Acute adaptation of renal phosphate transporters in the murine kidney to oral phosphate intake requires multiple signals

Abstract

Aims: Dietary inorganic phosphate (Pi) modulates renal Pi reabsorption by regulating the expression of the NaPi‐IIa and NaPi‐IIc Pi transporters. Here, we aimed to clarify the role of several Pi‐regulatory mechanisms including parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and inositol hexakisphosphate kinases (IP6‐kinases) in the acute regulation of NaPi‐IIa and NaPi‐IIc. Methods: Wildtype (WT) and PTH‐deficient mice (PTH‐KO) with/without inhibition of FGF23 signalling were gavaged with Pi/saline and examined at 1, 4 and 12 h. Results: Pi‐gavage elevated plasma Pi and decreased plasma Ca 2+ in both genotypes after 1 h Within 1 h, Pi‐gavage decreased NaPi‐IIa abundance in WT and PTH‐KO mice. NaPi‐IIc was downregulated 1 h post‐administration in WT and after 4 h in PTH‐KO. PTH increased after 1 h in WT animals. After 4 h Pi‐gavage, FGF23 increased in both genotypes being higher in the KO group. PTHrp and dopamine were not altered by Pi‐gavage. Blocking FGF23 signalling blunted PTH upregulation in WT mice and reduced NaPi‐IIa downregulation in PTH‐KO mice 4 h after Pi‐gavage. Inhibition of IP6‐kinases had no effect. Conclusions: (1) Acute downregulation of renal Pi transporters in response to Pi intake occurs also in the absence of PTH and FGF23 signalling, (2) when FGF23 signalling is blocked, a partial contribution of PTH is revealed, (3) IP6 kinases, intracellular Pi‐sensors in yeast and bacteria, are not involved, and (4) Acute Pi does not alter PTHrp and dopamine. Thus, signals other than PTH, PTHrp, FGF23 and dopamine contribute to renal adaption.