Mechanisms of cholecystokinin-induced calcium mobilization in gastric antral interstitial cells of Cajal

AIM: To investigate the effect of sulfated cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8S) on calcium mobilization in cultured murine gastric antral interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS: ICC were isolated from the gastric antrum of mice and cultured. Immunofluorescence staining with a monoclonal antibody for c-Kit was used to identify ICC. The responsiveness of ICC to CCK-8S was measured using Fluo-3/AM based digital microfluorimetric measurement of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i). A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to monitor [Ca²⁺]i changes. The selective CCK₁ receptor antagonist lorglumide, the intracellular Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, the type III inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP₃) receptor blocker xestospongin C and the L-type voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor nifedipine were used to examine the mechanisms of [Ca²⁺]i elevation caused by CCK-8S. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting were used to determine the regulatory effect of PKC on phosphorylation of type III InsP₃ receptor (InsP₃R3) in ICC. Protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and inhibitor chelerythrine were used to assess the role of PKC in the CCK-8S-evoked [Ca²⁺]i increment of ICC.

RESULTS: ICC were successfully isolated from the gastric antrum of mice and cultured. Cultured ICC were identified by immunofluorescence staining. When given 80 nmol/L or more than 80 nmol/L CCK-8S, the [Ca²⁺]i in ICC increased and 100 nmol/L CCK-8S significantly increased the mean [Ca²⁺]i by 59.30% ± 4.85% (P < 0.01). Pretreatment of ICC with 5 μmol/L lorglumide inhibited 100 nmol/L CCK-8S-induced [Ca²⁺]i increment from 59.30% ± 4.85% to 14.97% ± 9.05% (P < 0.01), suggesting a CCK₁R-mediated event. Emptying of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin (5 μmol/L) prevented CCK-8S (100 nmol/L) from inducing a [Ca²⁺]i increase. Moreover, pretreatment with xestospongin C (1 μmol/L) could also abolish the CCK-8S-induced effect, indicating that Ca²⁺ release from InsP₃R-operated stores appeared to be a major mechanism responsible for CCK-8S-induced calcium mobilization in ICC. On the other hand, by removing extracellular calcium or blocking the L-type voltage-operated calcium channel with nifedipine, a smaller but significant rise in the [Ca²⁺]i could be still elicited by CCK-8S. These data suggest that the [Ca²⁺]i release is not stimulated or activated by the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ in ICC, but the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ can facilitate the [Ca²⁺]i increase evoked by CCK-8S. CCK-8S increased the phosphorylation of InsP₃R3, which could be prevented by chelerythrine. Pretreatment with lorglumide (5 μmol/L) could significantly reduce the CCK-8S intensified phosphorylation of InsP₃R3. In the positive control group, treatment of cells with PMA also resulted in an enhanced phosphorylation of InsP₃R3. Pretreatment with various concentrations of PMA (10 nmol/L-10 μmol/L) apparently inhibited the effect of CCK-8S and the effect of 100 nmol/L PMA was most obvious. Likewise, the effect of CCK-8S was augmented by the pretreatment with chelerythrine (10 nmol/L-10 μmol/L) and 100 nmol/L chelerythrine exhibited the maximum effect.

CONCLUSION: CCK-8S increases [Ca²⁺]i in ICC via the CCK₁ receptor. This effect depends on the release of InsP₃R-operated Ca²⁺ stores, which is negatively regulated by PKC-mediated phosphorylation of InsP₃R3.