Calcium-Sensing Receptor Induces Proliferation through p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase but Not Extracellularly Regulated Kinase in a Model of Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

J. Tfelt-Hansen*, N. Chattopadhyay, S. Yano, D. Kanuparthi, P. Rooney, P. Schwarz, E. M. Brown

*Corresponding author for this work
52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using H-500 rat Leydig cancer cells as a model of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM), we previously showed that high Ca2+ induces PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) secretion via the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) and mitogen- and stress-activated kinases, e.g. MAPK kinase 1 (MEK1), p38 MAPK, and stress-activated protein kinase 1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Because cellular proliferation is a hallmark of malignancy, we studied the role of the CaR in regulating the proliferation of H-500 cells. Elevated Ca2+ has a mitogenic effect on these cells that is mediated by the CaR, because the calcimimetic NPS R-467 also induced proliferation. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and p38 MAPK but not MEK1 abolished the mitogenic effect. Activation of PI3K by elevated Ca2+ was documented by phosphorylation of its downstream kinase, protein kinase B. Because protein kinase B activation promotes cell survival, we speculated that elevated Ca 2+ might protect H-500 cells against apoptosis. Using terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl nick end labeling staining, we demonstrated that high Ca2+ (7.5 mM) and NPS R-467 indeed protect cells against apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal compared with low Ca2+ (0.5 mM). Because the CaR induces PTHrP secretion, it is possible that the mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects of elevated Ca2+ could be indirect and mediated via PTHrP. However, blocking the type 1 PTH receptor with PTH (7-34) peptide did not alter either high Ca2+-induced proliferation or protection against apoptosis. Taken together, our data show that activation of PI3K and p38 MAPK but not of MEK1/ERK by the CaR promotes proliferation of H-500 cells as well as affords protection against apoptosis. These effects are likely direct without the involvement of PTHrP in an autocrine mode.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEndocrinology
Volume145
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)1211-1217
Number of pages7
ISSN0013-7227
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2004
Externally publishedYes

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