Involvement of CaMK‐IIδ and gelsolin in Cd2+‐dependent cytoskeletal effects in mesangial cells

Cadmium is a toxic metal with pleiotropic effects on cell death and survival. The mesangial cell is particularly responsive to Cd's effects on kinase signaling pathways and cytoskeletal dynamics. Here we show that CaMK‐II is a participant in the cytoskeletal effects of Cd²⁺. A major mesangial cell isoform, CaMK‐IIδ, was identified in pellets of DNase I pull‐downs and cytosolic immunoprecipitates of G‐actin. CaMK‐IIδ was also present in Triton X‐100‐insoluble cytoskeletal preparations and translocated to the cytoskeleton in a concentration‐dependent manner in Cd‐treated cells. Translocation was suppressed by KN93, an inhibitor of CaMK‐II phosphorylation. In vitro actin polymerization studies indicated that recombinant CaMK‐IIδ sequestered actin monomer. Cytoskeletal preparations from Cd‐treated cells decrease the rate of polymerization, but KN93 co‐treatment prevents this effect. Over‐expressed CaMK‐IIδ also translocated to the cytoskeleton upon Cd exposure, and this was prevented by KN93. Conversely, siRNA silencing of CaMK‐IIδ increases the effect of cytoskeletal extracts on actin polymerization, and abrogates the effect of Cd. The actin capping and severing protein, gelsolin, translocates to the cytoskeleton in the presence of Cd²⁺, dependent upon the phosphorylation of CaMK‐II, and is recovered together with actin and CaMK‐IIδ in G‐actin pull‐downs and F‐actin sedimentation. Translocation is accompanied by generation of a 50 kDa gelsolin fragment whose appearance is prevented by KN93 and CaMK‐IIδ silencing. We conclude that cytoskeletal effects of Cd in mesangial cells are partially mediated by Cd‐dependent activation of CaMK‐IIδ, binding of CaMK‐IIδ and gelsolin to actin filaments, and cleavage of gelsolin. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 78–86, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.