Calcium rather than cyclic AMP is an intracellular messenger of parathyroid hormone action on glycogen metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The synthetic 1-34 fragment of human parathyroid hormone (1-34hPTH) stimulated glucose production in isolated rat hepatocytes. The effect of 1-34hPTH was dose-dependent and 10(10) M-1-34 hPTH elicited the maximum glucose output, which was approx. 80% of that by glucagon. Although 1-34hPTH induced a small increase in cyclic AMP production at concentrations higher than 10(-9) M, 10(-10) M-1-34hPTH induced the maximum glucose output without significant elevation of cyclic AMP. This is in contrast to the action of forskolin, which increased glucose output to the same extent as 10(-10) M-1-34hPTH by causing a 2-fold elevation of cyclic AMP. In addition to increasing cyclic AMP, 1-34hPTH caused an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c). When the effect of 1-34hPTH on [Ca2+]c was studied in aequorin-loaded cells, low concentrations of 1-34hPTH increased [Ca2+]c: the 1-34hPTH effect on [Ca2+]c was detected at as low as 10(-12) M and increased in a dose-dependent manner. 1-34hPTH increased [Ca2+]c even in the presence of 1 microM extracellular calcium, suggesting that PTH mobilizes calcium from an intracellular pool. In line with these observations, 1-34hPTH increased the production of inositol trisphosphate. These results suggest that: (1) PTH activates both cyclic AMP and calcium messenger systems and (2) PTH stimulates glycogenolysis mainly via the calcium messenger system.     

Changes in free cytosolic calcium and accumulation of inositol phosphates in isolated hepatocytes by [Leu]enkephalin.

Isolated hepatocytes from fed rats were used to study the effects of the opioid peptide [Leu]enkephalin on intracellular free cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and inositol phosphate production. By measuring the fluorescence of the intracellular Ca2+-selective indicator quin-2, [Leu]enkephalin was found to increase [Ca2+]i rapidly from a resting value of 0.219 microM to 0.55 microM. The magnitude of this response was comparable with that produced by maximally stimulating concentrations of either vasopressin (100 nM) or phenylephrine (10 microM). The opioid-peptide-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i showed a dose-dependency comparable with the activation of phosphorylase, but it preceded the increase in phosphorylase alpha activity. Addition of [Leu]enkephalin to hepatocytes prelabelled with myo-[2-3H(n)]inositol resulted in a significant stimulation of inositol phosphate production. At 10 min after hormone addition, there were increases in the concentrations of inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphate fractions of 12-, 9- and 14-fold respectively. No effect was apparent on the glycerophosphoinositol fraction. The effect of 10 microM-[Leu]enkephalin on inositol phosphate production was significantly greater than that obtained with 10 microM-phenylephrine, but marginally smaller than that induced by 100 nM-vasopressin. However, at these concentrations all three agonists gave a comparable increase in [Ca2+]i and activation of phosphorylase a. These data provide evidence for [Leu]enkephalin acting via a mechanism involving a mobilization of Ca2+ as a result of increased phosphatidylinositol turnover.     

Evidence that a pertussis-toxin-sensitive substrate is involved in the stimulation by epidermal growth factor and vasopressin of plasma-membrane Ca2+ inflow in hepatocytes.

1. In hepatocytes, epidermal growth factor (EFG) (a) increased the rate of 45Ca2+ exchange in cells incubated at 1.3 mM extracellular Ca2+, (b) increased the activity of glycogen phosphorylase a and the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration (measured with quin2) in a process dependent on the concentration of extracellular Ca2+, and (c) enhanced the increase in glycogen phosphorylase activity which follows the addition of Ca2+ to cells previously incubated in the absence of Ca2+. It is concluded that EGF stimulates plasma-membrane Ca2+ inflow. 2. The effects of the combination of EGF and vasopressin on the rate of 45Ca2+ exchange and on the rate of increase in glycogen phosphorylase activity were the same as those of vasopressin alone. 3. The amount of 45Ca2+ released by EGF from internal stores was about 30% of that released by vasopressin. No detectable increase in [3H]inositol mono-, bis- or tris-phosphate was observed after the addition of EGF to cells labelled with myo-[3H]inositol. 4. In hepatocytes isolated from rats treated with pertussis toxin, the effects of EGF and vasopressin on phosphorylase activity (measured at 1.3 mM-Ca2+) and on the rate of Ca2+ inflow (measured with quin2) were markedly decreased compared with those in normal cells. 5. Treatment with pertussis toxin did not impair the ability of vasopressin to release Ca2+ from internal stores, but decreased vasopressin-stimulated [3H]inositol polyphosphate formation by 50%. 6. It is concluded that the mechanism(s) by which vasopressin and EGF stimulate plasma-membrane Ca2+-inflow transporters in hepatocytes involves a GTP-binding regulatory protein sensitive to pertussis toxin, and does not require an increase in the concentration of inositol trisphosphate comparable with that which induces the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Epidermal growth factor and angiotensin II stimulate formation of inositol 1,4,5- and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in hepatocytes. Differential inhibition by pertussis toxin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

The ability of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and angiotensin II to stimulate production of inositol trisphosphate and mobilize intracellular Ca2+ in hepatocytes was compared using quin2 fluorescence to monitor changes in Ca2+ levels and high performance liquid chromatography to resolve the inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) isomers. Both EGF and angiotensin II stimulated an increase in free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) as well as a rapid increase in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3). Concentrations of angiotensin II which gave a rise in [Ca2+]i equivalent to that seen with maximal doses of EGF produced an equivalent increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation. Both EGF and angiotensin II stimulated the formation of the Ins(1,3,4)P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate isomers. The formation of the Ins(1,3,4)P3 isomer lagged behind production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 but eventually reached higher levels in the cell. The initial rise in [Ca2+]i and InsP3 levels stimulated by EGF and angiotensin II was not affected by reducing the external Ca2+ concentration below 30 nM with an excess of [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)] tetraacetic acid. Treatment of hepatocytes for 30-180 s with 1 micrograms/ml phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate prior to the addition of EGF blocked the EGF-stimulated production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and the increase in [Ca2+]i. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate attenuated the production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 generated by angiotensin II over the concentration range of 10(-10) to 10(-8) M; however, the Ca2+ signal was only inhibited at the 10(-10) M dose of angiotensin II. Treatment of rats with pertussis toxin for 72 h prior to isolating hepatocytes blocked the ability of EGF to increase Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4)P3 but did not inhibit the ability of any concentration of angiotensin II to stimulate formation of InsP3 or inositol tetrakisphosphate. The observation that pertussis toxin selectively abolishes EGF-stimulated inositol lipid breakdown suggests that EGF and angiotensin II use different mechanisms to activate phospholipase C in hepatocytes.     

Erythroid differentiation factor stimulates hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositide in Friend erythroleukemia cells

We examined an early action of erythroid differentiation factor (EDF), a polypeptide which induces differentiation of Friend murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. (Eto et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 142: 1095-1103, 1987). In MEL cells, EDF caused a rapid and transient increase in cytoplasmic concentration of free calcium, [Ca2+]c. EDF increased [Ca2+]c even in the absence of extracellular calcium. When [3H]inositol-labeled MEL cells were incubated with EDF, EDF rapidly increased radioactivity in inositol trisphosphate, bisphosphate and monophosphate. EDF also increased [3H] diacylglycerol in [3H]arachidonate-labeled MEL cells. These results indicate that EDF increases [Ca2+]c by stimulating hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositide.     

Calcium regulates inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate production in lysed thymocytes and in intact cells stimulated with concanavalin A.

Lysed mouse thymocytes release [3H]inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate from [3H]inositol-labelled phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate in response to GTP gamma S, and rapidly phosphorylate [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to [3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. The rate of phosphorylation is increased approximately 7-fold when the free [Ca2+] in the lysate is increased from 0.1 to 1 microM, the range in which the cytosolic free [Ca2+] increases in intact thymocytes in response to the mitogen concanavalin A. Stimulation of the intact cells with concanavalin A also results in a rapid and sustained increase in the amount of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, and a much smaller transient increase in 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Lowering [Ca2+] in the medium from 0.4 mM to 0.1 microM before addition of concanavalin A reduces accumulation of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate by at least 3-fold whereas the increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is sustained rather than transient. The data imply that in normal medium the activity of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase increases substantially in response to the rise in cytosolic free [Ca2+] generated by concanavalin A, accounting for both the transient accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and the sustained high levels of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate is a strong candidate for the second messenger for Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. This would imply that the inositol polyphosphates regulate both Ca2+ entry and intracellular Ca2+ release, with feedback control of the inositol polyphosphate levels by Ca2+.     

Glucose increases cytosolic calcium concentration and inositol lipid metabolism in HIT-T15 cells

We have investigated the effects of glucose on cytosolic free calcium concentration in the insulin-secreting cell line HIT-T15. Addition of glucose (10 mM) caused a 20-75% increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] within 5 minutes compared to controls in the absence of glucose. A maximal increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] was obtained with 5 mM glucose. The magnitude of the response was markedly dependent upon the concentration of extracellular Ca2+, and the rise in cytosolic [Ca2+] was inhibited by verapamil. Cytosolic [Ca2+] was greatly increased by depolarization of the cells with KCl (50 mM), whereas carbamylcholine had no apparent effect. Glucose and KCl were also effective in stimulating insulin release from HIT cells, although carbamylcholine was again ineffective. The secretory response to glucose was also found to be directly related to the concentration of extracellular [Ca2+]. Glucose and KCl, but not carbamylcholine, were found to slightly enhance the production of [3H]-inositol trisphosphate in HIT cells pre-labelled with myo-[3H]-inositol, indicating a modest stimulation of inositol lipid hydrolysis.     

Insulin-like growth factor II increases cytoplasmic free calcium in competent Balb/c 3T3 cells treated with epidermal growth factor

To determine the role of calcium in the action of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), we have examined the effect of multiplication stimulating activity, the rat IGF-II, on cytoplasmic-free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]c, in aequorin-loaded Balb/c 3T3 cells. IGF-II does not cause any change in [Ca2+]c in quiescent cells. By contrast, IGF-II induces changes in [Ca2+]c in platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) - pretreated competent cells: when competent cells are incubated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 10 min, subsequent IGF-II induces an immediate increase in [Ca2+]c. Without EGF treatment, IGF-II does not cause any increase in [Ca2+]c. The priming action of EGF is time dependent, requiring approximately 10 min for the maximum effect. The IGF-II-mediated increase in [Ca2+]c is totally dependent on extracellular calcium and is blocked by lanthanum. When DNA synthesis in PDGF-treated competent cells is assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation, IGF-II by itself has only a small effect. Likewise, a brief treatment with EGF results in only a small increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation. By contrast, in competent cells briefly treated with EGF, IGF-II causes a marked stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation. These results indicate that IGF-II increases [Ca2+]c in competent Balb/c 3T3 cells treated with EGF by stimulating calcium influx and that IGF-II-stimulated calcium influx may be related causally to its action on cell proliferation.     

Is Inositol Bisphosphate the Product of A23187 and Carbachol-Mediated Polyphosphoinositide Breakdown in Synaptosomes?

Synaptosomes have been isolated from rat cerebral cortex and labelled in vitro with [32P]orthophosphate and myo-[2-3H]inositol. Subsequent addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in the presence of 2 mM extrasynaptosomal Ca2+ raised intrasynaptosomal free [Ca2+] to greater than 2 microM from a resting level of 200 nM and led to rapid breakdown of polyphosphoinositides. This was accompanied by a small increase in the level of inositol monophosphate, greatly enhanced accumulation in inositol bisphosphate, but no detectable increase in inositol trisphosphate. Depolarising (25 mM) extrasynaptosomal K+ produced a smaller increase in intrasynaptosomal free [Ca2+] (to around 400 nM) and a proportional increase in inositol bisphosphate radioactivity. Carbachol (1 mM) alone elicited only limited polyphosphoinositide breakdown and inositol mono- and bisphosphate formation, but this was greatly increased in the presence of 25 mM K+. The effect of carbachol in the presence of depolarising K+ was time- and dose-dependent and was antagonised by atropine (10 microM). There was no detectable accumulation of inositol trisphosphate in the presence of carbachol, K+, or carbachol plus K+, even after short (30 s.) incubations. The lack of inositol trisphosphate accumulation does not appear to result from rapid formation of inositol tetrakisphosphate or from enhanced breakdown of the trisphosphate in synaptosomes.     

Protease-activated receptor-1-induced calcium signaling in gingival fibroblasts is mediated by sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and extracellular calcium influx

Thrombin is a serine protease activated during injury and inflammation. Thrombin and other proteases generated by periodontal pathogens affect the behavior of periodontal cells via activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs). We noted that thrombin and PAR-1 agonist peptide stimulated intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of gingival fibroblasts (GF). This increase of [Ca2+]i was inhibited by EGTA and verapamil. U73122 and neomycin inhibited thrombin- and PAR-1-induced [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, 2-APB (75-100 microM, inositol triphosphate [IP3] receptor antagonist), thapsigargin (1 microM), SKF-96365 (200 microM) and W7 (50 and 100 microM) also suppressed the PAR-1- and thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i. However, H7 (100, 200 microM) and ryanodine showed little effects. Blocking Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria by CGP37157 (50, 100 microM) inhibited both thrombin- and PAR-1-induced [Ca2+]i. Thrombin induced the IP3 production of GF within 30-seconds of exposure, which was inhibited by U73122. These results indicate that mitochondrial calcium efflux and calcium-calmodulin pathways are related to thrombin and PAR-1 induced [Ca2+]i in GF. Thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i of GF is mainly due to PAR-1 activation, extracellular calcium influx via L-type calcium channel, PLC activation, then IP3 binding to IP3 receptor in sarcoplasmic reticulum, which leads to intracellular calcium release and subsequently alters cell membrane capacitative calcium entry.     

Does the inositol tris/tetrakisphosphate pathway exist in rat heart?

Appearance of two isomers of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) was observed when [3H]inositol prelabelled rat heart ventricles were stimulated for 10 and 30 s with noradrenaline. In contrast, inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) could not be detected. However the existence of the inositol tris/tetrakisphosphate pathway was demonstrated by studying [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3) metabolism in a soluble fraction of rat heart. There, [3H]Ins-1,4,5-P3 was phosphorylated to form [3H]Ins-1,3,4,5-P4. Raising [Ca2+] from 1 nM to 1 microM increased InsP3 kinase activity by 2-fold (EC50 for Ca2+ approx. 56 nM). This effect appeared to be due to an increase of the apparent Vmax of the enzyme while the apparent Km was unchanged.     

Relationship between inositol polyphosphate production and the increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ induced by vasopressin in isolated hepatocytes

Addition of vasopressin to rat hepatocytes prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol resulted in a very rapid decrease [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (Ptd-Ins-4,5-P2) which was paralleled by increases of up to 3-fold in the levels of [3H]inositol trisphosphate (Ins-P3) and [3H]inositol bisphosphate (Ins-P2). Increases of [3H]inositol phosphate (Ins-P) were not detected until about 5 min after hormone addition. These data indicate that the major pathway for hormone-induced lipid breakdown in liver is through a phosphodiesterase for PtdIns-4,5-P2 and that decreases of phosphatidylinositol are a secondary result of increased PtdIns-4,5-P2 resynthesis. Using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Quin 2, cytosolic free Ca2+ increased from 160 nM to about 400 nM after vasopressin addition to hepatocytes and preceded the conversion of phosphorylase b to a. Half-maximal and maximal increases of cytosolic free Ca2+ and phosphorylase a activity were observed at 0.2 and 1 nM vasopressin, respectively. The dose-response curve for the initial rate of cytosolic free Ca2+ increase was very similar to those obtained for the initial rates of Ins-P3 production and PtdIns-4,5-P2 breakdown. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with Li+ caused a 3--4-fold potentiation of vasopressin-induced elevations of Ins-P, Ins-P2, and Ins-P3, with half-maximal effects at 0.5, 1, and 5 mM, respectively. The calculated maximal concentrations of Ins-P3 in cells treated with 20 nM vasopressin were 10 and 30 microM, respectively, without and with Li+. Lithium did not affect the initial rate of inositol polyphosphate production or Ca2+ mobilization. The increase of Ins-P3 which correlated with peak cytosolic free Ca2+ elevation was about 0.6 microM. In a saponin-permeabilized hepatocyte preparation, Ins-P3 (1 microM) caused Ca2+ release from a vesicular, ATP-dependent Ca2+ pool. The data presented here suggest that Ins-P3 may be a second messenger for the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ by hormones in liver.     

Does beta-adrenoceptor activation stimulate Ca2+ mobilization and inositol trisphosphate formation in parotid acinar cells?

The effects of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoprenaline, on Ca2+ mobilization and inositol phosphate formation in parotid acinar cells were examined. Isoprenaline (2 microM) failed to increase cytosolic [Ca2+] in acinar cells, as measured by Fura-2 fluorescence, even in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Likewise, neither the 8-bromo nor the dibutyryl derivatives of cAMP (both at 2 mM concentration) increased [Ca2+]i. However, in confirmation of results previously published, a higher concentration of isoprenaline (200 microM) increased cytosolic [Ca2+]i of rat parotid acinar cells, from 104 +/- 4 nM to 151 +/- 18 nM. The increase in [Ca2+]i in response to isoprenaline, while transient in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, was sustained in Ca2(+)-containing medium. This isoprenaline-stimulated Ca2+ signal was more potently antagonized by phentolamine than by propranolol, suggesting that the higher concentration of isoprenaline activated alpha-adrenoceptors. Furthermore, the Ca2+ signal generated in response to the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, also was blocked by the same concentrations of propranolol necessary to block the effects of isoprenaline, suggesting that propranolol may block alpha-adrenoceptors under certain experimental conditions. The high concentration of (-)isoprenaline (200 microM) also increased inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate and inositol (1,3,4) trisphosphate formation 45% within 30 s. Analogous to the increase in intracellular Ca2+, the formation of inositol phosphates stimulated by isoprenaline was more potently antagonized by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine, than by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol, again suggesting that isoprenaline interacts with alpha-adrenoceptors on parotid cells. Thus, the effects of isoprenaline on [Ca2+]i do not appear to be mediated by cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) produces inositol phosphates and increases cytoplasmic free calcium in cultured porcine thyroid cells

The initial signal for thyroid cell proliferation is unknown. This is the first report to show that epidermal growth factor (EGF) produces inositol phosphates and increases cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in the thyroid gland. In cultured porcine thyroid cells, 10 nM EGF produces a breakdown of phosphatidylinositol and stimulates inositol phosphate production. Ten nM EGF increases [Ca2+]i, measured using fura-2, a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator; the EGF-induced [Ca2+]i response occurs immediately, reaches a maximum within several seconds, and then slowly declines. EGF stimulates production of inositol phosphates, which seem to increase [Ca2+]i. Inositol phosphate production and an increase in [Ca2+]i after EGF-stimulation may function as an initial signal for thyroid cell proliferation.     

Receptor coupled events in bradykinin action: rapid production of inositol phosphates and regulation of cytosolic free Ca2+ in a neural cell line.

The addition of bradykinin to NG115-401L cells grown on coverslips results in the generation of rapid transient increases in intracellular [Ca2+] and inositol phosphates. Changes in intracellular Ca2+, measured using the fluorescent indicator dye Fura-2, show two components; an initial rapid peak in [Ca2+]i which is essentially independent of extracellular Ca2+, and a sustained plateau dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Analysis of bradykinin stimulated production of [3H]inositol phosphates, by h.p.l.c., shows a rapid biphasic production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol tetrakisphosphate and inositol bisphosphates, followed by a sustained rise in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate production. Quantitative measurements have indicated the presence of other, more polar, [3H]inositol-labelled metabolites which do not show major changes on bradykinin stimulation. The initial phase of inositol phosphate production parallels the rapid transient increase in intracellular [Ca2+], however, the second phase of inositol phosphate production occurs when intracellular [Ca2+] is declining and implies a complex series of regulatory events following receptor stimulation. Similar time courses of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and Ca2+ signals provides supporting evidence that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is the second messenger coupling bradykinin receptor stimulation to release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.     

Possible Existence of Two Subsets of Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor to Mediate Polyphosphoinositide Breakdown and Calcium Influx in Neuroblastoma × Glioma Hybrid NG 108–15 Cells

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) initiated polyphosphoinositide (polyPI) breakdown and a rise of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells. The accumulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate was evident within 15 s after PAF stimulation, peaked at 1 min, and then gradually decayed. The increase in [3H]inositol monophosphate level was observed at 30 s, plateaued in 5 min, and was sustained up to 10 min in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. On the other hand, the rise of [Ca2+]i evoked by PAF reached a peak within 8-12 s and returned to basal levels within 1 min as measured in fura 2-loaded cells. When cells were suspended in Ca(2+)-depleted medium, the PAF-induced [Ca2+]i rise was reduced by 80%, indicating that the increase of [Ca2+]i was predominantly due to the Ca2+ influx from an extracellular source. Both PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates and [Ca2+]i elevation were concentration dependent with EC50 values of approximately 1 x 10(-10) and 5 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The PAF analogs 1-O-hexadecyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphocholine were much poorer agonists at eliciting the same responses in these cells. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin caused a substantial inhibition of PAF-induced accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates. In contrast, the rise in [Ca2+]i was not significantly affected by toxin treatment at the same concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence of cyclic AMP-independent action of glucagon on calcium mobilization in rat hepatocytes

Glucagon increases the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration as measured by aequorin bioluminescence. It has been proposed by Wakelam et al. (Nature 323 (1986) 68-71) that low concentrations of glucagon mobilize calcium from an intracellular pool by causing polyphosphoinositide breakdown. To identify whether cyclic AMP mediates changes in the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) induced by glucagon, the effects of forskolin and exogenous cyclic AMP on [Ca2+]c were compared with that of glucagon in aequorin-loaded hepatocytes. Although the magnitudes of the [Ca2+]c responses to 250 microM forskolin and 1 mM 8-bromo cyclic AMP were identical to that of 5 nM glucagon, these two agents induced a more prolonged elevation of [Ca2+]c. Glucagon-induced elevation of [Ca2+]c was accompanied by a smaller increase in cyclic AMP than that induced by forskolin. When the cyclic AMP response to glucagon was potentiated by an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, the glucagon-induced increase in [Ca2+]c was not affected. Conversely, when the cyclic AMP response to glucagon was reduced by pretreatment of the cells with angiotensin II, glucagon-induced changes in [Ca2+]c were rather enhanced. Furthermore, vasopressin potentiated glucagon-induced changes in [Ca2+]c despite the reduction of the cyclic AMP response to glucagon. In the presence of 1 microM extracellular calcium, angiotensin II did not enhance glucagon-induced changes in [Ca2+]c. These results suggest that at least part of the action of 5 nM glucagon on calcium mobilization is independent of cyclic AMP.     

Formation and metabolism of [3H]inositol phosphates in AR42J pancreatoma cells. Substance P-induced Ca2+ mobilization in the apparent absence of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase activity

After 2 days of incubation of AR42J pancreatoma cells with 400 microM [3H]inositol, the specific radioactivity of [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and the specific radioactivity of [3H]inositol were similar, indicating that isotopic equilibrium had been achieved. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) level in cells was estimated to be approximately 2 microM and was increased by substance P receptor activation to about 25 microM. HPLC analysis of [3H]inositol phosphates indicated that only 1,4,5-IP3, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, and inositol 4-monophosphate were increased upon receptor activation. There was no increase in inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (1,3,4,5-IP4), or in any of its metabolites. Incubation of [3H]1,4,5-IP3 with a cell homogenate did not result in the formation of [3H]1,3,4,5-IP4. Therefore, it appears that 1,4,5-IP3 3-kinase is either not present or not functional under these assay conditions. Substance P increased cytosolic calcium levels in fura-2-loaded cells from about 600 nM to 2.5 microM. This increase in Ca2+ was partially attenuated in the absence of extracellular calcium, indicating that in AR42J cells, substance P stimulation appears to activate calcium signaling through both Ca2+ entry and intracellular Ca2+ release. These modes of Ca2+ mobilization occur without an increase in 1,3,4,5-IP4 or any of its metabolites.     

Stimulation of inositol trisphosphate formation in hepatocytes by vasopressin, adrenaline and angiotensin II and its relationship to changes in cytosolic free Ca2+.

At maximally effective concentrations, vasopressin (10(-7) M) increased myo-inositol trisphosphate (IP3) in isolated rat hepatocytes by 100% at 3 s and 150% at 6 s, while adrenaline (epinephrine) (10(-5) M) produced a 17% increase at 3 s and a 30% increase at 6 s. These increases were maintained for at least 10 min. Both agents increased cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) maximally by 5 s. Increases in IP3 were also observed with angiotensin II and ATP, but not with glucagon or platelet-activating factor. The dose-responses of vasopressin and adrenaline on phosphorylase and [Ca2+]i showed a close correspondence, whereas IP3 accumulation was 20-30-fold less sensitive. However, significant (20%) increases in IP3 could be observed with 10(-9) M-vasopressin and 10(-7) M-adrenaline, which induce near-maximal phosphorylase activation. Vasopressin-induced accumulation of IP3 was potentiated by 10mM-Li+, after a lag of approx. 1 min. However the rise in [Ca2+]i and phosphorylase activation were not potentiated at any time examined. Similar data were obtained with adrenaline as agonist. Lowering the extracellular Ca2+ to 30 microM or 250 microM did not affect the initial rise in [Ca2+]i with vasopressin but resulted in a rapid decline in [Ca2+]i. Brief chelation of extracellular Ca2+ for times up to 4 min also did not impair the rate or magnitude of the increase in [Ca2+]i or phosphorylase a induced by vasopressin. The following conclusions are drawn from these studies. IP3 is increased in rat hepatocytes by vasopressin, adrenaline, angiotensin II and ATP. The temporal relationships of its accumulation to the increases in [Ca2+]i and phosphorylase a are consistent with it playing a second message role. Influx of extracellular Ca2+ is not required for the initial rise in [Ca2+]i induced by these agonists, but is required for the maintenance of the elevated [Ca2+]i.     

Different signal transduction by epidermal growth factor may be responsible for the difference in modulation of amino acid transport between fetal and adult hepatocytes

[1-¹⁴C]-2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) uptake and signal transduction pattern after epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation were examined in freshly isolated hepatocytes from 20-day-old fetuses and 3-month-old rats. EGF induced a transient increase of AIB transport after 10 min only in adult animals; the observed unresponsiveness of fetal liver is not dependent on a lack of EGF receptors which are present though to a lesser extent on the plasma membrane in this period. As far as the production of the second messengers, inositol trisphosphate (IP₃) and calcium, is concerned, substantial differences were found: EGF increased IP₃ production in adult hepatocytes, whereas it had no effect in fetal ones. Moreover, the addition of EGF induced a calcium transient in hepatocytes from adult animals, while there was no increase in fetal cells. The lack of EGF effect on amino acid transport in fetal cells could be due to its inability to produce both IP₃ and calcium transients, suggesting that this transduction pathway is not activated during fetal life.