Opposing actions of methylxanthines and dibutyryl cyclic AMP on 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 production and calcium fluxes in isolated chick renal tubules.

In contrast to dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the methylxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline and caffeine were found to inhibit the conversion of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 in isolated renal tubules from vitamin D deficient chicks. This inhibition occurred at concentrations of methylxanthines which were shown to increase renal tubule cyclic AMP levels. No effect of theophylline or caffeine on 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 metabolism in isolated chick renal mitochondria was detected. Because of a demonstrated inhibitory action of calcium (10 and 20 mumol/l) on renal mitochondrial conversion of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, the effect of theophylline and dibutyryl cyclic AMP on cellular calcium-45 efflux and total renal tubule calcium content was estimated. Theophylline 10 mmol/l was found to inhibit renal tubular calcium efflux and to increase total cellular calcium content, while dibutyryl cyclic AMP 1 mmol/l had the reverse effect on both parameters. Divergent actions of the methylxanthines and dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the formation of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 and renal tubule calcium efflux and content support the hypothesis that intracellular calcium is an important regulator of renal vitamin D metabolism. The results indicate that observed actions of methylxanthines cannot always be ascribed to cyclic AMP accumulation.