Calcitonin (CT) rapidly increases Na+/H+ exchange and metabolic acid production:: Effects mediated selectively by the C1a CT receptor isoform

Two isoforms of the calcitonin receptor are expressed in rabbit: the common Cla isoform and the calcitonin receptor Delta e13 isoform, which has a deletion in the seventh transmembrane domain. Using microphysiometry, we investigated the effects of calcitonin on proton efflux from HEK293 cells stably transfected with Cla, calcitonin receptor Delta e13, or empty vector. In C1a-expressing cells only, calcitonin rapidly induced a biphasic elevation in proton efflux consisting of an initial transient and a sustained plateau, accompanied by an increase in lactate efflux. Inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchange abolished only the initial transient, whereas removal of extracellular glucose abolished only the sustained plateau. These data suggest that activation of Na+/H+ exchange mediates the initial transient, whereas increased glucose metabolism underlies the sustained plateau. Because both receptor isoforms activate adenylyl cyclase, the lack of effect of calcitonin on proton efflux from calcitonin receptor Delta e13-expressing cells argued against involvement of cAMP in activating proton efflux. Similarly, studies involving elevation or buffering of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration argued against involvement of Ca2+. Activation of PKC mimicked the plateau phase of calcitonin-induced proton efflux from Cla cells, whereas inhibition or depletion of PKC suppressed it. Activation of proton transport and production are novel cellular responses to calcitonin, mediated selectively by the Cla receptor isoform via a mechanism involving PKC.