Activation of different pathways for calcium elevation by bradykinin and ATP in rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells

Bioactive Protein and Peptide Release from a Mucoadhesive Electrospun Membrane

Protein-based biologics constitute a rapidly expanding category of therapeutic agents with high target specificity. Their clinical use has dramatically increased in recent years, but administration is largely via injection. Drug delivery across the oral mucosa is a promising alternative to injections, in order to avoid the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism. Current drug delivery formulations include liquid sprays, mucoadhesive tablets and films, which lack dose control in the presence of salivary flow. To address this, electrospun membranes that adhere tightly to the oral mucosa and release drugs locally have been developed. Here, we investigated the suitability of these mucoadhesive membranes for peptide or protein release. Bradykinin (0.1%) or insulin (1, 3, and 5%) were incorporated by electrospinning from ethanol/water mixtures. Immersion of membranes in buffer resulted in the rapid release of bradykinin, with a maximal release of 70 ± 12% reached after 1 h. In contrast, insulin was liberated more slowly, with 88 ± 11, 69.0 ± 5.4, and 63.9 ± 9.0% cumulative release of the total encapsulated dose after 8 h for membranes containing 1, 3, and 5% w/w insulin, respectively. Membrane-eluted bradykinin retained pharmacological activity by inducing rapid intracellular calcium release upon binding to its cell surface receptor on oral fibroblasts, when examined by flow cytometry. To quantify further, time-lapse confocal microscopy revealed that membrane-eluted bradykinin caused a 1.58 ± 0.16 fold-change in intracellular calcium fluorescence after 10 s compared to bradykinin solution (2.13 ± 0.21), relative to placebo. In conclusion, these data show that electrospun membranes may be highly effective vehicles for site-specific administration of biotherapeutic proteins or peptides directly to the oral mucosa for either local or systemic drug delivery applications.

L-type Ca2+ channels and purinergic P2X2 cation channels participate in calcium-tyrosine kinase-mediated PC12 growth cone arrest

During development and regeneration of the nervous system, growth cones of the various nerve cells navigate and direct neurite elongation by detecting and responding to cues in the environment. To investigate changes in growth cone behaviour due to calcium influx we used nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced growth cones of PC12 (rat pheochromocytoma cells) cells as a model. High external concentrations of potassium and ATP depress growth cone motility, induce club-shaped growth cones and reduce filopodia length and the number and relative F-actin contents of single growth cones (r.a.c.), respectively. The cellular responses are mediated by a sustained increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) as monitored by calcium-sensitive fluorescent dyes and confocal microfluorimetry. The responses are not detectable in the presence of the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Immunocytochemistry revealed an increased level of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in cell bodies and growth cones but not in cell nuclei. Paxillin, a cytoskeleton-associated protein located in neurites and growth cones, was detected among the phosphotyrosine proteins. The sustained (> 30 s) Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated L-type but not N- or P-type Ca2+ channels induced the F-actin loss and tyrosine phosphorylation. Ca2+ entry through P2X2 ligand-gated channels caused the same effects. Our data suggest the following mechanism: increased [Ca2+]i levels activate tyrosine kinases located close to the ion channels which then leads to changes in morphology due to tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins, e. g. paxillin.

Receptor-operated calcium influx mediated by protein tyrosine kinase pathways

Calcium influx from the extracellular space elicited by activation of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled and heptahelical receptors plays a critical role in transmembrane signal transduction in a wide variety of cell systems. In nonexcitable cells, the precise voltage-independent mechanism by which calcium enters the cell remains unknown. Multiple mechanisms appear to be operating in different cell types (1-3): 1. G protein-operated calcium influx, 2. Second messenger-operated calcium influx, 3. Capacitative calcium influx, and 4. Phosphorylation of calcium channels. Receptor-operated calcium channels have a fundamental role in stimulus-secretion coupling in many different cells, but these channels remain to be purified and cloned. This review proposes that receptor-operated calcium influx is mediated by protein tyrosine kinase pathways. The function of protein tyrosine kinase pathways and their interactions with other receptor-operated calcium influx mechanisms are described.

G protein-mediated inhibition of neuronal migration requires calcium influx

Neuronal migration is an essential feature of the developing nervous system, but the intracellular signaling mechanisms that regulate this process are poorly understood. During the formation of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the moth Manduca sexta, the migration of an identified set of neurons (the EP cells) is regulated in part by the heterotrimeric guanyl-nucleotide binding protein (G protein) Goalpha. Using an in vivo culture preparation for developing embryos that allows direct access to the ENS, we have shown that EP cell migration is similarly regulated by intracellular Ca2+; treatments that increased intracellular Ca2+ inhibited the migratory process, whereas buffering intracellular Ca2+ induced aberrant migration onto inappropriate pathways. Imaging the spontaneous changes in intracellular Ca2+ within individual EP cells showed that actively migrating neurons exhibited only small fluctuations in intracellular Ca2+. In contrast, neurons that had reached the end of migration displayed large, transient Ca2+ spikes. Similar Ca2+ spikes were induced in the EP cells by G protein stimulation, an effect that was reversed by removal of external Ca2+. Stimulation of Go in individual EP cells (by injection of either activated Goalpha subunits or mastoparan) also inhibited migration in a Ca2+-dependent manner. These results suggest that the regulation of neuronal migration by G proteins involves a Ca2+-dependent process requiring Ca2+ influx.

Bradykinin-induced collapse of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell growth cones: a role for tyrosine kinase activity

Pathfinding of growing nerve processes is guided by extracellular guidance cues. Here we report growth cone collapse of NGF-differentiated PC12 cells in culture evoked by the neuropeptide bradykinin. The growth cone response is mediated by B2 bradykinin receptors. Two different effects were distinguished. (1) Disappearance of filopodia occurred together with a loss of fibrillar actin (F-actin) in the growth cones at picomolar concentrations of bradykinin. The relative F-actin content was measured by means of rhodamine-phalloidin fluorescence using confocal microscopy. (2) Bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release and retraction of the neurite occurred at nanomolar concentrations. Ca2+ responses at single growth cones were measured using a 1:1 mixture of fura-red and fluo-3 Ca2+-sensitive dyes. The [Ca2+]i rise is not a prerequisite for the observed effects, because F-actin loss and retraction occurred during inhibition of Ca2+ responses. In contrast, inhibition by genistein pointed to a tyrosine kinase activity in the bradykinin-evoked cellular events. Subsequent analysis of phosphotyrosine proteins revealed that bradykinin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoskeleton-associated protein paxillin and the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase pp60(c-src). Paxillin and pp60(c-src) co-precipitated after bradykinin treatment. Immunostaining experiments showed punctate distribution of paxillin along PC12 neurites and in growth cones. Taken together, our data suggest that pp60(c-src) and paxillin are putative components of the intracellular signaling pathway of bradykinin-mediated neurite retraction and provide evidence for a crosstalk between G-protein- and tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways in these cellular events.

Role of intracellular calcium in fast and slow desensitization of P2-receptors in PC12 cells

1. Combined whole-cell patch clamp recording and confocal laser scanning microscopy of [Ca2+]i transients were performed on single PC12 cells to study any correlation between membrane currents induced by ATP and elevation in [Ca2+]i. ATP was applied by pressure from micropipettes near the recorded PC12 cells continuously superfused at a fast rate. 2. Brief (20 ms) pulses of ATP elicited monophasic inward currents and [Ca2+]i increases. Long applications (2 s) of ATP (5 mM) evoked peak currents which rapidly faded during the pulse and were followed by a large rebound current, interpreted as due to rapid desensitization and recovery of P2-receptors. The associated [Ca2+]i increase grew monotonically to a peak reached only after the occurrence of the current rebound, indicating that it is unlikely this cation has a role in fast desensitization. 3. Both membrane currents and [Ca2+]i transients were linearly dependent on holding membrane potential, suggesting that Ca2+ influx is the predominant cause of [Ca2+]i elevation. This view was supported by experiments carried out in Ca(2+)-free solution. 4. Brief pulses of ATP applied after a desensitizing pulse (2 s) of the same elicited smaller inward currents and [Ca2+]i rises indicating a role for [Ca2+]i in controlling slow desensitization of P2-receptors. 5. This notion was confirmed in experiments with various [Ca2+]i chelators which differentially affected slow desensitization in relation to their buffering capacity, while sparing fast receptor desensitization. 6. These results suggest a role for [Ca2+]i in slow rather than fast desensitization of P2-receptors, thus proposing this divalent cation as an intracellular factor able to provide an efficient and reversible control over receptor activity induced by ATP.

Detection of a trigger zone of bradykinin-induced fast calcium waves in PC12 neurites

Bradykinin and caffeine were used as two different agonists to study inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive and caffeine/ryanodine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ release in the outgrowing neurites of nerve-growth-factor (NGF)-treated rat phaeochromocytoma cells (PC12). Changes in neuritic intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in single cells were measured after loading with a 1:1 mixture of the acetoxymethyl (AM) ester of the Ca2+-sensitive dyes Fura-red and Fluo-3, in combination with confocal microscopy. Bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release was blocked by U73211, a specific phospholipase C inhibitor. Caffeine-induced Ca2+ release was very low in neurites at rest. It increased after the cells were preloaded with Ca2+. The Ca2+ signal evoked at high concentrations of bradykinin (>500 nM) arose from a trigger zone in the proximal part of the neurite, as a bi-directional wave towards the growth cone and cell body. The speed of neuritic Ca2+ waves was reduced in cells loaded with the Ca2+ chelator 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-tetraacetic acid/AM. Preloading of Ca2+ stores led to increased bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release, as seen for caffeine, and faster Ca2+ wave speeds. Caffeine evoked a simultaneous [Ca2+]i rise along the neurites of Ca2+ preloaded cells. Higher Ca2+ signal amplitudes and faster Ca2+ wave speeds, but no longer-lasting IP3-induced [Ca2+]i signals, correlated with increased caffeine-induced Ca2+ release in the neurites. At low concentrations of bradykinin (<1.0 nM), the Ca2+ signals ceased to propagate as complete Ca2+ waves. Instead, repetitive stochastic Ca2+ release events (neuritic Ca2+ puffs) were observed. Neuritic Ca2+ puffs spread across only a few microns, at a slower speed than neuritic Ca2+ waves. These Ca2+ puffs represent elementary Ca2+ release units, whereby the released Ca2+ ions form these elementary events into the shape of a Ca2+ wave.

Brain synaptosomes display a diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A)-mediated Ca2+ influx distinct from ATP-mediated influx

Studies undertaken to compare the effects of Ap4A and ATP on altering intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ levels from deermouse brain reveal that both ligands induce a rapid influx of extracellular Ca2+. The Ca2+ profile elicited by 167 microM Ap4A is "spike-like" (half-time for decline to baseline, 19.1 +/- 1.2 sec), in contrast to the gradual decline observed with ATP (104.0 +/- 7.4 sec). DIDS (4-4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene) and suramin preincubation alter only the ATP-induced Ca2+ profile. Cross-desensitization studies indicate that prior application of ATP does not significantly affect the Ca2+ influx elicited by Ap4A, and that prior application of Ap4A does not affect the Ca2+ influx elicited by ATP. These results demonstrate that extracellular Ap4A and ATP elicit distinct intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ influx profiles, and suggest that these two nucleotides may be interacting with distinct purinoceptor subclasses or purinoceptor-effector complexes. Subjecting the synaptosomes simultaneously to depolarization and Ap4A, or to depolarization and ATP, induces an additive effect on Ca2+ influx. Preincubation with verapamil negates the effects of depolarization without modifying the ligand-elicited Ca2+ fluxes. These results indicate the presence of Ap4A and ATP ligand-gated channels that may function as modulators of neuronal activity.

Characterization of Na+ influx mediated by ATP(4-)-activated P2 purinoceptors in PC12 cells

1. Micromolar levels of extracellular ATP increased cytosolic Na+ concentration ([Na+]i) as well as cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in PC12 cells. 2. Pretreatment of cells with tetrodotoxin, benzamil or thapsigargin did not alter the ATP-induced Na+ influx. 3. Increased extracellular Mg2+ concentration decreased the ATP effect. Furthermore, when the extracellular ATP pool was treated to contain corresponding calculated concentrations of ATP4-, the increase in [Na+]i stayed linked to the ATP4- concentration rather than to the total ATP concentrations in the stimulants. 4. Extracellular ATP does not create nonselective pores as shown by the fact that ethidium bromide does not enter the cells upon ATP stimulation. 5. Among the tested nucleotides, only adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), 2-methylthio ATP and 2-chloro ATP also caused Na+ influx. 6. Reactive Blue 2 specifically decreased the ATP effect in a concentration-dependent manner. 7. The results suggest that extracellular ATP triggers Na+ influx through a P2 purinoceptor which is activated by ATP4- in PC12 cells.

Ca2+ signalling in rat chromaffin cells: interplay between Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and membrane potential

Cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations are physiologically important in a range of excitable and non-excitable cells. The combined techniques of whole-cell patch clamp and photometric measurement of cytosolic Ca2+ has enabled us to identify the components of Ca2+ spiking in rat chromaffin cells. We show that Ca2+ oscillations continue at a fixed membrane potential and that infusion of the InsP3 receptor antagonist, heparin, substantially blocked the cytosolic Ca2+ spikes. However, even in the presence of heparin we observed spikes of membrane potential depolarization due to the repetitive activation of a transient inward cation current. We conclude that Ca2+ oscillations are dependent on Ca2+ release from heparin sensitive Ca2+ stores and possibly on Ca2+ entry associated with the repetitive activation of a transient cation current. The depolarizing action of the cation current would, in turn, recruit voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and further Ca2+ entry would augment the cytosolic Ca2+ spikes. Our results demonstrate that Ca2+ oscillations in rat chromaffin cells are due to a complex interplay of Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release.

Release of arachidonic acid via Ca2+ increase stimulated by pyrophosphonucleotides and bradykinin in mammary tumour cells

The relationship between the increase of intracellular Ca2+ and the release of arachidonic acid by bradykinin and pyrophosphonucleotides was studied in cultured mammary tumour cells, MMT060562. Bradykinin, ATP, UTP and UDP induced an increase of intracellular Ca2+ and the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipids into the extracellular fluid. Release of arachidonic acid was also induced by the application of the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187. Liberation of arachidonic acid by bradykinin and ATP was reduced by mepacrine, a blocker of phospholipase A2 and W-7, a calmodulin antagonist. It is suggested that the increase in cytosolic Ca(2+)-induced release of arachidonic acid occurs through activation of calmodulin-dependent phospholipase A2.

Bradykinin stimulates phospholipase D in PC12 cells by a mechanism which is independent of increases in intracellular Ca2+

These experiments were designed to learn the role of bradykinin induced changes in intracellular Ca2+ in the activation of phospholipase D activity in PC12 cells. Ionomycin at a concentration of 0.1 microM caused an increase in intracellular Ca2+ comparable to bradykinin, but had no effect on phospholipase D activity. Carbachol, ATP, and thapsigargin also increased intracellular Ca2+ but had no effect on phospholipase D activity. Increases in intracellular Ca2+ may be a necessary but not a sufficient factor in the activation of phospholipase D. To investigate this issue, the bradykinin induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was blocked by preincubating the cells in Ca(2+)-free media plus EGTA or in media containing the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA/AM. These preincubations completely blocked the bradykinin induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ but only attenuated the bradykinin mediated activation of phospholipase D. Physiological increases in intracellular Ca2+ apparently do not mediate the effect of bradykinin on phospholipase D.

Cytosolic calcium responses to extracellular adenosine 5',5" '-P1,P4-tetraphosphate in PC12 cells

Binding of adenosine 5',5" '-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) to a purinoceptor on nerve growth factor-differentiated (NGF) pheochromacytoma (PC12) cells modulated cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Both Ap4A and ATP elicited an influx of extracellular Ca2+, but both the sensitivity of the response and the flux profile were different. Preincubation of the PC12 cells with the compounds adenosine 5'-0-(2-thio)diphosphate (ADP-beta-S) and periodate-oxidized ATP had differential effects upon the Ap4A and ATP-induced response. These results indicate that Ap4A and ATP were either interacting with distinct purinoceptor subclasses or with the same purinoceptor with differing affinities. Simultaneous depolarization and application of either Ap4A or ATP to the PC12 cells induced an additive effect on the calcium flux. Preincubation with verapamil negated the effects of depolarization without significantly modifying the ligand-elicited Ca2+ fluxes, suggesting the presence of Ap4A ligand-gated channels that may function as modulators of PC12 cell function.

Purine and pyrimidine nucleotides activate distinct signalling pathways in PC12 cells

The role of extracellular nucleotides in intracellular signalling and neurosecretion was assessed in PC12 cells. Activation of phospholipase C and increased [Ca2+]i were mediated by purinoceptors with an agonist potency profile, ATP approximately UTP > 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2-MeSATP), typical of P2U. ATP also evoked a rapid acidification followed by a more gradual alkalinization (measured with 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)), while UTP induced only a gradual alkalinization. The amiloride analogue 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA) attenuated the alkalinization phase suggesting activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger by ATP and UTP. Using bisoxonol and [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium ([3H]TPP+) as potential-sensitive probes, we showed that while ATP rapidly depolarized PC12 cells in an Na(+)-dependent manner, UTP evoked a much reduced and delayed response. The potency profile (ATP approximately 2-MeSATP approximately adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S) >> UTP, alpha, beta-methyleneATP) suggested involvement of a receptor subtype distinct from P2U. Secretion of endogenous dopamine was also assessed. Those nucleotides that induced depolarization (ATP, 2-MeSATP, ATP gamma S) were also the most potent secretagogues. UTP was ineffective. Our results suggest that ATP stimulates distinct purinoceptor subtypes and induces neurosecretion through the activation of multiple signalling pathways.

Regulatory mechanisms involved in the activation of bradykinin-induced membrane currents in PC12 cells

Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements were made in nerve-growth-factor (NGF)-treated PC12 cells. External application of bradykinin (BK) activated an outward and an inward current which could be separated by using KCl- or CsCl-containing pipette solutions. The slowly activating inward current could be induced by BK independently of the filling of intracellular Ca2+ stores. By using GDP-beta-S in the pipette medium, we showed that BK-induced outward and inward currents were differentially regulated through G-protein-sensitive and -insensitive mechanisms, respectively. While the outward current was inhibited by GDP-beta-S, the inward current was not affected. Our results show that occupancy of BK receptors activates different signaling pathways for the induction of outward and inward currents.

Dual modulation by adenosine of ATP-activated channels through GTP-binding proteins in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Effects of adenosine on inward current activated by extracellular ATP were examined in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Adenosine induced two types of modulation on the current activated by 30 microM ATP; a low concentration of adenosine (1 microM) inhibited the current whereas a high concentration (> 10 microM) enhanced the current. Neither the inhibition nor the enhancement was observed in cells pretreated with pertussis toxin (PTX), or in cells dialyzed with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate) trilithium salt (GDP beta S). In contrast, dialysis with K-252a, a protein kinase inhibitor, abolished the inhibition, but not the enhancement. Adenosine induced similar inhibition and enhancement on ATP-evoked increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. The results suggest that adenosine produces dual modulation on the ATP-activated channels through different mechanisms involving PTX-sensitive GTP-binding proteins.

Bradykinin-evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline from the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y

Bradykinin (BK) evoked [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) release from the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and this was enhanced by pre-treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for 8 min. This effect of BK was inhibited by 500 microM [D-Phe7]BK and 100 microM [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]BK but not by 500 microM [Des-Arg9,Leu8]BK. The BK (B1)-agonist [Des-Arg9]BK did not evoke [3H]NA release. This suggested that SH-SY5Y expressed BK (B2)-receptors coupled to the release of [3H]NA. BK acting at B2-receptors, also elevated intracellular calcium and depolarized SH-SY5Y cells. Although pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with TPA enhanced BK-evoked [3H]NA release, the elevation of intracellular calcium [Ca2+]; was decreased by about 50%. BK-evoked release of [3H]NA in cells not pre-treated with phorbol ester was only 23% dependent on extracellular calcium. In comparison, following phorbol ester treatment approximately 40% of [3H]NA release was dependent on extracellular calcium. Nifedipine (5 microM), CoCl2 (1 mM) and NiCl2 (1 mM) inhibited NA release in SH-SY5Y cells pre-treated with TPA by 16.0, 47 and 44%, respectively. The results of this study showed that BK, acting at B2-receptors, activated [3H]NA release in SH-SY5Y. Part of this effect appeared to be due to activation of L-type calcium channels but the majority of BK-evoked [3H]NA release in SH-SY5Y cells appeared to depend on [Ca2+]i.

Receptor-activated Ca2+ influx: how many mechanisms for how many channels?

Receptors that are coupled to the production of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate cause an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration as a consequence of both Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane. Although this latter phenomenon appears attributable to the activation of a number of Ca(2+)-permeable channels, the channels that are controlled by the Ca2+ content of the intracellular stores have recently received much attention. In this review, Cristina Fasolato, Barbara Innocenti and Tullio Pozzan summarize the characteristics of this Ca(2+)-influx pathway and discuss the hypotheses about its mechanism of activation and its relationship with other receptor-activated Ca2+ channels.

Extracellular ATP triggers two functionally distinct calcium signalling pathways in PC12 cells

We have investigated the effects of extracellular ATP on Ca2+ signalling, and its relationship to secretion in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. In single cells, extracellular ATP evoked two very distinct subcellular distributions of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), only one of which could be mimicked by the pyrimidine nucleotide UTP, suggesting the involvement of more than one cell surface receptor in mediating the ATP-induced responses. ATP and UTP were equipotent in activating a receptor leading to inositol phosphate production and the mobilisation of intracellular Ca2+. In some cells (19%) this rise in [Ca2+]i initiated at a discrete site and then propagated across the cell in the form of a Ca2+ wave. In addition to mobilising intracellular Ca2+ through a ‘nucleotide’ receptor sensitive to ATP and UTP, the results indicate that ATP also activates divalent cation entry through an independent receptor-operated channel. Firstly, ATP-induced entry of Ca2+ or Mn2+ was independent of Ca2+ mobilisation, as prior treatment of cell populations with UTP abolished the ATP-evoked release of intracellular Ca2+ stores, but left the Ca(2+)- and Mn(2+)-entry components uneffected. Secondly, although UTP and ATP were equally effective in generating inositol phosphates, only ATP stimulated divalent cation entry, indicating that ATP-activated influx was independent of phosphoinositide turnover. Thirdly, single cell experiments revealed a subpopulation of cells that responded to ATP with divalent cation entry without mobilising Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Lastly, the dihydropyridine antagonist, nifedipine, reduced the ATP-induced rise in [Ca2+]i by only 24%, suggesting that Ca2+ entry was largely independent of L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels. The Ca2+ signals could also be distinguished at a functional level. Activation of ATP-induced divalent cation influx was absolutely required to evoke transmitter release, because ATP triggered secretion of [3H]dopamine only in the presence of external Ca2+, and UTP was unable to promote secretion, irrespective of the extracellular [Ca2+]. The results suggest that the same extracellular stimulus can deliver different Ca2+ signals into the same cell by activating different Ca2+ signalling pathways, and that these Ca2+ signals can be functionally distinct.

Extracellular ATP stimulates calcium influx in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells

ATP-induced changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells were studied. Using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2, we have shown that the [Ca2+]i increased in response to ATP. ATP at 3 mM caused the greatest increased in [Ca2+]i, whereas at higher concentrations of ATP the response became smaller. Two nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues, adenosine 5'-thiotriphosphate and 5'-adenylyl-beta, gamma-imidodiphosphate, could not trigger significant [Ca2+]i change, but they could block the ATP effect. Other adenine nucleotides, including ADP, AMP, alpha beta-methylene-ATP, beta, gamma-methylene-ATP, and 2-methylthio-ATP, as well as UTP and adenosine, all had no effect on [Ca2+]i at 3 mM. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the effect of ATP was inhibited totally, but could be restored by the addition of Ca2+ to the cells. Upon removal of Mg2+, the maximum increase in [Ca2+]i induced by ATP was enhanced by about 42%. Ca(2+)-channel blockers partially inhibited the ATP-induced [Ca2+]i rise. The ATP-induced [Ca2+]i rise was not affected by thapsigargin pretreatment, though such pretreatment blocked bradykinin-induced [Ca2+]i rise completely. No heterologous desensitization of [Ca2+]i rise was observed between ATP and bradykinin. The magnitude of the [Ca2+]i rise induced by ATP increased between 1.5 and 3.1 times when external Na+ was replaced with Tris, N-methyl-D-glucamine, choline, or Li+. The addition of EGTA or verapamil to cells after their maximum response to ATP immediately lowered the [Ca2+]i to the basal level in Na(+)-containing or Na(+)-free Tris solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Unidirectional interaction between two intracellular calcium stores in rat phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells

1. A clone of the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line (PC12) was treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) for 4-6 days and used to study caffeine- and bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores. The caffeine-sensitive store can be depleted by Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR), while the bradykinin-induced release is mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). The effect of Ca2+ release from these Ca2+ stores on cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured by means of fura-2 single cell microfluorimetry. 2. Caffeine application caused no or only a small Ca2+ release in untreated cells in normal culture medium. The caffeine-sensitive pool could be filled by Ca2+ entry into cells through either voltage-activated Ca2+ channels or ligand-gated cation channels. 3. Bradykinin application produced substantial Ca2+ release in untreated cells in normal culture medium. The response was enhanced after K(+)-depolarization of the cells. The bradykinin-induced release of Ca2+ also caused depletion of the caffeine-sensitive pool by CICR. However, Ca2+ released from the IP3-sensitive store was not sequestered into the caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ store. 4. The caffeine-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was blocked by ryanodine in a use-dependent manner. In addition, a substantial use-dependent ryanodine block resulted from the bradykinin-induced rise of [Ca2+]i and subsequent CICR. By contrast, the K(+)-induced rise of [Ca2+]i caused only a marginal use-dependent ryanodine inhibition of Ca2+ release. 5. Our results suggest an enhancement of the IP3-induced [Ca2+]i rise in the cytoplasm by CICR from the caffeine-sensitive pool. 6. A mathematical model adequately simulates our experimental data.

Intracellular signalling by nucleotide receptors in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells

The effect of extracellular ATP was studied in PC12 cells, a neurosecretory line that releases ATP. The addition of micromolar concentrations of ATP to PC12 cells evoked a transient increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), as measured with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura 2. AMP and adenosine were without effect, ruling out the involvement of P1 receptors in mediating this response. The increase in [Ca2+]i was reduced in calcium-free media and virtually eliminated by the addition of EGTA, suggesting that calcium influx was the primary response initiated by extracellular ATP. Nucleotide triphosphates such as UTP and, to a lesser degree, ITP also evoked an increase in [Ca2+]i while GTP and CTP had little effect. In order to identify the receptor subtype mediating this response, the efficacy of ATP and ATP cogeners was assessed. The rank order potency was ATP > adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate > ADP > 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2-MeSATP) approximately adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate >> adenosine 5'-[alpha beta-methylene] triphosphate, adenosine 5'[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate. This profile is not characteristic of either the P2X or the conventional P2Y receptors. The Ca2+ response exhibited desensitization to ATP that was dependent on the extracellular metabolism of ATP. UTP was equally effective in desensitizing the response. ATP, UTP, ITP, and to a much lesser extent 2MeSATP increased inositol phosphate production in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting receptor coupling to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. These data are consistent with the view that PC12 cells express a class of non-P2Y nucleotide receptors (P2N) that mediate calcium influx and the accumulation of inositol phosphates.

Neuronal ATP receptors and their mechanism of action

ATP stores and supplies energy in neurons, but it also acts as a transmitter molecule. ATP activates a class of membrane receptors termed P2 purinoceptors. Based on the potencies of structural analogues of ATP, P2 purinoceptors in non-neuronal tissues were classified by classic pharmacological methods into two subtypes, P2x and P2y. Peter Illes and Wolfgang Nörenberg report that electrophysiological investigations indicate the presence of P2y-like purinoceptors on neurons. They describe two alternative ionic transduction mechanisms that may be activated by this receptor family.

Involvement of the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway in the desensitization of bradykinin responses of cultured rat sensory neurons

Bradykinin (BK) excites a subset of dorsal root ganglion neurons by inducing an inward cation current (IBK) that strongly desensitizes and is accompanied by elevations in cGMP. We have examined the links between cGMP metabolism and IBK. The BK dose dependencies of IBK activation, desensitization, and cGMP production are comparable. Stimulation (with sodium nitroprusside [NP] or 8-bromo-cGMP [8Br-cGMP]) or inhibition (with methylene blue, hemoglobin, and nitric oxide synthase [NOS] inhibitors) of cGMP levels did not mimic or diminish IBK. However, desensitization was affected by the following agents: first, desensitization was enhanced by NP and reduced by NOS inhibitors. Second, the effects of NOS inhibitors could be overcome by 8Br-cGMP or L-arginine. Third, 8Br-cGMP modification of desensitization required receptor occupancy. We conclude that the NO-cGMP pathway affects a component of IBK desensitization at the receptor or G protein level.

Inhibition of membrane currents and rises of intracellular Ca2+ in PC12 cells by CGS 9343B, a calmodulin inhibitor

The calmodulin inhibitor 1,3-dihydro-1-[1-((4-methyl-4H,6H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]-[4,1]benzoxazepin - 4-yl)methyl)-4-piperidinyl]-2H-benzimidazol-2-one maleate (CGS 9343B) caused a reversible block of voltage-activated Ca2+, Na+, and K+ currents in differentiated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The drug also inhibited nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel currents but not inward currents evoked by extracellular ATP. Depolarization-induced intracellular Ca2+ transients were almost completely inhibited in growth cones and cell bodies by CGS 9343B. Our results suggest actions of CGS 9343B on ion fluxes unrelated to calmodulin inhibition.