels (397 ± 33 pg/ml; vs. control rats, 288 ± 14 pg/ml; P < 0.05), 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein expression (1.80 ± 34%; P < 0.05; Fig. 6AGo), and 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression (306 ± 73%; P < 0.05; Fig. 6B) in normal rats. In contrast, ip administration of GH partially restored 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression (187 ± 50% of that in normal rats fed NPD; Fig. 5Go), but did not increase serum levels of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (123 ± 19 pg/ml).


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Table 3. Effect of hypophysectomy (HPX) and supplementation of IGF-I, GH, T3, E2, and corticosterone (B) on serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 in rats fed LPD

 


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Figure 5. Expression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA in HPX rats supplemented with IGF-I or GH. HPX rats fed LPD received continuous infusion of saline (Veh) or IGF-I (150 µg/day for 4 days) sc or intermittent ip injection of GH (50 µg, four times). A, 1{alpha}-Hydroxylase mRNA levels were assessed by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA (4 µg/lane) using 32P-labeled rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase probe and ß- actin probe. B, The ratios of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase to ß-actin mRNA expression were calculated. An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 compared with rats fed LPD.

 


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Figure 6. Effects of continuous infusion of IGF-I on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein and mRNA expression. A, Immunoblot analysis in IGF-I-treated (150 µg/day for 4 days) and sham-operated rats. B, An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to the sham-operated rats. C, Northern blot analysis in IGF-I-treated and sham-operated rats. D, The ratios of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase to ß-actin mRNA expression were calculated. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 compared with sham-operated rats.

 
Effect of T3, E2, and corticosterone on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression in HPX rats
To examine whether other pituitary-dependent hormones could restore 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression, HPX rats eating LPD were replaced with T3, E2, or corticosterone for 4 days. As shown in Fig. 7Go and Table 3Go, these hormones had no effect on 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression or serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels in HPX rats. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels in HPX rats fed LPD with T3 were decreased.



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Figure 7. Expression of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA in HPX rats supplemented with T3, E2, or corticosterone (B). HPX rats fed LPD received intermittent ip injection of T3 (1 µg/day), E2 (2 µg/day), or B (100 µg/day) for 4 days. A, 1{alpha}-Hydroxylase mRNA levels were assessed by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA (4 µg/lane) using 32P-labeled rat 1{alpha}-hydroxylase probe and ß-actin probe. B, The ratios of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase to ß-actin mRNA expression were calculated. An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4). *, P < 0.05 compared with rats fed LPD.

 
Expression of Phex mRNA in bone of HPX rats
Hypophysectomy caused hypophosphatemia and paradoxical suppression of serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. These biochemical parameters resemble the clinical features of X-linked hypophosphatemia, which is caused by mutations in the Phex gene (22). To investigate the possible involvement of this gene in hypophysectomy-induced hypophosphatemia and low 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels, Phex mRNA expression in the calvaria bone was measured by competitive RT-PCR. The expression levels of Phex mRNA adjusted to ß-actin mRNA expression in HPX rats fed LPD were similar to those in HPX rats fed NPD (Fig. 8Go). Moreover, Phex mRNA expression was not altered in any group examined, i.e. normal rats fed LPD, normal rats fed NPD, HPX rats fed LPD, or HPX rats fed NPD. Similar results were obtained for Phex gene expression in the lung (data not shown).



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Figure 8. Expression of Phex mRNA in bone. Normal and HPX rats were fed either LPD or NPD for 4 days. A, Phex mRNA expression in the calvaria of HPX rats fed LPD (HPX-LPD), HPX rats fed NPD (HPX-NPD), rats fed LPD (LPD), and rats fed NPD (NPD) was measured by competitive RT-PCR. B, An arbitrary value of 100 was assigned to rats fed NPD. Values represent the mean ± SEM (n = 4).

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Hypophosphatemia due to dietary phosphorus deprivation leads to a marked increase in serum concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3. To determine the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we tested the effects of LPD and hypophysectomy on serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels, 1{alpha}-hydroxylase protein expression, and 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression in rats. Our study clearly demonstrated that the elevation of serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations during LPD was caused by the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in the kidney. We also showed that hypophysectomy completely abolished the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene by hypophosphatemia, and that it could be partially restored by the pituitary hormone GH, but not by IGF-I, T3, E2, or corticosterone. Moreover, Phex gene expression was unaffected by either dietary phosphorus content or hypophysectomy, indicating that it is not involved in 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene induction by hypophosphatemia.

Serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels are regulated by a number of factors, including PTH, calcitonin, IGF-I, and serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate. Of these factors, it has been reported that PTH (30, 31) and calcitonin (25, 31, 32), respectively, induce 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA expression and thereby increase serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations. In addition, we have shown here that restriction of dietary phosphorus also induced 1{alpha}-hydroxylase mRNA and protein expression accompanied by an elevation in 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the regulation of serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations by dietary phosphorus deprivation; one is the down-regulation of 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase activity, leading to the suppression of vitamin D3 catabolism, and the other is the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of ferredoxin, leading to posttranslational regulation of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity (33, 34). However, our study has demonstrated that the major effect of dietary phosphorus restriction on 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis was mediated by induction of the 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene.

Despite hypophosphatemia, 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression and serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 concentrations were not increased in HPX rats, suggesting that hypophosphatemia itself is not sufficient to increase 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression. This suggests that hypophosphatemia is not directly sensed in the kidney and may therefore be mediated by the pituitary. Consistent with our data, several investigators have reported the absence of induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity by hypophosphatemia in HPX rats (9, 12). Tenenhouse et al. (12) demonstrated that dietary phosphorus deprivation increased both sodium-dependent phosphate transport at the renal brush-border membrane and plasma concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3, but only enhanced phosphate transport was seen after hypophysectomy. Their data indicated that the induction of renal phosphate transport and 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis by hypophosphatemia were subject to different regulatory mechanisms. Thus, the induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression by hypophosphatemia would be involved in the pituitary gland, whereas a low phosphate stimulus directly increases sodium-dependent phosphate transport. Although no specific phosphate sensor has been detected to date, it is likely that the signal to synthesize 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the kidney induced by low phosphate concentrations was transduced via the pituitary gland.

Previous studies have indicated that GH and its mediator IGF-I could restore the decreased 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity in HPX rats (13, 14, 15, 29). It was therefore considered that the pituitary GH-IGF-I axis was the mediator of hypophosphatemia-induced 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis. However, several reports have suggested that the effects of dietary phosphorus deprivation and IGF-I were independent of each other (5, 12, 23). It was reported that hypophosphatemia was not associated with changes in GH secretion (12) or plasma IGF-I concentrations (23). Moreover, the responses to the maximally effective dose of IGF-I and phosphate depletion on renal 1{alpha}-hydroxylase activity were additive in rats (5). These results suggested that IGF-I-dependent and hypophosphatemia-dependent enzyme stimulation occurred via different mechanisms. Our findings that GH, but not IGF-I, could partially restore the diminished 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in HPX rats support the idea that these stimuli were independent. Alternatively, the pituitary GH signal by hypophosphatemia might be IGF-I independent and directly increase 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in the kidney.

We looked for other factors that may be involved in induction of 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression by LPD, because GH alone could not completely recover 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in HPX rats. We hypothesized that dysregulation of Phex gene expression might play a role in hypophosphatemia and suppression of 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels in HPX rats. Mutations in the Phex gene cause X-linked hypophosphatemia, which is characterized by growth retardation, rachitic and osteomalacic bone disease, hypophosphatemia, and renal defects in the reabsorption of filtered phosphate and the metabolism of vitamin D3 (22). However, no changes in Phex mRNA expression were seen in this study. The Phex gene encodes for a protein with homology to members of the membrane-bound zinc metallopeptidase family (35). It is conceivable that the gene product activates or inactivates an unidentified factor named phosphatonin, and that activated phosphatonin regulates renal phosphate transport and 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis. To date, phosphatonin and 1,25-(OH)2D3 are the only known factors that suppress serum 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. It is possible that phosphatonin itself may be regulated and affect renal 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene induction in the hypophosphatemic state.

The available data indicate that regulation of phosphate homeostasis is a complex, but fascinating, process. Identification of a phosphate sensor and phosphatonin will clarify the mechanisms by which hypophosphatemia during dietary phosphorus deprivation increases 1{alpha}-hydroxylase gene expression in the kidney.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported in part by grants from the National Grant-in-Aid for the Establishment of High-Tech Research Center in a Private University, the National Rice Association (Tokyo, Japan), and the Takeda Medical Research Foundation (Osaka, Japan). Back

Received September 11, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Fraser DR, Kodicek E 1970 Unique biosynthesis by kidney of a biologically active vitamin D metabolite. Nature 228:764–766
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