2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) stimulates a conformationally coupled calcium release pathway in the NG115-401L neuronal cell line

Paradoxical effects of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) activator gingerol on NG115-401L neuronal cells: failure to augment ER Ca(2+) uptake and protect against ER stress-induced cell death

Perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) homeostasis and ER stress are thought to underlie a spectrum of defects encompassing major societal diseases such as diabetes and neurodegeneration. In this report we used the NG115-401L neuronal cell line to test the hypothesis that neuroprotection against ER stress may be conferred by pharmacological stimulation of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) pumps. We report that the SERCA activator gingerol stimulates SR microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and restores enzymatic function in the presence of potent SERCA blockers. Yet, enzyme protection in isolated membranes does not extend to protection from ER stress in intact NG115-401L cells. Surprisingly, gingerol not only failed to protect cells from SERCA blocker-induced ER stress and cell death, the compound itself potently induced cell death. Also, we report that gingerol failed to augment ER Ca(2+) uptake, a result contradictory to what has been observed in muscle. Unexpectedly, gingerol discharged ER Ca(2+) stores and coupled robustly to Ca(2+) influx pathways. These observations suggest that gingerol is not acting as a traditional SERCA blocker as thapsigargin mediated ER Ca(2+) store depletion fails to stimulate Ca(2+) influx in the NG115-401L cell phenotype. Moreover, cell death induced by gingerol, in contrast to the classic SERCA inhibitors, is not accompanied by increases in reactive oxygen species production or enzymatic caspase activity. These results argue for a finer regulatory control on SERCA function with gingerol's actions revealing potentially novel routes of coupling altered pump regulation to the assembly of functional Ca(2+) influx units and activation of cell death pathways.

2-aminoethyl diphenyl borinate (2-APB) inhibits TRPM7 channels through an intracellular acidification mechanism

2-APB is a widely used compound in ion channel research. It affects numerous channels including inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, store-operated calcium channels and TRP channels, TRPV3 and TRPM7 among them. A characteristic property of TRPM7 channels is their sensitivity to intracellular Mg ( 2+) and pH. Using patch clamp electrophysiology we find that in Jurkat T lymphocytes, 100-300 µM extracellular 2-APB reversibly inhibits TRPM7 channels when internal HEPES concentration is low (1 mM). Increasing the concentration to 140 mM abolishes the 2-APB effect. Using single-cell fluorescence pH video imaging, we show that at concentrations of 100 µM and higher, 2-APB potently acidifies the cytoplasm. We conclude that TRPM7 sensitivity to 2-APB is not direct but rather, can be explained by cytoplasmic acidification and a resulting channel inhibition.

The actin cytoskeleton differentially regulates NG115-401L cell ryanodine receptor and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor induced calcium signaling pathways

Regulation of bi-directional communication between intracellular Ca(2+) pools and surface Ca(2+) channels remains incompletely characterized. We report Ca(2+) release mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) pathways is diminished under actin cytoskeleton disruption in NG115-401L (401L) neuronal cells, yet despite truncated Ca(2+) release, Ca(2+) influx was not significantly altered in these experiments. However, disruption of cortical actin networks completely abolished IP(3)R induced Ca(2+) release, whereas RyR-mediated Ca(2+) release was preserved, albeit attenuated. Moreover, cortical actin disruption completely abolished IP(3)R and RyR linked Ca(2+) influx even though Ca(2+) pool sensitivities were different. These findings suggest discrete Ca(2+) store/Ca(2+) channel coupling mechanisms in the IP(3)R and RyR pathways as revealed by the differential sensitivity to actin perturbation.

Local influence of mitochondrial calcium transport in retinal amacrine cells

Ca2+-dependent synaptic transmission from retinal amacrine cells is thought to be initiated locally at dendritic processes. Hence, understanding the spatial and temporal impact of Ca2+ transport is fundamental to understanding how amacrine cells operate. Here, we provide the first examination of the local effects of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport in neuronal processes. By combining mitochondrial localization with measurements of cytosolic Ca2+, the local impacts of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport for two types of Ca2+ signals were investigated. Disruption of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake with carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP) produces cytosolic Ca2+ elevations. The amplitudes of these elevations decline with distance from mitochondria suggesting that they are related to mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. The time course of the FCCP-dependent Ca2+ elevations depend on the availability of ER Ca2+ and we provide evidence that Ca2+ is released primarily via nearby ryanodine receptors. These results indicate that interactions between the ER and mitochondria influence cytosolic Ca2+ in amacrine cell processes and cell bodies. We also demonstrate that the durations of glutamate-dependent Ca2+ elevations are dependent on their proximity to mitochondria in amacrine cell processes. Consistent with this observation, disruption of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport alters the duration of glutamate-dependent Ca2+ elevations near mitochondria but not at sites more than 10 microm away. These results indicate that mitochondria influence local Ca2+-dependent signaling in amacrine cell processes.

TRPM8-independent Menthol-induced Ca2+ Release from Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi

Menthol, a secondary alcohol produced by the peppermint herb, Mentha piperita, is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a cooling/soothing compound and odorant. It induces Ca2+ influx in a subset of sensory neurons from dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, due to activation of TRPM8, a Ca2+-permeable, cold-activated member of the TRP superfamily of cation channels. Menthol also induces Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in several TRPM8-expressing cell types, which has led to the suggestion that TRPM8 can function as an intracellular Ca2+-release channel. Here we show that menthol induces Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in four widely used cell lines (HEK293, lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP), Chinese hamster ovary (CHO), and COS), and provide several lines of evidence indicating that this release pathway is TRPM8-independent: 1) menthol-induced Ca2+ release was potentiated at higher temperatures, which contrasts to the cold activation of TRPM8; 2) overexpression of TRPM8 did not enhance the menthol-induced Ca2+) release; 3) menthol-induced Ca2+ release was mimicked by geraniol and linalool, which are structurally related to menthol, but not by the more potent TRPM8 agonists icilin or eucalyptol; and 4) TRPM8 expression in HEK293 cells was undetectable at the protein and mRNA levels. Moreover, using a novel TRPM8-specific antibody we demonstrate that both heterologously expressed TRPM8 (in HEK293 cells) and endogenous TRPM8 (in LNCaP cells) are mainly localized in the plasma membrane, which contrast to previous localization studies using commercial anti-TRPM8 antibodies. Finally, aequorin-based measurements demonstrate that the TRPM8-independent menthol-induced Ca2+ release originates from both endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments.