1,25(OH)2D3 increases calcium and phosphatidylinositol metabolism in differentiating cultured human keratinocytes.

The effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on the intracellular calcium, (Ca(+2))i, in both cultured human keratinocytes and in cultured human dermal fibroblasts was investigated. When the intracellular calcium (Ca(+2))i in cultured human keratinocytes, grown in a serum-free medium containing 1.8 mM calcium, was measured by the fluorescent calcium-indicator, Furu-2, the (Ca(+2)i increased 154%, 202%, and 409% over the control value after incubation with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) at 10(-10) m, 10(-8) m, and 10(-6) m, respectively. This response was immediate (15 seconds), specific (no effect with either 25(OH)D(3) at 10(-8) m or vitamin D(3) at 10(-8) m), and occurred with or without EGTA in the medium. In contrast, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) did not increase the (Ca(2+))i in either cultured human keratinocytes that were grown in low calcium (0.05 mm), serum-free medium or in cultured human dermal fibroblasts that were grown in medium containing 0.05 mm calcium and 1% serum. The effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on the the turnover of phosphatidylinositol was investigated as a possible cause for the observed increase in (Ca(+2)i. Cultured human keratinocytes that were incubated with (3)H-inositol demonstrated a 50 % +/- 10% increase in the triphosphated, plasma membrane-bound metabolite of phosphatidylinositol, PIP(2), by 15 seconds, followed by a rapid decrease at 30 seconds, then a return toward basal levels by 1 minute. Lysophosphatidylinositol, which results from the sn-2 deacylation of phosphatidylinositol by phospholipase A(2), decreased 20% +/- 8% within 30 seconds, then increased to 200% +/- 10% of the control value by 5 minutes. The accumulation of IP(3) was increased 50% to 100% above the control value within 30 seconds and this increase was substained during the 5-minute incubation period. Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) was not detected in either cultured human keratinocytes that were grown in serum-free, low calcium medium or in cultured human dermal fibroblasts that were grown in 1% serum.