TGF-β type II receptor phosphorylates PTH receptor to integrate bone remodelling signalling

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism by activating PTH type I receptor (PTH1R). Here we show that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta type II receptor (T beta RII) forms an endocytic complex with PTH1R in response to PTH and regulates signalling by PTH and TGF-beta. T beta RII directly phosphorylates the PTH1R cytoplasmic domain, which modulates PTH-induced endocytosis of the PTH1R-T beta RII complex. Deletion of T beta RII in osteoblasts increases the cell-surface expression of PTH1R and augments PTH signalling. Conditional knockout of T beta RII in osteoblasts in mice results in a high bone mass with increased trabecular bone and decreased cortical bone, similar to the bone phenotype in mice expressing a constitutively active PTH1R. Disruption of PTH signalling by injection of PTH(7-34) or ablation of PTH1R rescues the bone phenotype of T beta RII knockout mice. These studies reveal a previously unrecognized function for T beta RII and a mechanism for integration of PTH and local growth factor at the membrane receptor level.