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Histological analyses showed that expression of the parathyroid calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is decreased in parathyroid adenomas. Because reduced expression of CaSR may result in insufficient suppression of parathyroid hormone secretion, the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms of CaSR expression is indispensable for understanding the pathogenesis of parathyroid adenomas. Two cDNA clones for human CaSR with different 5-untranslated regions have been isolated. However, the structure of the promoter region of human CaSR and the mechanisms of production of multiple CaSR mRNAs are unknown. We have cloned promoter regions of human CaSR by screening a genomic library. The human CaSR gene has two promoters and two 5-untranslated exons (exons 1A and 1B), and alternative usage of these exons leads to production of multiple CaSR mRNAs. The upstream promoter has TATA and CAAT boxes, and the downstream promoter is GC-rich. Northern blot analysis showed that expression levels of exon 1A in parathyroid adenomas are significantly less than those in normal glands. However, expression of exon 1B was not different between adenomas and normal glands. Thus, specific reduction of the transcript driven by the upstream promoter was observed in parathyroid adenomas. Further analyses of factors that modulate the activity of the upstream promoter are necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of parathyroid adenomas.

Inactivating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) cause familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) and neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT). Earlier investigations showed patients with FHH are heterozygous, and NSHPT are homozygous for inactivating mutations. However, one adult patient with severe hypercalcaemia and hypocalciuria has been reported to have a homozygous inactivating mutation in CaSR (Pro39Ala). This suggested that mutant CaSR in this patient had some residual activity and hypercalcaemia was not so severe as to be fatal. However, the function of this mutant CaSR was not evaluated. In the present study, we describe a novel homozygous mutation in an adult patient with severe hypercalcaemia and hypocalciuria, and evaluate the function of the mutant CaSRs. The DNA sequence of CaSR gene was determined by direct sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction product. The function of mutant CaSR was analysed by creating mutant cDNAs by in vitro mutagenesis, transfection of mutant cDNAs into HEK293 cells and measuring intracellular ionized Ca in response to changes in extracellular Ca. A 26-year-old Japanese woman showed marked hypercalcaemia with an elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) level. Her consanguineous parents had asymptomatic hypercalcaemia with relative hypocalciuria. The proband had a homozygous mutation at codon 27 of CaSR gene (CAA-->CGA, Gln27Arg). Her parents were heterozygous for this mutation. EC50 for Ca of this mutant CaSR (GIn27Arg) was 4.9 mM. EC50 of another mutant CaSR (Pro39Ala) whose homozygous mutation was discovered in an adult patient was 4.4 mM. These EC50s were significantly higher than that of wild-type CaSR (3.7} 0.1 mM), but were the lowest among the reported EC50s for inactivating mutations of CaSR. These results indicate that serum Ca and PTH levels are determined by residual function of mutant CaSR in patients with homozygous mutation in CaSR, and that patients having homozygous mutant CaSRs with mild dysfunction do not suffer from fatal hypercalcaemia in infancy and can survive into adulthood.

Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) caused by activating mutations of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is characterized by hypocalcemia with inappropriately low concentration of PTH and relative hypercalciuria. Active vitamin D treatment often leads to nephrolithiasis and renal impairment in patients with ADH. However, differential diagnosis between ADH and idiopathic hypoparathyroidism is sometimes very difficult. Here, we report a mutation of CaSR and its functional property found in three generations of a Japanese family. The proband developed seizures at 7 days of age. His mother and elder sister were discovered to have hypoparathyroidism by family survey, but his father was normocalcemic. His grandfather developed heart failure and was found to have hypoparathyroidism. All affected members had been treated with active vitamin D3 and bilateral nephrolithiasis were detected in three of them. DNA sequencing revealed that all affected patients had a heterozygous mutation in CaSR gene that causes proline to leucine substitution at codon 221 (P221L). In vitro functional analysis of the mutant CaSR by measuring inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in response to changes of extracellular Ca indicated that this mutation is an activating one and responsible for ADH in this family. Therefore, careful monitoring of urinary Ca excretion before and during treatment of PTH-deficient hypoparathyroidism is very important, and screening of CaSR mutation should be considered in patients with relative hypercalciuria or with a family history of hypocalcemia.