Unique properties of the capacitative Ca(2+)-entry antagonist LU 52396: its inhibitory activity depends on the activation state of the cells

2-Methoxyestradiol and its derivatives inhibit store-operated Ca2+ entry in T cells: Identification of a new and potent inhibitor

T cell activation starts with formation of second messengers that release Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and thereby activate store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE), one of the essential signals for T cell activation. Recently, the steroidal 2-methoxyestradiol was shown to inhibit nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). We therefore investigated 2-methoxyestradiol for inhibition of Ca²⁺ entry in T cells, screened a library of 2-methoxyestradiol analogues, and characterized the derivative 2-ethyl-3-sulfamoyloxy-17β-cyanomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene (STX564) as a novel, potent and specific SOCE inhibitor. STX564 inhibits Ca²⁺ entry via SOCE without affecting other ion channels and pumps involved in Ca²⁺ signaling in T cells. Downstream effects such as cytokine expression and cell proliferation were also inhibited by both 2-methoxyestradiol and STX564, which has potential as a new chemical biology tool.

Intracellular endothelin type B receptor-driven Ca2+ signal elicits nitric oxide production in endothelial cells

Endothelin-1 exerts its actions via activation of ET(A) and ET(B) G(q/11) protein-coupled receptors, located in the plasmalemma, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Although the autocrine/paracrine nature of endothelin-1 signaling has been extensively studied, its intracrine role has been largely attributed to interaction with receptors located on nuclear membranes and the nucleoplasm. Because ET(B) receptors have been shown to be targeted to endolysosomes, we used intracellular microinjection and concurrent imaging methods to test their involvement in Ca(2+) signaling and subsequential NO production. We provide evidence that microinjected endothelin-1 produces a dose-dependent elevation in cytosolic calcium concentration in ET(B)-transfected cells and endothelial cells; this response is sensitive to ET(B) but not ET(A) receptor blockade. In endothelial cells, the endothelin-1-induced Ca(2+) response is abolished upon endolysosomal but not Golgi disruption. Moreover, the effect is prevented by inhibition of microautophagy and is sensitive to inhibitors of the phospholipase C and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. Furthermore, intracellular endothelin-1 increases nitric oxide via an ET(B)-dependent mechanism. Our results indicate for the first time that intracellular endothelin-1 activates endolysosomal ET(B) receptors and increase cytosolic Ca(2+) and nitric oxide production. Endothelin-1 acts in an intracrine fashion on endolysosomal ET(B) to induce nitric oxide formation, thus modulating endothelial function.

Role of calcium in neurotensin-evoked enhancement in firing in mesencephalic dopamine neurons

Neurotensin (NT) increases neurotransmission within the mesolimbic dopamine system by enhancing the firing rate of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons and by acting at the nerve terminal level. The signal transduction pathways involved in these effects have not been characterized, but NT receptors are coupled to the phospholipase C pathway and Ca(2+) mobilization. However, an enhancement of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) evoked by NT in DAergic neurons has yet to be demonstrated. Furthermore, the hypothesis that the excitatory effects of NT in DAergic neurons are Ca(2+) dependent is currently untested. In whole-cell recording experiments, DAergic neurons in culture were identified by their selective ability to express a cell-specific green fluorescent protein reporter construct. These experiments confirmed that NT increases firing rate in cultured DAergic neurons. This effect was Ca(2+) dependent because it was blocked by intracellular dialysis with BAPTA. Using Ca(2+) imaging, we showed that NT caused a rapid increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in DAergic neurons. Most of the Ca(2+) originated from the extracellular medium. NT-induced excitation and Ca(2+) influx were blocked by SR48692, an antagonist of the type 1 NT receptor. Blocking IP(3) receptors using heparin prevented the excitatory effect of NT. Moreover, Zn(2+) and SKF96365 both blocked the excitatory effect of NT, suggesting that nonselective cationic conductances are involved. Finally, although NT can also induce a rise in [Ca(2+)](i) in astrocytes, we find that NT-evoked excitation of DAergic neurons can occur independently of astrocyte activation.

Dihydropyridines as inhibitors of capacitative calcium entry in leukemic HL-60 cells

A series of 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) were investigated as inhibitors of capacitative calcium influx through store-operated calcium (SOC) channels. Such channels activate after ATP-elicited release of inositol trisphosphate (IP(3))-sensitive calcium stores in leukemia HL-60 cells. The most potent DHPs were those containing a 4-phenyl group with an electron-withdrawing substituent, such as m- or p-nitro- or m-trifluoromethyl (IC(50) values: 3-6 microM). Benzyl esters, corresponding to the usual ethyl/methyl esters of the DHPs developed as L-type calcium channel blockers, retained potency at SOC channels, as did N-substituted DHPs. N-Methylation reduced by orders of magnitude the potency at L-type channels resulting in DHPs nearly equipotent at SOC and L-type channels. DHPs with N-ethyl, N-allyl, and N-propargyl groups also had similar potencies at SOC and L-type channels. Replacement of the usual 6-methyl group of DHPs with larger groups, such as cyclobutyl or phenyl, eliminated activity at the SOC channels; such DHPs instead elicited formation of inositol phosphates and release of IP(3)-sensitive calcium stores. Other DHPs also caused a release of calcium stores, but usually at significantly higher concentrations than those required for the inhibition of capacitative calcium influx. Certain DHPs appeared to cause an incomplete blockade of SOC channel-dependent elevations of calcium, suggesting the presence of more than one class of such channels in HL-60 cells. N-Methylnitrendipine (IC(50) 2.6 microM, MRS 1844) and N-propargylnifrendipine (IC(50) 1.7 microM, MRS 1845) represent possible lead compounds for the development of selective SOC channel inhibitors.

Mechanisms involved in alpha6beta1-integrin-mediated Ca(2+) signalling

Contact of Jurkat T-lymphocytes with the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein laminin resulted in long-lasting alpha6beta1-integrin-mediated Ca(2+) signalling. Both Ca(2+) release from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+) stores and capacitative Ca(2+) entry via Ca(2+) channels sensitive to SKF 96365 constitute important parts of this process. Inhibition of alpha6beta1-integrin-mediated Ca(2+) signalling by (1) the src kinase inhibitor PP2, (2) the PLC inhibitor U73122, and (3) the cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose (cADPR) antagonist 7-deaza-8-Br-cADPR indicate the involvement of src tyrosine kinases and the Ca(2+)-releasing second messengers D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and cADPR.

Phosphatidylserine-dependent adhesion of T cells to endothelial cells

Phosphatidylserine (PS) was exposed at the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and cultured cell lines by agonists that increase cytosolic Ca(2+), and factors governing the adhesion of T cells to the treated cells were investigated. Thrombin, ionophore A23187 and the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor 2, 5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone each induced a PS-dependent adhesion of Jurkat T cells. A23187, which was the most effective agonist in releasing PS-bearing microvesicles, was the least effective in inducing the PS-dependent adhesion of Jurkat cells. Treatment of ECV304 and EA.hy926 cells with EGTA, followed by a return to normal medium, resulted in an influx of Ca(2+) and an increase in adhering Jurkat cells. Oxidised low-density lipoprotein induced a procoagulant response in cultured ECV304 cells and increased the number of adhering Jurkat cells, but adhesion was not inhibited by pretreating ECV304 cells with annexin V. PS was not significantly exposed on untreated Jurkat cells, as determined by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC. However, after adhesion to thrombin-treated ECV304 cells for 10 min followed by detachment in 1 mM EDTA, there was a marked exposure of PS on the Jurkat cells. Binding of annexin V-FITC to the detached cells was inhibited by pretreating them with unlabelled annexin V. Contact with thrombin-treated ECV304 cells thus induced the exposure of PS on Jurkat cells and, as Jurkat cells were unable to adhere to thrombin-treated ECV304 cells in the presence of EGTA, the adhesion of the two cell types may involve a Ca(2+) bridge between PS on both cell surfaces. The number of T cells from normal, human peripheral blood that adhered to ECV304 cells was not increased by treating the latter with thrombin. However, findings made with several T cell lines were generally, but not completely, consistent with the possibility that adhesion to surface PS on endothelial cells may be a feature of T cells that express both CD4(+) and CD8(+) antigens. Possible implications for PS-dependent adhesion of T cells to endothelial cells in metastasis, and early in atherogenesis, are discussed.

Current perspectives in the pharmacological studies of store-operated Ca2+ entry blockers

The store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) pathway has aroused much interest recently not only because of its unusual nature as retrograde signaling, but also due to its wide occurrence and its possible role in physiological and pathophysiological situations. A number of synthetic or naturally occurring drugs recently used to block this Ca2+ entry pathway are briefly reviewed. Although important and interesting information has been obtained using these putative SOCE blockers described in this review, they indeed have sites of action other than the SOCE channels, and caution must be exercised in using them as putative tools to study SOCE. For instance, the highly variable potency of some synthetic blockers (SK&F 96365 and LOE 908) to inhibit SOCE has provided indirect evidence for the heterogeneous nature of the SOCE channels, an observation consistent with the differential Mn2+ permeability through SOCE in various cell types. The use of SK&F 96365 at relatively high concentrations has unexpectedly revealed its potential as an opener of a novel cation entry pathway. The ability of LU52396 to discriminate the SOCE channel in its closed/open states may be useful in the analysis of the kinetics of SOCE channel activation/inactivation. The possible presence of both agonistic and antagonistic saponins derived from ginseng plants for the study of SOCE deserves more rigorous experimental investigations, which may lay new ground for the development of new types of Ca2+ antagonists (and/or agonists) from the natural resources.

Troglitazone inhibits the capacitative Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells

To investigate the effects of troglitazone on the capacitative Ca2+ entry, we monitored changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) induced by thapsigargin in fura-2-loaded porcine endothelial cells in situ and in primary culture. In aortic valve endothelial cells in situ, thapsigargin induced sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. Both troglitazone and SKF 96365 inhibited the steady state increase in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. At 30 microM, troglitazone and SKF 96365 inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation to 19.4 +/- 3.6% and 43.9 +/- 4.5%, respectively. In aortic endothelial cells in primary culture, both troglitazone (10 microM) and SKF 96365 (100 microM) completely inhibited the thapsigargin-induced [Ca2+]i increase. The EC50 value of troglitazone (1.4 +/- 0.1 microM) was lower than that of SKF 96365 (10.0 +/- 3.3 microM). We suggest that troglitazone would be a useful tool to investigate the capacitative Ca2+ entry.