Genetic Control of Parathyroid Gland Development and Molecular Insights into Hypoparathyroidism

Normal mineral metabolism and skeletal development depend on an intricate interplay of parathyroid, renal, and skeletal factors. Crucial in this respect is parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is synthesized and secreted from the parathyroid glands and at a rate inversely proportional to the serum-ionized calcium concentration. Hormone secretion is tightly regulated through the interaction of extracellular calcium with specific calciumsensing receptors (CaSRs) (1–3) that are present on the surface of the parathyroid cell. In turn, PTH regulates mineral metabolism and skeletal homeostasis through its actions on specialized target cells in bone and kidney that express the PTH/parathyroid hormonerelated peptide (PTHrP) or type 1 PTH receptor. The integrated actions of PTH and 1,25–dihydroxyvitamin D on these target tissues provide a precise system of control and maintain the serum-ionized calcium concentration within a narrow range that is critical for many physiological processes. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.