Parathyroid hormone inhibits TGF-β/Smad signaling and extracellular matrix proteins upregulation in rat mesangial cells.

Accumulation of glomerular matrix is a hallmark of diabetic nephropathy. TGF-β1 is a major cytokine mediating the production of various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on TGF-β1 and high glucose-induced upregulation of ECM proteins in primary mesangial cells from Sprague-Dawley rat. The results showed that PTH pretreatment prevented TGF-β1 and high glucose-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and consequent upregulation of fibronectin and type IV collagen within 4 h. The inhibitory effect of PTH is due to PTH1R activation, because knocking down PTH 1 receptor (PTH1R) by RNA interference reversed the inhibitory effect of PTH on TGF-β1 and high glucose-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and ECM upregulation. Furthermore, it is found that PTH1R associated with TGF-β type II receptor (TβR II) and both receptors internalized into the cytoplasm when mesangial cells were stimulated with PTH alone. The internalization of TβR II might reduce the amount of membrane TβR II, attenuate the sensitivity of mesangial cells to TGF-β1, and therefore inhibit Smad activation and ECM upregulation induced by TGF-β1 and high glucose. Further studies are needed to know whether the endocytic receptors are to be degraded or recycled, and evaluate the role of PTH in TGF-β1 signaling more comprehensively.