Effect of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-diethylamino-octyl ester (TMB-8) on neuronal calcium homeostasis, protein synthesis, and energy metabolism

Calcium Dynamics Regulate Protective Responses and Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in Macrophages

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a gram-positive bacteria, which causes various fatal respiratory infections including pneumonia. The emergence of Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) demands a thorough understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Here we report the role of calcium in regulating defence responses of S. aureus in macrophages. Regulating calcium fluxes in cells by different routes differentially governs the expression of T cell costimulatory molecule CD80 and Th1 promoting IL-12 receptor. Inhibiting calcium influx from extracellular medium increased expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 while blocking calcium release from the intracellular stores inhibited TGF-β levels. Blocking voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) inhibited the expression of multiple cytokines. While VGCC regulated the expression of apoptosis protein Bax, extracellular calcium-regulated the expression of Cytochrome-C. Similarly, VGCC regulated the expression of autophagy initiator Beclin-1. Blocking VGCC or calcium release from intracellular stores promoted phagosome-lysosome fusion, while activating VGCC inhibited phagosomelysosome fusion. Finally, calcium homeostasis regulated intracellular growth of Staphylococcus, although using different mechanisms. While blocking extracellular calcium influx seems to rely on IFN-γ and IL-12Rβ receptor mediated reduction in bacterial survival, blocking either intracellular calcium release or via VGCC route seem to rely on enhanced autophagy mediated reduction of intracellular bacterial survival. These results point to fine-tuning of defence responses by routes of calcium homeostasis.

Comprehensive RNA-Seq expression analysis of sensory ganglia with a focus on ion channels and GPCRs in Trigeminal ganglia

The specific functions of sensory systems depend on the tissue-specific expression of genes that code for molecular sensor proteins that are necessary for stimulus detection and membrane signaling. Using the Next Generation Sequencing technique (RNA-Seq), we analyzed the complete transcriptome of the trigeminal ganglia (TG) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of adult mice. Focusing on genes with an expression level higher than 1 FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads), we detected the expression of 12984 genes in the TG and 13195 in the DRG. To analyze the specific gene expression patterns of the peripheral neuronal tissues, we compared their gene expression profiles with that of the liver, brain, olfactory epithelium, and skeletal muscle. The transcriptome data of the TG and DRG were scanned for virtually all known G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as well as for ion channels. The expression profile was ranked with regard to the level and specificity for the TG. In total, we detected 106 non-olfactory GPCRs and 33 ion channels that had not been previously described as expressed in the TG. To validate the RNA-Seq data, in situ hybridization experiments were performed for several of the newly detected transcripts. To identify differences in expression profiles between the sensory ganglia, the RNA-Seq data of the TG and DRG were compared. Among the differentially expressed genes (> 1 FPKM), 65 and 117 were expressed at least 10-fold higher in the TG and DRG, respectively. Our transcriptome analysis allows a comprehensive overview of all ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors that are expressed in trigeminal ganglia and provides additional approaches for the investigation of trigeminal sensing as well as for the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of pain.

Effects of the cyclopeptide mycotoxin destruxin A on the Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius prolixus (Stål)

The production of peptide toxins by entomopathogenic fungi during the infection process plays critical roles in pathogenesis. To gain insight into the mechanism of action of these mycotoxins on insect internal organs, we have evaluated the effects of destruxin A, a cyclic peptide produced by Metarhizium anispliae, on Rhodnius prolixus Malpighian tubules measuring fluid secretion rate, transepithelial electrical potential (TEP), pH and ion composition of secreted fluid, and ATP content. Destruxin A dramatically inhibited fluid secretion rate on tubules stimulated by 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or cAMP. The calculated IC(50) for destruxin A on 5-HT-stimulated tubules was 3 x 10(-7) M. Fluid secretion rate by Malpighian tubules exposed for 20 min to 10(-6) M destruxin A recovered completely when tubules were washed with saline; however, when tubules were exposed to 5 x 10(-6) M destruxin A the fluid secretion rate only partially recovered upon wash off. The use of Ca(2+)-free saline or addition of the calcium channel blocker CoCl(2) to the bathing saline did not interfere with the effects of destruxin A, and neither did the modification of intracellular calcium by TMB-8. Measurement of TEP of tubules challenged with 5-HT after preincubation for 10 min in saline containing 10(-6) M destruxin A showed that the second and third phases of the typical triphasic response to 5-HT were disrupted. Likewise, the positive shift in TEP in response to 5-HT in chloride-free bathing saline was significantly reduced when tubules were preincubated for 10 min in 10(-6) M destruxin A. The pH of the secreted fluid, but not the Na(+) or K(+) concentration, increased significantly when 5-HT-stimulated tubules were exposed to 10(-6) M destruxin A. The ATP content was not significantly different when tubules stimulated with 5-HT were exposed to destruxin A. Taken together, these results show that destruxin A, without interfering with the intracellular ATP production, strongly inhibits fluid secretion rate by the Malpighian tubules of R. prolixus. Changes in properties of the TEP suggest that one of the target sites for this peptide toxin might be associated with inhibition of the apical V-type H(+) ATPase of tubule cells.

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid and bovine serum albumin

The interaction between 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (TMBA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. In the mechanism discussion, it was proved that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by TMBA is a result of the formation of TMBA-BSA complex. Quenching constants were determined using the Stern-Volmer equation to provide a measure of the binding affinity between TMBA and BSA. The thermodynamic parameters DeltaH, DeltaG, DeltaS at different temperatures were calculated, and electrostatic interactions play an important role to stabilize the complex. The distance r between donor (BSA) and acceptor (TMBA) was obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Trans- and cis-resveratrol increase cytoplasmic calcium levels in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells

The effects of trans- and cis-resveratrol on cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were studied using fura-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (A7r5). Both isomers of resveratrol caused a sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i, cis-resveratrol being significantly more effective than the trans-isomer. The resveratrol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was significantly potentiated by the previous application of low concentrations of thapsigargin, partially inhibited by nifedipine or Ni2+, and not affected by SKF 96365. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, both isomers of resveratrol induced a transient, slow increase in [Ca2+]i, which was inhibited by the previous depletion of intracellular stores with thapsigargin and completely blocked by preincubation with TMB-8, an inhibitor of intracellular calcium release. Reintroduction of Ca2+ in the external solution after the resveratrol-induced release of Ca2+ activated the Ca2+ influx through store-operated calcium channels. The resveratrol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in the absence of extracelullar Ca2+ partially reduced the increase in [Ca2+]i evoked by the subsequent application of thapsigargin. Our results suggest that trans- and cis-resveratrol induce a depletion of Ca2+ from the same intracellular stores released by thapsigargin and subsequent capacitative influx of Ca2+. Additionally, a direct activation of transmembrane Ca2+ influx through another type of channel may be also implicated.

Nimodipine and TMB-8 potentiate the AMPA-induced lesion in the basal ganglia

Acute injection of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) into the rat globus pallidus leads to calcium precipitation, neuronal death and gliosis. In order to determine whether L-type calcium channels and/or release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores contribute to the effects of AMPA, nimodipine and 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) were administered in combination with AMPA. Nimodipine, but not TMB-8, tended to exacerbate the calcification process initiated by AMPA; the AMPA/nimodipine/TMB-8 combination produced much more calcium deposition than AMPA (+62%, P<0.05). AMPA alone induced a slight but not significant astroglial reaction. Nimodipine slightly enhanced the astroglial reaction triggered by AMPA, whereas TMB-8 doubled it (P<0.001 versus AMPA). These data suggest that blockade of L-type calcium channels by nimodipine enhances calcium imbalance triggered by AMPA, and the calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum does not participate in the AMPA-induced calcification.

Ca(2+) as second messenger in PTTH-stimulated prothoracic glands of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Measurements of Ca(2+) influx and [Ca(2+)](i) changes in Fura-2/AM-loaded prothoracic glands (PGs) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, were used to identify Ca(2+) as the actual second messenger of the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of this insect. Dose-dependent increases of [Ca(2+)](i) in PG cells were recorded in the presence of recombinant PTTH (rPTTH) within 5 minutes. The rPTTH-mediated increases of [Ca(2+)](i) levels were dependent on extracellular Ca(2+). They were not blocked by the dihydropyridine derivative, nitrendipine, an antagonist of high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) channels, and by bepridil, an antagonist of low-voltage-activated (LVA) Ca(2+) channels. The trivalent cation La(3+), a non-specific blocker of plasma membrane Ca(2+) channels, eliminated the rPTTH-stimulated increase of [Ca(2+)](i) levels in PG cells and so did amiloride, an inhibitor of T-type Ca(2+) channels. Incubation of PG cells with thapsigargin resulted in an increase of [Ca(2+)](i) levels, which was also dependent on extracellular Ca(2+) and was quenched by amiloride, suggesting the existence of store-operated plasma membrane Ca(2+) channels, which can also be inhibited by amiloride. Thapsigargin and rPTTH did not operate independently in stimulating increases of [Ca(2+)](i) levels and one agent's mediated increase of [Ca(2+)](i) was eliminated in the presence of the other. TMB-8, an inhibitor of intracellular Ca(2+) release from inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP(3))-sensitive Ca(2+) stores, blocked the rPTTH-stimulated increases of [Ca(2+)](i) levels, suggesting an involvement of IP(3) in the initiation of the rPTTH signaling cascade, whereas ryanodine did not influence the rPTTH-stimulated increases of [Ca(2+)](i) levels. The combined results indicate the presence of a cross-talk mechanism between the [Ca(2+)](i) levels, filling state of IP(3)-sensitive intracellular Ca(2+) stores and the PTTH-receptor's-mediated Ca(2+) influx.