Modulation of spontaneous transient Ca2+-activated K+ channel currents by cADP-ribose in vascular smooth muscle cells

Smooth Muscle Ion Channels and Regulation of Vascular Tone in Resistance Arteries and Arterioles

Vascular tone of resistance arteries and arterioles determines peripheral vascular resistance, contributing to the regulation of blood pressure and blood flow to, and within the body's tissues and organs. Ion channels in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in these blood vessels importantly contribute to the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, the primary determinant of SMC contractile activity and vascular tone. Ion channels provide the main source of activator Ca2+ that determines vascular tone, and strongly contribute to setting and regulating membrane potential, which, in turn, regulates the open-state-probability of voltage gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs), the primary source of Ca2+ in resistance artery and arteriolar SMCs. Ion channel function is also modulated by vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, contributing to all aspects of the regulation of vascular tone. This review will focus on the physiology of VGCCs, voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels, large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, strong-inward-rectifier K+ (KIR) channels, ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, ryanodine receptors (RyRs), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), and a variety of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels that contribute to pressure-induced myogenic tone in resistance arteries and arterioles, the modulation of the function of these ion channels by vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, their role in the functional regulation of tissue blood flow and their dysfunction in diseases such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:485-581, 2017.

Ca(2+) release induced by cADP-ribose is mediated by FKBP12.6 proteins in mouse bladder smooth muscle

We examined the role and molecular mechanism of cADPR action on Ca(2+) spark properties in mouse bladder smooth muscle. Dialysis of cADPR with patch pipettes increased frequency and amplitude of spontaneous transient out currents (STOCs) to 6.1+/-0.87 currents/min from 1.2+/-0.36 currents/min (control) and to 179.8+/-48.7pA from 36.4+/-22.6pA (control), respectively, in wildtype (WT) cells, and the effects of cADPR on STOCs were significantly blocked by JVT-591, a RYR2 stabilizer. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in FKBP12.6 null cells. Further studies indicated that Ca(2+) spark properties were altered by cADPR in WT but not FKBP12.6 null cells, namely, Ca(2+) spark frequency was increased by about 3.4-fold, peak Ca(2+) (F/F0) increased to 1.72+/-0.57 from 1.56+/-0.13, size increased to 2.86+/-0.26 microM from 1.92+/-0.14 microM, rise time and half-time decay were prolonged 1.6-fold and 2.3-fold, respectively, in WT cells. Furthermore, in the presence of thapsigargin cADPR still altered Ca(2+) spark properties, and cADPR increased F/F0 without affecting Ca(2+) spark decay time in voltage clamping cells. Dissociation studies demonstrated that application of cADPR resulted in significant removal of FKBP12.6 proteins from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) microsomes, and that treatment of the RyR2 immunoprecipitation complexes with cADPR or FK506 disrupted the interaction between RyR2 and FKBP12.6. Finally, cADPR altered SR Ca(2+) load in WT myocytes but not in FKBP12.6-null myocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca(2+) release induced by cADPR is mediated by FKBP12.6 proteins in mouse bladder smooth muscle.

Ca2+ microdomains in smooth muscle

In smooth muscle, Ca(2+) controls diverse activities including cell division, contraction and cell death. Of particular significance in enabling Ca(2+) to perform these multiple functions is the cell's ability to localize Ca(2+) signals to certain regions by creating high local concentrations of Ca(2+) (microdomains), which differ from the cytoplasmic average. Microdomains arise from Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane or release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) store. A single Ca(2+) channel can create a microdomain of several micromolar near (approximately 200 nm) the channel. This concentration declines quickly with peak rates of several thousand micromolar per second when influx ends. The high [Ca(2+)] and the rapid rates of decline target Ca(2+) signals to effectors in the microdomain with rapid kinetics and enable the selective activation of cellular processes. Several elements within the cell combine to enable microdomains to develop. These include the brief open time of ion channels, localization of Ca(2+) by buffering, the clustering of ion channels to certain regions of the cell and the presence of membrane barriers, which restrict the free diffusion of Ca(2+). In this review, the generation of microdomains arising from Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane and the release of the ion from the SR Ca(2+) store will be discussed and the contribution of mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus as well as endogenous modulators (e.g. cADPR and channel binding proteins) will be considered.

Pyridine nucleotides and calcium signalling in arterial smooth muscle: from cell physiology to pharmacology

It is generally accepted that the mobilisation of intracellular Ca2+ stores plays a pivotal role in the regulation of arterial smooth muscle function, paradoxically during both contraction and relaxation. However, the spatiotemporal pattern of different Ca2+ signals that elicit such responses may also contribute to the regulation of, for example, differential gene expression. These findings, among others, demonstrate the importance of discrete spatiotemporal Ca2+ signalling patterns and the mechanisms that underpin them. Of fundamental importance in this respect is the realisation that different Ca2+ storing organelles may be selected by the discrete or coordinated actions of multiple Ca2+ mobilising messengers. When considering such messengers, it is generally accepted that sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stores may be mobilised by the ubiquitous messenger inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the role of Ca2+ mobilising pyridine nucleotides in arterial smooth muscle, namely, cyclic adenosine diphosphate-ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP). This review will therefore focus on these novel mechanisms of calcium signalling and their likely therapeutic potential.

Pharmacological modulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum function in smooth muscle

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) is the primary storage and release site of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in many excitable cells. The SR is a tubular network, which in smooth muscle (SM) cells distributes close to cellular periphery (superficial SR) and in deeper aspects of the cell (deep SR). Recent attention has focused on the regulation of cell function by the superficial SR, which can act as a buffer and also as a regulator of membrane channels and transporters. Ca2+ is released from the SR via two types of ionic channels [ryanodine- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-gated], whereas accumulation from thecytoplasm occurs exclusively by an energy-dependent sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase pump (SERCA). Within the SR, Ca2+ is bound to various storage proteins. Emerging evidence also suggests that the perinuclear portion of the SR may play an important role in nuclear transcription. In this review, we detail the pharmacology of agents that alter the functions of Ca2+ release channels and of SERCA. We describe their use and selectivity and indicate the concentrations used in investigating various SM preparations. Important aspects of cell regulation and excitation-contractile activity coupling in SM have been uncovered through the use of such activators and inhibitors of processes that determine SR function. Likewise, they were instrumental in the recent finding of an interaction of the SR with other cellular organelles such as mitochondria. Thus, an appreciation of the pharmacology and selectivity of agents that interfere with SR function in SM has greatly assisted in unveiling the multifaceted nature of the SR.

Emerging role of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) in smooth muscle

Cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) is a naturally occurring cyclic nucleotide and represents a novel class of endogenous Ca(2+) messengers implicated in the regulation of the gating properties of ryanodine receptors (RyRs). This action of cADPR occurs independently from the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptor. The regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) release is a fundamental element of cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis since a number of smooth muscle functions (tone, proliferation, apoptosis, and gene expression) are modulated by intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). There has been a surge in the efforts aimed at understanding the mechanisms of cADPR-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization and its impact on smooth muscle function. This review summarizes the proposed roles of cADPR in the regulation of smooth muscle tone.

Novel Ca2+ signalling mechanisms in vascular myocytes: symposium overview

This commentary presents the proceedings of the symposium sponsored by Cardiovascular Section of American Physiological Society in San Diego, CA on 12 April 2003. The major focus of this symposium was on the actions and physiological relevance of several novel Ca2+ signalling mechanisms in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. Five important topics were presented in this symposium including the discovery and roles of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) in mediating Ca2+ release, Ca2+ sparks and activation of plasma membrane KCa channels in VSM cells, the role of cADPR-mediated activation of ryanodine receptors in the control of vascular tone, the role of [Ca2+]i in mechanotransduction in the arterioles, and interactions of mitochondrial Ca2+ release and SR Ca2+ mobilization. The purpose of this symposium was to promote discussions and exchange of ideas between scientists with interests in Ca2+ signalling mechanisms and those with interests in vascular physiology and pharmacology. The cross-fertilization of ideas is expected to greatly advance our understanding of the physiological and pharmacological relevance of these new Ca2+ signalling mechanisms.