Liposomes as a Putative Tool to Investigate NAADP Signaling in Vasculogenesis

Lysosomal TRPML1 triggers global Ca2+ signals and nitric oxide release in human cerebrovascular endothelial cells

Lysosomal Ca2+ signaling is emerging as a crucial regulator of endothelial Ca2+ dynamics. Ca2+ release from the acidic vesicles in response to extracellular stimulation is usually promoted via Two Pore Channels (TPCs) and is amplified by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-embedded inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptors and ryanodine receptors. Emerging evidence suggests that sub-cellular Ca2+ signals in vascular endothelial cells can also be generated by the Transient Receptor Potential Mucolipin 1 channel (TRPML1) channel, which controls vesicle trafficking, autophagy and gene expression. Herein, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach, including live cell imaging, pharmacological manipulation, and gene targeting, revealing that TRPML1 protein is expressed and triggers global Ca2+ signals in the human brain microvascular endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3. The direct stimulation of TRPML1 with both the synthetic agonist, ML-SA1, and the endogenous ligand phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P2) induced a significant increase in [Ca2+]i, that was reduced by pharmacological blockade and genetic silencing of TRPML1. In addition, TRPML1-mediated lysosomal Ca2+ release was sustained both by lysosomal Ca2+ release and ER Ca2+- release through inositol-1,4,5-trisphophate receptors and store-operated Ca2+ entry. Notably, interfering with TRPML1-mediated lysosomal Ca2+ mobilization led to a decrease in the free ER Ca2+ concentration. Imaging of DAF-FM fluorescence revealed that TRPML1 stimulation could also induce a significant Ca2+-dependent increase in nitric oxide concentration. Finally, the pharmacological and genetic blockade of TRPML1 impaired ATP-induced intracellular Ca2+ release and NO production. These findings, therefore, shed novel light on the mechanisms whereby the lysosomal Ca2+ store can shape endothelial Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-dependent functions in vascular endothelial cells.

Two-pore channels: going with the flows

In recent years, our understanding of the structure, mechanisms and functions of the endo-lysosomal TPC (two-pore channel) family have grown apace. Gated by the second messengers, NAADP and PI(3,5)P₂, TPCs are an integral part of fundamental signal-transduction pathways, but their array and plasticity of cation conductances (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, H⁺) allow them to variously signal electrically, osmotically or chemically. Their relative tissue- and organelle-selective distribution, together with agonist-selective ion permeabilities provides a rich palette from which extracellular stimuli can choose. TPCs are emerging as mediators of immunity, cancer, metabolism, viral infectivity and neurodegeneration as this short review attests.

Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Induces Intracellular Ca2+ Signalling and Stimulates Proliferation in Human Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a newly discovered second messenger that gates two pore channels 1 (TPC1) and 2 (TPC2) to elicit endo-lysosomal (EL) Ca²⁺ release. NAADP-induced lysosomal Ca²⁺ release may be amplified by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release (CICR) mechanism. NAADP-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ signals were shown to modulate a growing number of functions in the cardiovascular system, but their occurrence and role in cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells (C-MSCs) is still unknown. Herein, we found that exogenous delivery of NAADP-AM induced a robust Ca²⁺ signal that was abolished by disrupting the lysosomal Ca²⁺ store with Gly-Phe β-naphthylamide, nigericin, and bafilomycin A1, and blocking TPC1 and TPC2, that are both expressed at protein level in C-MSCs. Furthermore, NAADP-induced EL Ca²⁺ release resulted in the Ca²⁺-dependent recruitment of ER-embedded InsP₃Rs and SOCE activation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed clearly visible membrane contact sites between lysosome and ER membranes, which are predicted to provide the sub-cellular framework for lysosomal Ca²⁺ to recruit ER-embedded InsP₃Rs through CICR. NAADP-induced EL Ca²⁺ mobilization via EL TPC was found to trigger the intracellular Ca²⁺ signals whereby Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) induces C-MSC proliferation. Furthermore, NAADP-evoked Ca²⁺ release was required to mediate FBS-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), but not Akt, phosphorylation in C-MSCs. These finding support the notion that NAADP-induced TPC activation could be targeted to boost proliferation in C-MSCs and pave the way for future studies assessing whether aberrant NAADP signaling in C-MSCs could be involved in cardiac disorders.

Targeting Two-Pore Channels: Current Progress and Future Challenges

Two-pore channels (TPCs) are cation-permeable channels located on endolysosomal membranes and important mediators of intracellular Ca²⁺ signalling. TPCs are involved in various pathophysiological processes, including cell growth and development, metabolism, and cancer progression. Most studies of TPCs have used TPC^–/– cell or whole-animal models, or Ned-19, an indirect inhibitor. The TPC activation mechanism remains controversial, which has made it difficult to develop selective modulators. Recent studies of TPC structure and their interactomes are aiding the development of direct pharmacological modulators. This process is still in its infancy, but will facilitate future research and TPC targeting for therapeutical purposes. Here, we review the progress of current research into TPCs, including recent insights into their structures, functional roles, mechanisms of activation, and pharmacological modulators.

Two-pore channel (TPC)-mediated endolysosomal Ca²⁺ signalling regulates a variety of processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, viral infection, and cardiac function.

Despite the well-established model that TPCs are Ca²⁺-selective channels indirectly activated by nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP), it has also been proposed that TPCs as Na⁺ channels are activated directly by phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P₂].

3D structures of mouse TPC1 and human TPC2 were recently determined, which made it possible for structure-based virtual screening methods to identify pharmacological modulators of TPC.

Recent identification by high-throughput screens of pharmacological modulators that target TPCs will help reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of endolysosomal Ca²⁺ signalling in different pathophysiological processes, and to develop new therapeutics.

The human amniotic fluid stem cell secretome triggers intracellular Ca2+ oscillations, NF-κB nuclear translocation and tube formation in human endothelial colony-forming cells

Second trimester foetal human amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells (hAFS) have been shown to possess remarkable cardioprotective paracrine potential in different preclinical models of myocardial injury and drug‐induced cardiotoxicity. The hAFS secretome, namely the total soluble factors released by cells in their conditioned medium (hAFS‐CM), can also strongly sustain in vivo angiogenesis in a murine model of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stimulates human endothelial colony‐forming cells (ECFCs), the only truly recognized endothelial progenitor, to form capillary‐like structures in vitro. Preliminary work demonstrated that the hypoxic hAFS secretome (hAFS‐CM^Hypo) triggers intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations in human ECFCs, but the underlying mechanisms and the downstream Ca²⁺‐dependent effectors remain elusive. Herein, we found that the secretome obtained by hAFS undergoing hypoxic preconditioning induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations by promoting extracellular Ca²⁺ entry through Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). TRPV4‐mediated Ca²⁺ entry, in turn, promoted the concerted interplay between inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate‐ and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐induced endogenous Ca²⁺ release and store‐operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE). hAFS‐CM^Hypo‐induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations resulted in the nuclear translocation of the Ca²⁺‐sensitive transcription factor p65 NF‐κB. Finally, inhibition of either intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations or NF‐κB activity prevented hAFS‐CM^Hypo‐induced ECFC tube formation. These data shed novel light on the molecular mechanisms whereby hAFS‐CM^Hypo induces angiogenesis, thus providing useful insights for future therapeutic strategies against ischaemic‐related myocardial injury.

Endolysosomal Ca2+ signaling in cardiovascular health and disease

An increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) regulates a plethora of functions in the cardiovascular (CV) system, including contraction in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and angiogenesis in vascular endothelial cells and endothelial colony forming cells. The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) represents the largest endogenous Ca²⁺ store, which releases Ca²⁺ through ryanodine receptors (RyRs) and/or inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP₃Rs) upon extracellular stimulation. The acidic vesicles of the endolysosomal (EL) compartment represent an additional endogenous Ca²⁺ store, which is targeted by several second messengers, including nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P₂], and may release intraluminal Ca²⁺ through multiple Ca²⁺ permeable channels, including two-pore channels 1 and 2 (TPC1-2) and Transient Receptor Potential Mucolipin 1 (TRPML1). Herein, we discuss the emerging, pathophysiological role of EL Ca²⁺ signaling in the CV system. We describe the role of cardiac TPCs in β-adrenoceptor stimulation, arrhythmia, hypertrophy, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. We then illustrate the role of EL Ca²⁺ signaling in VSMCs, where TPCs promote vasoconstriction and contribute to pulmonary artery hypertension and atherosclerosis, whereas TRPML1 sustains vasodilation and is also involved in atherosclerosis. Subsequently, we describe the mechanisms whereby endothelial TPCs promote vasodilation, contribute to neurovascular coupling in the brain and stimulate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Finally, we discuss about the possibility to target TPCs, which are likely to mediate CV cell infection by the Severe Acute Respiratory Disease-Coronavirus-2, with Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs to alleviate the detrimental effects of Coronavirus Disease-19 on the CV system.

Targeting Endolysosomal Two-Pore Channels to Treat Cardiovascular Disorders in the Novel COronaVIrus Disease 2019

Emerging evidence hints in favor of a life-threatening link between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the cardiovascular system. SARS-CoV-2 may result in dramatic cardiovascular complications, whereas the severity of COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the incidence of fatalities tend to increase in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular complications. SARS-CoV-2 is internalized into the host cells by endocytosis and may then escape the endolysosomal system via endosomes. Two-pore channels drive endolysosomal trafficking through the release of endolysosomal Ca2+. Recent evidence suggested that the pharmacological inhibition of TPCs prevents Ebola virus and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome COronaVirus (MERS-CoV) entry into host cells. In this perspective, we briefly summarize the biophysical and pharmacological features of TPCs, illustrate their emerging role in the cardiovascular system, and finally present them as a reliable target to treat cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients.

Therapeutic Potential of Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells in Ischemic Disease: Strategies to Improve their Regenerative Efficacy

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises a range of major clinical cardiac and circulatory diseases, which produce immense health and economic burdens worldwide. Currently, vascular regenerative surgery represents the most employed therapeutic option to treat ischemic disorders, even though not all the patients are amenable to surgical revascularization. Therefore, more efficient therapeutic approaches are urgently required to promote neovascularization. Therapeutic angiogenesis represents an emerging strategy that aims at reconstructing the damaged vascular network by stimulating local angiogenesis and/or promoting de novo blood vessel formation according to a process known as vasculogenesis. In turn, circulating endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) represent truly endothelial precursors, which display high clonogenic potential and have the documented ability to originate de novo blood vessels in vivo. Therefore, ECFCs are regarded as the most promising cellular candidate to promote therapeutic angiogenesis in patients suffering from CVD. The current briefly summarizes the available information about the origin and characterization of ECFCs and then widely illustrates the preclinical studies that assessed their regenerative efficacy in a variety of ischemic disorders, including acute myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, ischemic brain disease, and retinopathy. Then, we describe the most common pharmacological, genetic, and epigenetic strategies employed to enhance the vasoreparative potential of autologous ECFCs by manipulating crucial pro-angiogenic signaling pathways, e.g., extracellular-signal regulated kinase/Akt, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and Ca²⁺ signaling. We conclude by discussing the possibility of targeting circulating ECFCs to rescue their dysfunctional phenotype and promote neovascularization in the presence of CVD.

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate activates two-pore channel TPC1 to mediate lysosomal Ca2+ release in endothelial colony-forming cells

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is the most recently discovered Ca²⁺ -releasing messenger that increases the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration by mobilizing the lysosomal Ca²⁺ store through two-pore channels 1 (TPC1) and 2 (TPC2). NAADP-induced lysosomal Ca²⁺ release regulates multiple endothelial functions, including nitric oxide release and proliferation. A sizeable acidic Ca²⁺ pool endowed with TPC1 is also present in human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), which represent the only known truly endothelial precursors. Herein, we sought to explore the role of the lysosomal Ca²⁺ store and TPC1 in circulating ECFCs by harnessing Ca²⁺ imaging and molecular biology techniques. The lysosomotropic agent, Gly-Phe β-naphthylamide, and nigericin, which dissipates the proton gradient which drives Ca²⁺ sequestration by acidic organelles, caused endogenous Ca²⁺ release in the presence of a replete inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃ )-sensitive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ pool. Likewise, the amount of ER releasable Ca²⁺ was reduced by disrupting lysosomal Ca²⁺ content. Liposomal delivery of NAADP induced a transient Ca²⁺ signal that was abolished by disrupting the lysosomal Ca²⁺ store and by pharmacological and genetic blockade of TPC1. Pharmacological manipulation revealed that NAADP-induced Ca²⁺ release also required ER-embedded InsP₃ receptors. Finally, NAADP-induced lysosomal Ca²⁺ release was found to trigger vascular endothelial growth factor-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations and proliferation, while it did not contribute to adenosine-5'-trisphosphate-induced Ca²⁺ signaling. These findings demonstrated that NAADP-induced TPC1-mediated Ca²⁺ release can selectively be recruited to induce the Ca²⁺ response to specific cues in circulating ECFCs.

Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors trigger glutamate-induced intracellular Ca2+ signals and nitric oxide release in human brain microvascular endothelial cells

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the mechanism whereby an increase in neuronal activity causes an increase in local cerebral blood flow (CBF) to ensure local supply of oxygen and nutrients to the activated areas. The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate gates post-synaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors to mediate extracellular Ca2+ entry and stimulate neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase to release NO, thereby triggering NVC. Recent work suggested that endothelial Ca2+ signals could underpin NVC by recruiting the endothelial NO synthase. For instance, acetylcholine induced intracellular Ca2+ signals followed by NO release by activating muscarinic 5 receptors in hCMEC/D3 cells, a widely employed model of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Herein, we sought to assess whether also glutamate elicits metabotropic Ca2+ signals and NO release in hCMEC/D3 cells. Glutamate induced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) that was blocked by α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine and phenocopied by trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, which, respectively, block and activate group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Accordingly, hCMEC/D3 expressed both mGluR1 and mGluR5 and the Ca2+ response to glutamate was inhibited by their pharmacological blockade with, respectively, CPCCOEt and MTEP hydrochloride. The Ca2+ response to glutamate was initiated by endogenous Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and endolysosomal Ca2+ store through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and two-pore channels, respectively, and sustained by store-operated Ca2+ entry. In addition, glutamate induced robust NO release that was suppressed by pharmacological blockade of the accompanying increase in [Ca2+]i. These data demonstrate for the first time that glutamate may induce metabotropic Ca2+ signals in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The Ca2+ response to glutamate is likely to support NVC during neuronal activity, thereby reinforcing the emerging role of brain microvascular endothelial cells in the regulation of CBF.

Calcium Signaling in Endothelial Colony Forming Cells in Health and Disease

Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) represent the only known truly endothelial precursors. ECFCs are released in peripheral circulation to restore the vascular networks dismantled by an ischemic insult or to sustain the early phases of the angiogenic switch in solid tumors. A growing number of studies demonstrated that intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling plays a crucial role in driving ECFC proliferation, migration, homing and neovessel formation. For instance, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) triggers intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations and stimulates angiogenesis in healthy ECFCs, whereas stromal derived factor-1α promotes ECFC migration through a biphasic Ca²⁺ signal. The Ca²⁺ toolkit endowed to circulating ECFCs is extremely plastic and shows striking differences depending on the physiological background of the donor. For instance, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum is downregulated in tumor-derived ECFCs, while agonists-induced store-operated Ca²⁺ entry is up-regulated in renal cellular carcinoma and is unaltered in breast cancer and reduced in infantile hemangioma. This remodeling of the Ca²⁺ toolkit prevents VEGF-induced pro-angiogenic Ca²⁺ oscillations in tumor-derived ECFCs. An emerging theme of research is the dysregulation of the Ca²⁺ toolkit in primary myelofibrosis-derived ECFCs, as this myeloproliferative disorder may depend on a driver mutation in the calreticulin gene. In this chapter, I provide a comprehensive, but succinct, description on the architecture and role of the intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling toolkit in ECFCs derived from umbilical cord blood and from peripheral blood of healthy donors, cancer patients and subjects affected by primary myelofibrosis.

Endothelial Ca2+ Signaling, Angiogenesis and Vasculogenesis: just What It Takes to Make a Blood Vessel

It has long been known that endothelial Ca²⁺ signals drive angiogenesis by recruiting multiple Ca²⁺-sensitive decoders in response to pro-angiogenic cues, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, stromal derived factor-1α and angiopoietins. Recently, it was shown that intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling also drives vasculogenesis by stimulation proliferation, tube formation and neovessel formation in endothelial progenitor cells. Herein, we survey how growth factors, chemokines and angiogenic modulators use endothelial Ca²⁺ signaling to regulate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. The endothelial Ca²⁺ response to pro-angiogenic cues may adopt different waveforms, ranging from Ca²⁺ transients or biphasic Ca²⁺ signals to repetitive Ca²⁺ oscillations, and is mainly driven by endogenous Ca²⁺ release through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and by store-operated Ca²⁺ entry through Orai1 channels. Lysosomal Ca²⁺ release through nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate-gated two-pore channels is, however, emerging as a crucial pro-angiogenic pathway, which sustains intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization. Understanding how endothelial Ca²⁺ signaling regulates angiogenesis and vasculogenesis could shed light on alternative strategies to induce therapeutic angiogenesis or interfere with the aberrant vascularization featuring cancer and intraocular disorders.

Familial Polyposis Coli: The Management of Desmoid Tumor Bleeding

Background

There is currently no standard treatment for desmoid tumors (DTs) associated with familial polyposis coli (FAP). Familial adenomatous polyposis in DT patients is sometimes a life-threatening condition.

Methods

We enrolled all consecutive patients with FAP treated at Unit of General Surgery and Transplant, University of Naples Federico II and evaluated the incidence of DTs on FAP between 1996 and 2016.

Results

We observed 45 consecutive patients with FAP; of these 5 were DT-FAP-associated. All 5 cases with FAP were young women, age 25 to 65 years, previously treated by colectomy. Of these, 4 patients presented a parietal localization and had been treated with a wide surgical exeresis; one patient had an intra-abdominal, mesenteric tumor that was unresectable at laparotomy. We performed CT-guided drainage, ureteral stenting, medical therapy (sulindac+tamoxifene), and chemotherapy (dacarba-zine+doxorubicine).All patients were alive and underwent follow-ups for 5 years post-surgery; only 1 patient with parietal localization showed a local relapse after 2 years.

Conclusions

We propose a modulated approach to the single patient with FAP, with surgery as treatment of choice for parietal localization disease and integrating different kinds of therapies (surgery alone or associated with RT, CT) for the intra-abdominal tumor.

Histamine induces intracellular Ca2+ oscillations and nitric oxide release in endothelial cells from brain microvascular circulation

The neuromodulator histamine is able to vasorelax in human cerebral, meningeal and temporal arteries via endothelial histamine 1 receptors (H₁ Rs) which result in the downstream production of nitric oxide (NO), the most powerful vasodilator transmitter in the brain. Although endothelial Ca ²⁺ signals drive histamine-induced NO release throughout the peripheral circulation, the mechanism by which histamine evokes NO production in human cerebrovascular endothelial cells is still unknown. Herein, we exploited the human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3, to assess the role of intracellular Ca ²⁺ signaling in histamine-induced NO release. To achieve this goal, hCMEC/D3 cells were loaded with the Ca ²⁺ - and NO-sensitive dyes, Fura-2/AM and DAF-FM/AM, respectively. Histamine elicited repetitive oscillations in intracellular Ca ²⁺ concentration in hCMEC/D3 cells throughout a concentration range spanning from 1 pM up to 300 μM. The oscillatory Ca ²⁺ response was suppressed by the inhibition of H ₁ Rs with pyrilamine, whereas H ₁ R was abundantly expressed at the protein level. We further found that histamine-induced intracellular Ca ²⁺ oscillations were initiated by endogenous Ca ²⁺ mobilization through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate- and nicotinic acid dinucleotide phosphate-sensitive channels and maintained over time by store-operated Ca ²⁺ entry. In addition, histamine evoked robust NO release that was prevented by interfering with the accompanying intracellular Ca ²⁺ oscillations, thereby confirming that the endothelial NO synthase is recruited by Ca ²⁺ spikes also in hCMEC/D3 cells. These data provide the first evidence that histamine evokes NO production from human cerebrovascular endothelial cells through intracellular Ca ²⁺ oscillations, thereby shedding novel light on the mechanisms by which this neuromodulator controls cerebral blood flow.

Arachidonic Acid Evokes an Increase in Intracellular Ca2+ Concentration and Nitric Oxide Production in Endothelial Cells from Human Brain Microcirculation

It has long been known that the conditionally essential polyunsaturated arachidonic acid (AA) regulates cerebral blood flow (CBF) through its metabolites prostaglandin E2 and epoxyeicosatrienoic acid, which act on vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes to vasorelax cerebral microvessels. However, AA may also elicit endothelial nitric oxide (NO) release through an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). Herein, we adopted Ca²⁺ and NO imaging, combined with immunoblotting, to assess whether AA induces intracellular Ca²⁺ signals and NO release in the human brain microvascular endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3. AA caused a dose-dependent increase in [Ca²⁺]_i that was mimicked by the not-metabolizable analogue, eicosatetraynoic acid. The Ca²⁺ response to AA was patterned by endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ release through type 3 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, lysosomal Ca²⁺ mobilization through two-pore channels 1 and 2 (TPC1-2), and extracellular Ca²⁺ influx through transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). In addition, AA-evoked Ca²⁺ signals resulted in robust NO release, but this signal was considerably delayed as compared to the accompanying Ca²⁺ wave and was essentially mediated by TPC1-2 and TRPV4. Overall, these data provide the first evidence that AA elicits Ca²⁺-dependent NO release from a human cerebrovascular endothelial cell line, but they seemingly rule out the possibility that this NO signal could acutely modulate neurovascular coupling.

Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NAADP) Induces Intracellular Ca2+ Release through the Two-Pore Channel TPC1 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cells

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) gates two-pore channels 1 and 2 (TPC1 and TPC2) to elicit endo-lysosomal (EL) Ca²⁺ release. NAADP-induced EL Ca²⁺ signals may be amplified by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release mechanism (CICR). Herein, we aimed at assessing for the first time the role of EL Ca²⁺ signaling in primary cultures of human metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) by exploiting Ca²⁺ imaging and molecular biology techniques. The lysosomotropic agent, Gly-Phe β-naphthylamide (GPN), and nigericin, which dissipates the ΔpH which drives Ca²⁺ refilling of acidic organelles, caused massive Ca²⁺ release in the presence of a functional inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃)-sensitive ER Ca²⁺ store. Liposomal delivery of NAADP induced a transient Ca²⁺ release that was reduced by GPN and NED-19, a selective TPC antagonist. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations revealed that the Ca²⁺ response to NAADP was triggered by TPC1, the most expressed TPC isoform in mCRC cells, and required ER-embedded InsP₃ receptors. Finally, NED-19 and genetic silencing of TPC1 reduced fetal calf serum-induced Ca²⁺ signals, proliferation, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Akt phoshorylation in mCRC cells. These data demonstrate that NAADP-gated TPC1 could be regarded as a novel target for alternative therapies to treat mCRC.

Endolysosomal Ca2+ Signalling and Cancer Hallmarks: Two-Pore Channels on the Move, TRPML1 Lags Behind!

The acidic vesicles of the endolysosomal (EL) system are emerging as an intracellular Ca²⁺ store implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular functions. The EL Ca²⁺ store releases Ca²⁺ through a variety of Ca²⁺-permeable channels, including Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Mucolipin 1-3 (TRPML1-3) and two-pore channels 1-2 (TPC1-2), whereas EL Ca²⁺ refilling is sustained by the proton gradient across the EL membrane and/or by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). EL Ca²⁺ signals may be either spatially restricted to control vesicle trafficking, autophagy and membrane repair or may be amplified into a global Ca²⁺ signal through the Ca²⁺-dependent recruitment of ER-embedded channels. Emerging evidence suggested that nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP)-gated TPCs sustain multiple cancer hallmarks, such as migration, invasiveness and angiogenesis. Herein, we first survey the EL Ca²⁺ refilling and release mechanisms and then focus on the oncogenic role of EL Ca²⁺ signaling. While the evidence in favor of TRPML1 involvement in neoplastic transformation is yet to be clearly provided, TPCs are emerging as an alternative target for anticancer therapies.

Glutamate triggers intracellular Ca2+ oscillations and nitric oxide release by inducing NAADP- and InsP3 -dependent Ca2+ release in mouse brain endothelial cells

The neurotransmitter glutamate increases cerebral blood flow by activating postsynaptic neurons and presynaptic glial cells within the neurovascular unit. Glutamate does so by causing an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ) in the target cells, which activates the Ca²⁺ /Calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide (NO) synthase to release NO. It is unclear whether brain endothelial cells also sense glutamate through an elevation in [Ca²⁺ ]_i and NO production. The current study assessed whether and how glutamate drives Ca²⁺ -dependent NO release in bEND5 cells, an established model of brain endothelial cells. We found that glutamate induced a dose-dependent oscillatory increase in [Ca²⁺ ]_i , which was maximally activated at 200 μM and inhibited by α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine, a selective blocker of Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Glutamate-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations were triggered by rhythmic endogenous Ca²⁺ mobilization and maintained over time by extracellular Ca²⁺ entry. Pharmacological manipulation revealed that glutamate-induced endogenous Ca²⁺ release was mediated by InsP₃ -sensitive receptors and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) gated two-pore channel 1. Constitutive store-operated Ca²⁺ entry mediated Ca²⁺ entry during ongoing Ca²⁺ oscillations. Finally, glutamate evoked a robust, although delayed increase in NO levels, which was blocked by pharmacologically inhibition of the accompanying intracellular Ca²⁺ signals. Of note, glutamate induced Ca²⁺ -dependent NO release also in hCMEC/D3 cells, an established model of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. This investigation demonstrates for the first time that metabotropic glutamate-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations and NO release have the potential to impact on neurovascular coupling in the brain.

Muscarinic M5 receptors trigger acetylcholine-induced Ca2+ signals and nitric oxide release in human brain microvascular endothelial cells

Basal forebrain neurons control cerebral blood flow (CBF) by releasing acetylcholine (Ach), which binds to endothelial muscarinic receptors to induce nitric (NO) release and vasodilation in intraparenchymal arterioles. Nevertheless, the mechanism whereby Ach stimulates human brain microvascular endothelial cells to produce NO is still unknown. Herein, we sought to assess whether Ach stimulates NO production in a Ca²⁺ -dependent manner in hCMEC/D3 cells, a widespread model of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Ach induced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ) that was prevented by the genetic blockade of M5 muscarinic receptors (M5-mAchRs), which was the only mAchR isoform coupled to phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) present in hCMEC/D3 cells. A comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the expression of the transcripts encoding for type 3 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP₃ R3), two-pore channels 1 and 2 (TPC1-2), Stim2, Orai1-3. Pharmacological manipulation showed that the Ca²⁺ response to Ach was mediated by InsP₃ R3, TPC1-2, and store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE). Ach-induced NO release, in turn, was inhibited in cells deficient of M5-mAchRs. Likewise, Ach failed to increase NO levels in the presence of l-NAME, a selective NOS inhibitor, or BAPTA, a membrane-permeant intracellular Ca²⁺ buffer. Moreover, the pharmacological blockade of the Ca²⁺ response to Ach also inhibited the accompanying NO production. These data demonstrate for the first time that synaptically released Ach may trigger NO release in human brain microvascular endothelial cells by stimulating a Ca²⁺ signal via M5-mAchRs.

The caveolar membrane system in endothelium: From cell signaling to vascular pathology

Caveolae are 50- to 100-nm cholesterol and glycosphingolipid-rich flask-shaped invaginations commonly observed in many terminally differentiated cells. These organelles have been described in many cell types and are particularly abundant in endothelial cells, where they have been involved in the regulation of certain signaling pathways. Specific scaffolding proteins termed caveolins, along with the more recently discovered members of the cavin family, represent the major protein components during caveolae biogenesis. In addition, multiple studies aimed to investigate the expression and the regulation of these proteins significantly contributed to elucidate the role of caveolae and caveolins in endothelial cell physiology and disease. The aim of this review is to survey recent evidence of the involvement of the caveolar network in endothelial cell biology and endothelial cell dysfunction.

The Role of Endothelial Ca2+ Signaling in Neurovascular Coupling: A View from the Lumen

BACKGROUND

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the mechanism whereby an increase in neuronal activity (NA) leads to local elevation in cerebral blood flow (CBF) to match the metabolic requirements of firing neurons. Following synaptic activity, an increase in neuronal and/or astrocyte Ca2+ concentration leads to the synthesis of multiple vasoactive messengers. Curiously, the role of endothelial Ca2+ signaling in NVC has been rather neglected, although endothelial cells are known to control the vascular tone in a Ca2+-dependent manner throughout peripheral vasculature.

METHODS

We analyzed the literature in search of the most recent updates on the potential role of endothelial Ca2+ signaling in NVC.

RESULTS

We found that several neurotransmitters (i.e., glutamate and acetylcholine) and neuromodulators (e.g., ATP) can induce dilation of cerebral vessels by inducing an increase in endothelial Ca2+ concentration. This, in turn, results in nitric oxide or prostaglandin E2 release or activate intermediate and small-conductance Ca2+-activated K⁺ channels, which are responsible for endothelial-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH). In addition, brain endothelial cells express multiple transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (i.e., TRPC3, TRPV3, TRPV4, TRPA1), which induce vasodilation by activating EDH.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to conclude that endothelial Ca2+ signaling is an emerging pathway in the control of NVC.

Endothelial Ca2+ Signaling and the Resistance to Anticancer Treatments: Partners in Crime

Intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling drives angiogenesis and vasculogenesis by stimulating proliferation, migration, and tube formation in both vascular endothelial cells and endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), which represent the only endothelial precursor truly belonging to the endothelial phenotype. In addition, local Ca²⁺ signals at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria interface regulate endothelial cell fate by stimulating survival or apoptosis depending on the extent of the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ increase. The present article aims at describing how remodeling of the endothelial Ca²⁺ toolkit contributes to establish intrinsic or acquired resistance to standard anti-cancer therapies. The endothelial Ca²⁺ toolkit undergoes a major alteration in tumor endothelial cells and tumor-associated ECFCs. These include changes in TRPV4 expression and increase in the expression of P2X7 receptors, Piezo2, Stim1, Orai1, TRPC1, TRPC5, Connexin 40 and dysregulation of the ER Ca²⁺ handling machinery. Additionally, remodeling of the endothelial Ca²⁺ toolkit could involve nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, gasotransmitters-gated channels, two-pore channels and Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. Targeting the endothelial Ca²⁺ toolkit could represent an alternative adjuvant therapy to circumvent patients' resistance to current anti-cancer treatments.

Cell Based Therapeutic Approach in Vascular Surgery: Application and Review

Multipotent stem cells - such as mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and stem cells derived from different sources like vascular wall are intensely studied to try to rapidly translate their discovered features from bench to bedside. Vascular wall resident stem cells recruitment, differentiation, survival, proliferation, growth factor production, and signaling pathways transduced were analyzed. We studied biological properties of vascular resident stem cells and explored the relationship from several factors as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and regulations of biological, translational and clinical features of these cells. In this review we described a translational and clinical approach to Adult Vascular Wall Resident Multipotent Vascular Stem Cells (VW-SCs) and reported their involvement in alternative clinical approach as cells based therapy in vascular disease like arterial aneurysms or peripheral arterial obstructive disease.

TRPC3-mediated Ca2+ signals as a promising strategy to boost therapeutic angiogenesis in failing hearts: The role of autologous endothelial colony forming cells

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a sub-population of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells that are released in circulation to restore damaged endothelium during its physiological turnover or rescue blood perfusion after an ischemic insult. Additionally, they may be mobilized from perivascular niches located within larger arteries' wall in response to hypoxic conditions. For this reason, EPCs have been regarded as an effective tool to promote revascularization and functional recovery of ischemic hearts, but clinical application failed to exploit the full potential of patients-derived cells. Indeed, the frequency and biological activity of EPCs are compromised in aging individuals or in subjects suffering from severe cardiovascular risk factors. Rejuvenating the reparative phenotype of autologous EPCs through a gene transfer approach has, therefore, been put forward as an alternative approach to enhance their therapeutic potential in cardiovascular patients. An increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration constitutes a pivotal signal for the activation of the so-called endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), the only known truly endothelial EPC subset. Studies from our group showed that the Ca²⁺ toolkit differs between peripheral blood- and umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived ECFCs. In the present article, we first discuss how VEGF uses repetitive Ca²⁺ spikes to regulate angiogenesis in ECFCs and outline how VEGF-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations differ between the two ECFC subtypes. We then hypothesize about the possibility to rejuvenate the biological activity of autologous ECFCs by transfecting the cell with the Ca²⁺ -permeable channel Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 3, which selectively drives the Ca²⁺ response to VEGF in UCB-derived ECFCs.

VEGF-induced intracellular Ca2+ oscillations are down-regulated and do not stimulate angiogenesis in breast cancer-derived endothelial colony forming cells

Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) represent a population of truly endothelial precursors that promote the angiogenic switch in solid tumors, such as breast cancer (BC). The intracellular Ca²⁺ toolkit, which drives the pro-angiogenic response to VEGF, is remodelled in tumor-associated ECFCs such that they are seemingly insensitive to this growth factor. This feature could underlie the relative failure of anti-VEGF therapies in cancer patients. Herein, we investigated whether and how VEGF uses Ca²⁺ signalling to control angiogenesis in BC-derived ECFCs (BC-ECFCs). Although VEGFR-2 was normally expressed, VEGF failed to induce proliferation and in vitro tubulogenesis in BC-ECFCs. Likewise, VEGF did not trigger robust Ca²⁺ oscillations in these cells. Similar to normal cells, VEGF-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations were triggered by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and maintained by store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE). However, InsP₃-dependent Ca²⁺ release was significantly lower in BC-ECFCs due to the down-regulation of ER Ca²⁺ levels, while there was no remarkable difference in the amplitude, pharmacological profile and molecular composition of SOCE. Thus, the attenuation of the pro-angiogenic Ca²⁺ response to VEGF was seemingly due to the reduction in ER Ca²⁺ concentration, which prevents VEGF from triggering robust intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations. However, the pharmacological inhibition of SOCE prevented BC-ECFC proliferation and in vitro tubulogenesis. These findings demonstrate for the first time that BC-ECFCs are insensitive to VEGF, which might explain at cellular and molecular levels the failure of anti-VEGF therapies in BC patients, and hint at SOCE as a novel molecular target for this disease.