Lysophosphatidic acid synergizes with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D to promote fibroblast growth factor-23 synthesis via MAPK signaling and induction of the IL12A gene

Dysregulated actions of the bone-derived phosphaturic hormone, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), underlie the pathophysiology of several diseases. FGF23 is synthesized primarily in osteocytes in response to various endogenous molecules; however, the mechanisms governing FGF23 production are incompletely understood. Glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), a glycolytic by-product originating from the kidney, critically controls skeletal FGF23 synthesis via its conversion in bone to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which stimulates osteocyte FGF23 production. The bioactive vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), also promotes FGF23 production in osteocytes. We herein demonstrated that LPA requires 1,25D action to raise FGF23 levels in mouse bone explants and mice. RNA sequencing of osteocyte-like Ocy454 cells identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) uniquely induced by LPA/1,25D co-treatment. These unique DEGs were enriched for the ribosome biogenesis pathway. DEGs concurrently induced by individual LPA and 1,25D treatments were enriched for MAPK signaling, and inhibiting this pathway obliterated LPA/1,25D-induced FGF23 production. DEGs following LPA/1,25D co-treatment were enriched for the cytokine-cytokine interaction pathway. Moreover, LPA/1,25D co-treatment, but not individual LPA and 1,25D treatments, rapidly induced the expression of Il12a, the gene encoding the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 alpha-subunit, which responded solely to 1,25D at later times and required MAPK-ERK1/2 signaling. Inhibiting cytokine signaling or knocking down Il12a inhibited, while overexpressing Il12a enhanced LPA/1,25D-induced FGF23 production. However, challenging Ocy454 cells with recombinant bioactive interleukin-12 failed to enhance FGF23 production, suggesting that Il12a plays a non-canonical role. Our results reveal a mechanism of skeletal FGF23 synthesis involving cooperative actions of LPA and 1,25D, advancing our understanding of FGF23 regulation.