Mitochondrial free [Ca2+] levels and the permeability transition

Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ activates many processes, from mitochondrial metabolism to opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and apoptosis. However, there is considerable controversy regarding the free mitochondrial [Ca²⁺] ([Ca²⁺]_M) levels that can be attained during cell activation or even in mitochondrial preparations. Studies using fluorescent dyes (rhod-2 or similar), have reported that phosphate precipitation precludes [Ca²⁺]_M from increasing above 2–3 μM. Instead, using low-Ca²⁺-affinity aequorin probes, we have measured [Ca²⁺]_M values more than two orders of magnitude higher. We confirm here these values by making a direct in situ calibration of mitochondrial aequorin, and we show that a prolonged increase in [Ca²⁺]_M to levels of 0.5–1 mM was actually observed at any phosphate concentration (0–10 mM) during continuous perfusion of 3.5–100 μM Ca²⁺-buffers. In spite of this high and maintained (>10 min) [Ca²⁺]_M, mitochondria retained functionality and the [Ca²⁺]_M drop induced by a protonophore was fully reversible. In addition, this high [Ca²⁺]_M did not induce PTP opening unless additional activators (phenyl arsine oxide, PAO) were present. PAO induced a rapid, concentration-dependent and irreversible drop in [Ca²⁺]_M. In conclusion [Ca²⁺]_M levels of 0.5–1 mM can be reached and maintained for prolonged periods (>10 min) in phosphate-containing medium, and massive opening of PTP requires additional pore activators.     

Cysteinyl leukotriene-dependent [Ca2+]i responses to angiotensin II in cardiomyocytes

With the use of fura 2 measurements in multiple and single cells, we examined whether cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLT) mediate angiotensin II (ANG II)-evoked increases in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. ANG II-evoked CysLT release peaked at 1 min. The angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) antagonist losartan, but not the AT(2) antagonist PD-123319, attenuated the elevations in [Ca(2+)](i) and CysLT levels evoked by ANG II. Vasopressin and endothelin-1 increased [Ca(2+)](i) but not CysLT levels. The 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor AA-861 and the CysLT(1)-selective antagonist MK-571 reduced the maximal [Ca(2+)](i) responses to ANG II but not to vasopressin and endothelin-1. While MK-571 reduced the responses to leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)), the dual CysLT antagonist BAY-u9773 completely blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) elevation to both LTD(4) and LTC(4). These data confirm that ANG II-evoked increases, but not vasopressin- and endothelin-1-evoked increases, in [Ca(2+)](i) involve generation of the 5-lipoxygenase metabolite CysLT. The inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P(3)] antagonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate attenuated the [Ca(2+)](i) responses to ANG II and LTD(4). Thus AT(1) receptor activation by ANG II is linked to CysLT-mediated Ca(2+) release from Ins(1,4,5)P(3)-sensitive intracellular stores to augment direct ANG II-evoked Ca(2+) mobilization in rat cardiomyocytes.     

卵细胞受精相关胞质钙离子波、钙离子震荡信号特征及其形成机制

胞质[Ca2 ]i震荡的动力学变化在哺乳动物早期胚胎发育中发挥重要作用。卵母细胞的成熟伴随间断的、快速的[Ca2 ]i震荡的时空表达;在受精过程中精子因子诱导的反复[Ca2 ]i震荡的振幅和持续时间是卵细胞最有效的激活信号,这种信号形成自然连续的受精[Ca2 ]i波,并以长时持续[Ca2 ]i震荡形式在受精卵空间传递并持续数小时,直至受精完成;受精卵内源性的Ca2 释放所引起的[Ca2 ]i震荡形成第一次卵裂信号,启动早期胚胎的发育。精子PLCζ和cPKCs是形成受精卵[Ca2 ]波、[Ca2 ]震荡的重要因素。     

Imaging [Ca2+]i dynamics during signal transduction

The elevation of free intracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i) is widely recognised as a central event in many signal transduction processes in cellular physiology. Recent advances in optical techniques for measuring [Ca2+]i as well as developments in quantitative low light level fluorescence microscopy have led to the application of these methods to the study of subcellular [Ca2+]i in many biological systems. In the following paper we describe some techniques in our laboratory to provide quantitative high spatio-temporal resolution measurements of [Ca2+]i in individual living cells during the signal transduction of cell surface receptor ligand interactions. In particular, we are studying the changes in [Ca2+]i induced by the micro-aggregation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor complexes on the surface of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells (a tumor mast cell line) by multivalent antigen. We seek to understand the mechanisms which are involved in the detection of these cell surface events which lead to changes in [Ca2+]i as well as the interactions between the various subcellular components which impart the delicate control of [Ca2+]i during cellular stimulation. The limitations and properties of the technology used for these studies will be discussed, and some illustrative examples of the type of [Ca2+]i changes found in this biological system will be given.     

Cell shape and increased free cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i induced by growth factors

Growth factors stimulate DNA synthesis of neoplastic cells but not of non-neoplastic cells in suspension cultures. Similarly, growth ceases in dense monolayers of non-neoplastic cells, while crowded neoplastic cells continue to grow. The mechanism of these important phenotypic changes is unknown; the block in growth stimulation could occur in early events of signal transduction at the plasma membrane or in a late step in the final steps of gene activation and induction of DNA synthesis. One particular early intracellular event, [Ca2+]i increases, is in fact necessary for the induction of DNA synthesis in attached non-neoplastic Balb/c 3T3 cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). We therefore used digital image analysis of intracellular Fura-2 fluorescence to determine whether PDGF can stimulate [Ca2+]i transients in suspension or in dense monolayer cultures of Balb/c 3T3 cells. In dense cells (greater than 8 x 10(4) cells/cm2) the basal [Ca2+]i and [Ca2+]i response to PDGF stimulation were both lower than those in sparser, more spread cells. PDGF also did not release internal stores of Ca2+ or produce Ca2+ influx in completely suspended cells. Remarkably, attachment alone, with minimal cell spreading, was enough to reinitiate the entire early signalling mechanism stimulated by PDGF. Thus, a block in PDGF-induced [Ca2+]i increases may contribute to the inability of PDGF to stimulate DNA synthesis in suspended non-neoplastic cells. This early block in signal transduction must be abrogated in neoplastic cells growing in suspension and dense monolayer cultures.     

Inhibitory effects of galanin on evoked [Ca2+]i responses in cultured myenteric neurons

Galanin modulates gastrointestinal motility by inhibiting the release of ACh from enteric neurons. It is, however, not known whether galanin also inhibits neuronal cholinergic transmission postsynaptically and whether galanin also reduces the action of other excitatory neurotransmitters. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate the effect of galanin on the evoked intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) responses in myenteric neurons. Cultured myenteric neurons from small intestine of adult guinea pigs were loaded with the Ca(2+) indicator fluo-3 AM, and the [Ca(2+)](i) responses following the application of different stimuli were quantified by confocal microscopy and expressed as a percentage of the response to high-K(+) solution (75 mM). Trains of electrical pulses (2 s, 10 Hz) were applied to stimulate the neuronal fibers before and after a 30-s superfusion with galanin (10(-6) M). Substance P (SP), 5-HT, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium iodide (DMPP), and carbachol were used as direct postsynaptic stimuli (10(-5) M, 30 s) and were applied alone or after galanin perfusion. Galanin significantly reduced the responses induced by electrical fiber stimulation (43 +/- 2 to 35 +/- 3%, P = 0.01), SP (15.4 +/- 1 to 8.0 +/- 0.3%, P < 0.01), and 5-HT (26 +/- 2 to 21.4 +/- 1.5%, P < 0.05). On the contrary, galanin did not affect the responses induced by local application of DMPP and carbachol. We conclude that in cultured myenteric neurons, galanin inhibits the excitatory responses induced by electrical stimulation, SP, and 5-HT. Finally, the inhibitory effect of galanin on electrical stimulation, but not on DMPP- and carbachol-induced responses, suggests that, at least for the cholinergic component, galanin acts at the presynaptic level.     

Depolarization decreases the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of myosin light-chain kinase in arterial smooth muscle: comparison of aequorin and fura 2 [Ca2+]i estimates

Histamine stimulation of swine arterial smooth muscle is associated with a high [Ca2+]i sensitivity for increases in myosin light-chain phosphorylation. In contrast, KCl depolarization produces a relatively lower [Ca2+]i sensitivity (i.e., similar increases in [Ca2+]i induce less myosin phosphorylation). We evaluated whether 1) artifacts in the methodology for measuring [Ca2+]i or 2) true alterations in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of myosin light-chain kinase were responsible for these apparent changes in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation. The [Ca2+]i sensitivity of phosphorylation was higher with histamine stimulation regardless of whether the [Ca2+]i indicator was aequorin (which was loaded intracellularly by reversible hyperpermeabilization) or Fura 2 (which was loaded intracellularly by incubation of the tissues in Fura 2 AM). Aequorin and Fura 2 appeared to detect qualitatively similar stimulus-induced changes in [Ca2+]i with the exception that the initial response to histamine stimulation was different (histamine initially induced a large aequorin light transient and a relatively smaller increase in Fura 2 fluorescence). The [Ca2+]i sensitivity of myosin light-chain kinase extracted from KCl depolarized tissues was lower than the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of myosin light-chain kinase extracted from unstimulated or histamine stimulated tissues. These results suggest that depolarization specifically modifies myosin light-chain kinase to decrease its [Ca2+]i sensitivity. Changes in the [Ca2+]i sensitivity of myosin light-chain phosphorylation are not an artifact of the [Ca2+]i measurement technique.     

谷氨酸促进大鼠海马神经元的内钙升高

谷氨酸能影响大鼠海马神经元胞内钙信号的变化,进而影响海马神经元神经冲动的发放和学习记忆过程。运用荧光测钙技术实时监测了大鼠海马神经元内钙信号的动态变化,同时分析了谷氨酸对其胞内钙信号的影响。试验表明：谷氨酸能够显著提高胞内游离钙离子的浓度;细胞外钙离子的存在、谷氨酸刺激时间及刺激频率的增加都能引起胞内钙信号不同程度的升高;但谷氨酸的过度刺激会引起钙离子浓度的超负荷,从而导致神经元结构和功能的损坏。     

An insulin-sensitive cation channel controls [Na+]i via [Ca2+]o-regulated Na+ and Ca2+ entry.

The insulin-stimulated cation channel previously identified in patch-clamped muscle preparations is here shown to be responsible for bulk Na+ entry into the cell. The mainly Na+ current of the channel was shown to be accompanied by an inhibitory Ca2+ component responsible for oscillations. Here, using quantitative fluorescence imaging of Fura-2- and SBFI-loaded soleus muscle, we measure changes in [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i related to channel function. Insulin increased [Na+]i and [Ca+]i in a transient spike of < 1-min duration. There was a momentary dip in [Na+]i related to inhibition of the channel by the Ca2+ spike, and changes in external Ca2+ were shown to alter [Na+]i via the cation channel, all effects being blocked by the specific channel inhibitor mu-conotoxin, but not by tetrodotoxin. The [Ca2+]i spike could also be induced by 8-bromo cyclic-guanosine 5'-monophosphate, an analogue of the channel-activator cyclic-guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP). In addition it was noted that insulin reduced the [Ca2+]i rise upon subsequent muscle depolarization by a factor of 3.5. Insulin could be substituted with phorbol ester for the same effect and HA1004, a protein kinase inhibitor, blocked the reduction.     

Involvement of P2X receptors in the NAD+-induced rise in [Ca2+]i in human monocytes

In the present study, we show that the extracellular addition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) induces a transient rise in [Ca²⁺]_i in human monocytes caused by an influx of extracellular calcium. The NAD⁺-induced Ca²⁺ response was prevented by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), suggesting the involvement of ATP receptors. Of the two subtypes of ATP receptors (P2X and P2Y), the P2X receptors were considered the most likely candidates. By the use of subtype preferential agonists and antagonists, we identified P2X₁, P2X₄, and P2X₇ receptors being engaged in the NAD⁺-induced rise in [Ca²⁺]_i. Among the P2X receptor subtypes, the P2X₇ receptor is unique in facilitating the induction of nonselective pores that allow entry of ethidium upon stimulation with ATP. In monocytes, opening of P2X₇ receptor-dependent pores strongly depends on specific ionic conditions. Measuring pore formation in response to NAD⁺, we found that NAD⁺ unlike ATP lacks the ability to induce this pore-forming response. Whereas as little as 100 μM ATP was sufficient to activate the nonselective pore, NAD⁺ at concentrations up to 2 mM had no effect. Taken together, these data indicate that despite similarities in the action of extracellular NAD⁺ and ATP there are nucleotide-specific variations. So far, common and distinct features of the two nucleotides are only beginning to be understood.