Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) leads to endolysosomal routing of the renal phosphate co-transporters NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc in vivo

The sodium-dependentphosphate co-transporters NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc located at the brush border membrane of renal proximal tubules are regulated by numerous factors, including fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). FGF23 downregulates NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc abundance after activating a signaling pathway involving phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (phospho-ERK1/2). FGF23 also downregulates the expression of renal 1-α-hydroxylase (Cyp27b1) and upregulates 24-hydroxylase (Cyp24a1), thus reducing plasma calcitriol levels. Here, we examined the time course of the FGF23-induced internalization of NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc and their intracellular pathway towards degradation in vivo. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with recombinant human FGF23 (rh-FGF23) in the absence (biochemical analysis) or presence (immunohistochemistry) of leupeptin, an inhibitor of lysosomal proteases. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was enhanced 60 minutes after rh-FGF23 administration, and increased phosphorylation was still detected 480 minutes post-injection. Co-localization of phospho-ERK1/2 with NaPi-IIa was seen at 60, 120 and partly at 480 minutes. The abundance of both co-transporters was reduced 240 minutes after rh-FGF23 administration, with a further reduction at 480 minutes. NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc were found to co-localize with clathrin and early endosomal antigen 1 (EEA1) as early as 120 minutes after rh-FGF23 injection. Both co-transporters partially co-localized with cathepsin B and Lamp1, markers of lysosomes, 120 minutes after rh-FGF23 injection. Thus, NaPi-IIa and NaPi-IIc are internalized within 2 hours upon rh-FGF23 injection. Both co-transporters share the pathway of clathrin-mediated endocytosis that leads first to early endosomes, finally resulting in trafficking towards the lysosome as early as 120 minutes after rh-FGF23 administration.