Calcium Homeostasis Modulator Research Articles

Arsenic trioxide in environmentally and clinically relevant concentrations interacts with calcium homeostasis and induces cell type specific cell death in tumor and non-tumor cells

While arsenic compounds are known as environmental toxicants (especially in drinking water) and as carcinogens, some arsenic compounds, like arsenic trioxide (As 2O 3), are clinically used in humans to treat some forms of cancer (e.g. leukemia). Although arsenic compounds have been studied intensively, their interactions with living cells are still not fully elucidated. We have previously proposed that modulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+] i) homeostasis induced by As 2O 3 could be an important mechanism to induce cytotoxicity. Here we demonstrate, using human cell models (neuroblastoma (SY-5Y) or embryonic kidney cells (HEK)) and confocal microscopy in combination with the calcium sensitive dye fluo 4-AM, that As 2O 3 interferes with calcium signaling at low (environmentally and clinically relevant concentrations of 100 pM to 1 μM). Within this concentration range, As 2O 3 had cell type specific cytotoxic effects, with neuroblastoma cells being more sensitive to As 2O 3 than HEK 293. In addition, by staining with Hoechst 33347 and counting micronucleated cells as well as apoptotic nuclei, As 2O 3 was found to increase the rate of apoptosis and DNA damage, which was also cell type specific. These results indicate that the As 2O 3-induced cell death could be triggered or mediated by [Ca 2+] i signals and suggest that low concentrations of As 2O 3 are able to interfere with specific physiological processes in diverse cell models.

Cardioprotective effects and modulation of calcium homeostasis by remifentanil in ischemia‐reperfused rat heart

Intracellular Ca2+ overload induced by ischemia-reperfusion alters Ca2+ homeostasis, which plays an important role in myocardial injury. Even though remifentanil is often used in high doses during anesthetic, little is known about cardioprotective effect associated with Ca2+ homeostasis. In the present study, we showed that remifentanil protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat heart. In remifentanil-treated rat heart, we observed a decrease in the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, cytochrome c and myocardial infarct size. We also found that remifentanil treatment enhanced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and activation of Erk concerned with survival. Further, remifentanil attenuated abnormal changes of genes involving Ca2+-regulatory mechanism against ischemia-reperfusion injury. These results suggest that remifentanil modulates the expression of genes involved in Ca2+ homeostasis, thereby producing cardioprotective effects through a reduction in apoptotic death.

Hydrogen Sulfide Raises Cytosolic Calcium in Neurons Through Activation of L-Type Ca2+ Channels

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) concentration can be maintained in cell cultures within the range reported for rat brain by repetitive pulses of sodium hydrogen sulfide. Less than 2 h exposure to H(2)S concentrations within 50 and 120 microM (i.e., within the upper segment of the reported physiological range of H(2)S in rat brain), produces a large shift of the intracellular calcium homeostasis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) in culture, leading to a large and sustained increase of cytosolic calcium concentration. Only 1 h exposure to H(2)S concentrations within 100 and 300 microM raises intracellular calcium to the neurotoxic range, with nearly 50% cell death after 2 h. L-type Ca(2+) channels antagonists nimodipine and nifedipine block both the H(2)S-induced rise of cytosolic calcium and cell death. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists (+)-MK-801 and DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid afforded a nearly complete protection against H(2)S-induced CGN death and largely attenuated the rise of cytosolic calcium. Thus, H(2)S-induced rise of cytosolic calcium eventually reaches the neurotoxic cytosolic calcium range, leading to glutamate-induced excitotoxic CGN death. The authors conclude that H(2)S is a major modulator of calcium homeostasis in neurons as it induces activation of Ca(2+) entry through L-type Ca(2+) channels, and thereby of neuronal activity.

Regulatory and Structural EF-Hand Motifs of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1: Mg2+ Modulates Ca2+ Binding, Ca2+-Induced Conformational Changes, and Equilibrium Unfolding Transitions

Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is a major modulator of Ca2+ signaling with a known role in neurotransmitter release. NCS-1 has one cryptic (EF1) and three functional (EF2, EF3, and EF4) EF-hand motifs. However, it is not known which are the regulatory (Ca2+-specific) and structural (Ca2+- or Mg2+-binding) EF-hand motifs. To understand the specialized functions of NCS-1, identification of the ionic discrimination of the EF-hand sites is important. In this work, we determined the specificity of Ca2+ binding using NMR and EF-hand mutants. Ca2+ titration, as monitored by [15N,1H] heteronuclear single quantum coherence, suggests that Ca2+ binds to the EF2 and EF3 almost simultaneously, followed by EF4. Our NMR data suggest that Mg2+ binds to EF2 and EF3, thereby classifying them as structural sites, whereas EF4 is a Ca2+-specific or regulatory site. This was further corroborated using an EF2/EF3-disabled mutant, which binds only Ca2+ and not Mg2+. Ca2+ binding induces conformational rearrangements in the protein by reversing Mg2+-induced changes in Trp fluorescence and surface hydrophobicity. In a larger physiological perspective, exchanging or replacing Mg2+ with Ca2+ reduces the Ca2+-binding affinity of NCS-1 from 90 nM to 440 nM, which would be advantageous to the molecule by facilitating reversibility to the Ca2+-free state. Although the equilibrium unfolding transitions of apo-NCS-1 and Mg2+-bound NCS-1 are similar, the early unfolding transitions of Ca2+-bound NCS-1 are partially influenced in the presence of Mg2+. This study demonstrates the importance of Mg2+ as a modulator of calcium homeostasis and active-state behavior of NCS-1.

Dietary calcium intake and Renin Angiotensin System polymorphisms alter the blood pressure response to aerobic exercise: a randomized control design

BackgroundDietary calcium intake and the renin angiotensin system (RAS) regulate blood pressure (BP) by modulating calcium homeostasis. Despite similar BP regulatory effects, the influence of dietary calcium intake alone and combined with RAS polymorphisms on the BP response following acute aerobic exercise (i.e., postexercise hypotension) has not been studied. Thus, we examined the effect of dietary calcium intake and selected RAS polymorphisms on postexercise hypotension.MethodsSubjects were men (n = 50, 43.8 ± 1.3 yr) with high BP (145.3 ± 1.5/85.9 ± 1.1 mm Hg). They completed three experiments: non-exercise control and two cycle bouts at 40% and 60% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Subjects provided 3 d food records on five protocol-specific occasions. Dietary calcium intake was averaged and categorized as low (<880 mg/d = LowCa) or high (≥ 880 mg/d = HighCa). RAS polymorphisms (angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion, ACE I/D; angiotensin II type 1 receptor, AT1R A/C) were analyzed with molecular methods. Genotypes were reduced from three to two: ACE II/ID and ACE DD; or AT1R AA and AT1R CC/AC. Repeated measure ANCOVA tested if BP differed among experiments, dietary calcium intake level and RAS polymorphisms.ResultsSystolic BP (SBP) decreased 6 mm Hg after 40% and 60% VO2max compared to non-exercise control for 10 h with LowCa (p < 0.01), but not with HighCa (p ≥ 0.05). Under these conditions, diastolic BP (DBP) did not differ between dietary calcium intake levels (p ≥ 0.05). With LowCa, SBP decreased after 60% VO2max versus non-exercise control for 10 h among ACE II/ID (6 mm Hg) and AT1R AA (8 mm Hg); and by 8 mm Hg after 40% VO2max among ACE DD and AT1R CC/CA (p < 0.01). With HighCa, SBP (8 mm Hg) and DBP (4 mm Hg) decreased after 60% VO2max compared to non-exercise control for 10 h (p < 0.05), but not after 40% VO2max (p ≥ 0.05).ConclusionSBP decreased after exercise compared to non-exercise control among men with low but not high dietary calcium intake. Dietary calcium intake interacted with the ACE I/D and AT1R A/C polymorphisms to further modulate postexercise hypotension. Interactions among dietary calcium intake, exercise intensity and RAS polymorphisms account for some of the variability in the BP response to exercise.

Highly efficient and specific modulation of cardiac calcium homeostasis by adenovector-derived short hairpin RNA targeting phospholamban

Impaired function of the phospholamban (PLB)-regulated sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump (SERCA2a) contributes to cardiac dysfunction in heart failure (HF). PLB downregulation may increase SERCA2a activity and improve cardiac function. Small interfering (si)RNAs mediate efficient gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi). However, their use for in vivo gene therapy is limited by siRNA instability in plasma and tissues, and by low siRNA transfer rates into target cells. To address these problems, we developed an adenoviral vector (AdV) transcribing short hairpin (sh)RNAs against rat PLB and evaluated its potential to silence the PLB gene and to modulate SERCA2a-mediated Ca(2+) sequestration in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (PNCMs). Over a period of 13 days, vector transduction resulted in stable > 99.9% ablation of PLB-mRNA at a multiplicity of infection of 100. PLB protein gradually decreased until day 7 (7+/-2% left), whereas SERCA, Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1), calsequestrin and troponin I protein remained unchanged. PLB silencing was associated with a marked increase in ATP-dependent oxalate-supported Ca(2+) uptake at 0.34 microM of free Ca(2+), and rapid loss of responsiveness to protein kinase A-dependent stimulation of Ca(2+) uptake was maintained until day 7. In summary, these results indicate that AdV-derived PLB-shRNA mediates highly efficient, specific and stable PLB gene silencing and modulation of active Ca(2+) sequestration in PNCMs. The availability of the new vector now enables employment of RNAi for the treatment of HF in vivo.

Bcr-Abl reduces endoplasmic reticulum releasable calcium levels by a Bcl-2–independent mechanism and inhibits calcium-dependent apoptotic signaling

The Bcr-Abl oncoprotein plays a major role in the development and progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Several studies have suggested that the expression levels of Bcr-Abl are elevated at disease progression to blast crisis and that this plays a significant role in the achievement of drug resistance. We have established cell lines expressing low and high levels of Bcr-Abl to study the molecular mechanisms involved in disease progression and drug resistance. It is now known that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can play a major role in the regulation of apoptosis. We therefore investigated whether Bcr-Abl expression modulates ER homeostasis and interferes with ER-mediated apoptotic pathways to promote survival. Bcr-Abl-expressing cells exhibit a decreased amount of free releasable calcium in the ER as well as a weaker capacitative calcium entry response, relative to parental cells. This effect is independent of Bcl-2, which is a known modulator of ER calcium homeostasis. The reduction in ER releasable calcium results in inhibition of the ER/mitochondria-coupling process and mitochondrial calcium uptake. This study demonstrates a novel downstream consequence of Bcr-Abl signaling. The ability to negate calcium-dependent apoptotic signaling is likely to be a major prosurvival mechanism in Bcr-Abl-expressing cells.

Inhibition Of Na+/K+‐ATPase By Ouabain Potentiates Apoptosis By Inducing Pertubations In Cell Calcium Homeostasis: A Protective Role Selective For Bcl‐2

Apoptosis is a well-defined programmed process with distinctive characteristics including cellular shrinking, chromatin condensation, and formation of membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Cell shrinkage occurs early in apoptosis and is accompanied by changes in the activity of ion channels and plasma membrane transporters. The Na+/K+-ATPase couples the energy released from the hydrolysis of ATP to the transport of Na+ and K+ions thus controlling cell volume and plasma membrane potential. Additionally, the Na+/K+-ATPase is the only known receptor for cardiac glycosides including ouabain. We hypothesize that the Na+/K+-ATPase is essential in modulating apoptosis and thus its inhibition with ouabain should potentiate the apoptotic process. We report that ouabain potentiated apoptosis in wild-type Jurkat cells exposed to Fas Ligand (FasL) by increasing % of cells with degraded DNA content and increased caspase 3/7-like activity. When cells were treated with ouabain and then exposed to other apoptotic agents (H2O2, staurosporine, TRAIL, thapsigargin) only exposure to TRAIL showed potentiation of apoptosis indicating that such potentiation is restricted to the death receptor pathway (FasL and TRAIL). In addition, we observed that ouabain induced perturbations in cell calcium homeostasis upon both FasL and TRAIL treatments. Ouabain-induced potentiation of apoptosis was abolished in Bcl-2 overexpressing cells by inhibiting perturbations in cell calcium homeostasis whereas Bcl-XL overexpression had no effect. To conclude, our data indicate a novel role for calcium in modulating ouabain-induced potentiation of apoptosis and that Bcl-2 selectively modulates calcium homeostasis.

Toxic effects of metals: modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis

Metals and metalloids with their organic derivatives are part of the environment occurring naturally or being introduced upon human activity (e.g. industry, agriculture or medicine). Even if they are useful for humans, these chemicals could be highly toxic (e.g. mercury, lead, arsenic, tin) acting as neurotoxins or carcinogens. Several human cases of metal derived intoxication have been documented resulting in health complications or ending with death. The mechanisms of toxicity are not well understood. Since calcium is a universal second messenger in all cell types it is a good candidate to investigate how changes in the intracellular calcium homeostasis are involved in metal(loid) toxicity. In this mini-overview the interaction of metallic species with channel proteins at the outer cell membrane, as well as with calcium release sides from the calcium stores and the impairment with calcium extrusion mechanism is discussed. Toxische Effekte von Metallen: Modulation der intrazellulären. Calcium-Homeostase Metalle und Metalloide, als auch ihre organischen Verbindungen, sind in der Umwelt weit verbreitet. Dabei sind sie teilweise natürlichen Ursprungs oder werden durch den Menschen geschaffen (industrielle Produktion, Einsatz in der Landwirtschaft oder in der Medizin). Trotz ihres weitgehenden Verwendung sind zumindest einige dieser Verbindungen ausgesprochen toxisch (z. B. Quecksilber-, Blei-, Arsen- oder Zinn-Verbindungen), insbesondere im Hinblick auf das Nervensystem. Deshalb ist es auch nicht überraschend, dass zahlreiche Fälle von Metallintoxikationen in der medizinischen Literatur beschrieben wurden. Nichtsdestotrotz sind die möglichen Mechanismen solcher Metallvergiftungen bis heute nicht vollständig verstanden. Da das intrazellulären Calcium ein universieller „Second Messanger”︁ in allen Zelltypen ist, haben wir untersucht, ob kurzfristige oder anhaltende Veränderungen der intrazellulären Calciumkonzentration durch die Metalle und Metalloide (oder ihrer Verbindungen) induziert werden. In dieser kurzen Übersicht beschreiben wir die Wirkungen verschiedener Metall- und Metalloid-Verbindungen auf Kanalproteine, den intrazellulären Calciumspeichern und den Calcium transportierenden Proteinen.

A Novel Bcr-Abl Mediated Pro-Survival Pathway: Reduction of Releasable Calcium Levels in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Inhibits Calcium Dependent Apoptotic Signaling.

The Bcr-Abl oncoprotein plays a major role in the development and progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Several studies have suggested that the expression levels of Bcr-Abl are elevated at disease progression to blast crisis (BC) and that this plays significant role in the achievement of drug resistance. We have established cell lines expressing low (C2 cells) and high levels (C4 cells) of Bcr-Abl to study the molecular mechanisms involved in disease progression especially with regard to drug resistance. Microarray analysis revealed that Bcr-Abl expressing cells exhibit increased expression of various endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins indicating that the ER is a novel target of Bcr-Abl. Recently, this organelle has been described as an important apoptotic gateway. Indeed, by measuring calcium levels (steady state and following drug treatment) in the ER and cytoplasm we could elucidate that the calcium dependent apoptotic signaling is disturbed in Bcr-Abl transformed cells. Moreover, inhibition of Bcr-Abl activity by Imatinib reversed this phenotype indicating that Bcr-Abl is directly modulating calcium homeostasis by yet unknown mechanisms. Two Bcr-Abl expressing human cell lines, K562 and BV173, also showed reduced amounts of calcium in the ER compared to the Bcr-Abl negative cell lines HL60 and Jurkat. Etoposide was chosen for apoptosis induction as this drug was classified to target not only the mitochondria (classical mitochondrial pathway) but also the ER (calcium dependent apoptotic pathway). Cell death was induced in the parental and Bcr-Abl transformed cell lines and calcium changes in the cytosol and the mitochondria were measured using organelle specific calcium probes. In C2 and C4 cells an early mitochondrial calcium overload was absent possibly due to the decreased amount of free releasable calcium in the ER. Moreover, other ER/calcium activated pathways were greatly diminished, such as cytosolic calcium elevation and calpain activation during apoptosis. It has been shown that decreased levels of releasable calcium in the ER is associated with cell survival. It is possible therefore that Bcr-Abl may exert some of its pro-survival or anti-apoptotic effects at the ER, by directly influencing the levels of releasable calcium. This study demonstrates a novel downstream consequence of Bcr-Abl signaling. The ability to negate calcium dependent apoptotic signaling is likely to be a major pro-survival mechanism in Bcr-Abl transformed cells.

Modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis by trimethyltin chloride in human tumour cells: Neuroblastoma SY5Y and cervix adenocarcinoma HeLa S3

Physiological modifications of intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+] i) levels trigger and/or regulate a diversity of cellular activities (e.g. neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, muscular contraction, cell proliferation), while calcium overloads could result in cytotoxicity. Previously, we have shown that trimethyltin chloride (Me 3SnCl; TMT) modulates calcium homeostasis in cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa S3) cells [Florea, A.-M., Dopp, E., Büsselberg, D., 2005. TMT induces elevated calcium transients in HeLa cells: types and levels of response. Cell Calcium 37, 252–258]. Here we compare [Ca 2+] i-changes induced by trimethyltin chloride in neuroblastoma SY5Y and HeLa S3 cells using calcium-sensitive dyes (fluo-4/AM (fluo-4) and rhod-2/AM (rhod-2)) and laser scanning microscopy (LSM). TMT-induced calcium elevations in neuroblastoma SY5Y as well as in HeLa S3 cells. [Ca 2+] i rose to a sustained plateau or to transient spikes. Overall, the detected averaged increase of the maximum calcium elevation were: 0.5 μM ∼125.6%; 5 μM ∼130.1%; 500 μM ∼145% in HeLa S3 cells and 0.5 μM ∼133.3%; 5 μM ∼136.1%; 500 μM ∼147.1% in neuroblastoma SY5Y cells. The calcium rise derived from internal stores did not significantly depend on the presence of calcium in the external solution: ∼109% (no calcium added) versus ∼117% (2 mM calcium; 5 μM TMT) in HeLa cells. This difference was similar in neuroblastoma SY5Y cells, were ∼127% versus ∼136% increase (5 μM TMT) were measured. Staining of calcium stores with rhod-2 showed a TMT-induced [Ca 2+] i-decrease in the stores followed by an increase of the calcium concentration in the nuclei of the two cell lines tested. Our results suggest that toxic effects in human tumour cells after exposure to trimethyltin compounds might be due to an elevation of [Ca 2+] i.

Functional Characterization of Mouse RDH11 as a Retinol Dehydrogenase Involved in Dark Adaptation in Vivo

We previously cloned mouse RDH11 (mRDH11) as a gene regulated by the transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding proteins and showed that it is a retinol dehydrogenase expressed in non-ocular tissues such as the liver and testis and in the retina (Kasus-Jacobi, A., Ou, J., Bashmakov, Y. K., Shelton, J. M., Richardson, J. A., Goldstein, J. L., and Brown, M. S. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 32380-32389). It was proposed to function in the recycling of the visual chromophore 11-cis-retinal after photoisomerization by a bleaching light, a pathway referred to as the visual cycle. In this work, we describe our studies on the ocular function of mRDH11. We created a knockout mouse by replacing the mrdh11 coding sequence with the lacZ reporter gene for expression profiling. 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal) staining demonstrated active transcription of this gene in photoreceptor cells. We show by immunoblot analysis that mRDH11 is associated with retinal membranes purified from a non-outer segment fraction of the retina. No obvious retinal defect was found during development and aging of RDH11-deficient mice. The functional consequences of mRDH11 disruption were investigated by electroretinography. Dark adaptation was delayed by a factor of 2.5-3 compared with wild-type mice. However, the kinetics of 11-cis-retinal recycling during dark adaptation was not affected, suggesting that mRDH11 is not involved in the visual cycle. We propose that mRDH11 disruption affects retinoid metabolism in photoreceptor inner segments and delays the kinetics of dark adaptation through modulation of calcium homeostasis.

GM1-Ganglioside-Mediated Activation of the Unfolded Protein Response Causes Neuronal Death in a Neurodegenerative Gangliosidosis

GM1-ganglioside (GM1) is a major sialoglycolipid of neuronal membranes that, among other functions, modulates calcium homeostasis. Excessive accumulation of GM1 due to deficiency of lysosomal β-galactosidase (β-gal) characterizes the neurodegenerative disease GM1-gangliosidosis, but whether the accumulation of GM1 is directly responsible for CNS pathogenesis was unknown. Here we demonstrate that activation of an unfolded protein response (UPR) associated with the upregulation of BiP and CHOP and the activation of JNK2 and caspase-12 leads to neuronal apoptosis in the mouse model of GM1-gangliosidosis. GM1 loading of wild-type neurospheres recapitulated the phenotype of β-gal−/− cells and activated this pathway by depleting ER calcium stores, which ultimately culminated in apoptosis. Activation of UPR pathways did not occur in mice double deficient for β-gal and ganglioside synthase, β-gal−/−/GalNAcT−/−, which do not accumulate GM1. These findings suggest that the UPR can be induced by accumulation of the sialoglycolipid GM1 and this causes a novel mechanism of neuronal apoptosis.

A new Alzheimer's disease interventive strategy: GLP-1.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36)-amide (GLP-1) is an endogenous 30-amino acid gut peptide, which binds at the GLP-1 receptor coupled to the cyclic AMP second messenger pathway. GLP-1 receptor stimulation enhances pancreatic islet beta-cell proliferation, glucose-dependent insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose and food intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Not limited to the pancreas, the chemoarchitecture of GLP-1 receptor distribution in the brain of rodents and humans correlates with a central role for GLP-1 in the regulation of food intake. However emerging evidence suggests that stimulation of neuronal GLP-1 receptors plays an important role in regulating neuronal plasticity and cell survival. GLP-1 has been documented to induce neurite outgrowth and to protect against excitotoxic cell death and oxidative injury in cultured neuronal cells. Moreover, GLP-1 and exendin-4, a naturally occurring more stable analogue of GLP-1 that likewise binds at the GLP-1 receptor, were shown to reduce endogenous levels of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) in mouse brain and to reduce levels of beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) in neurons. Collectively these data suggest that treatment with GLP-1 or a related peptide beneficially affects a number of the therapeutic targets associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although much remains to be elucidated with regards to the downstream signaling pathways involved in the pro-survival properties of GLP-1, modulation of calcium homeostasis may be critical. This review will consider the potential therapeutic relevance of GLP-1 to CNS disorders, such as AD.

A phase II, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose comparative study of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of MCC-135 in subjects with chronic heart failure, NYHA class II/III (MCC-135-GO1 study): rationale and design

BackgroundChronic heart failure (CHF) can be caused either by a predominant abnormality in systolic function (systolic heart failure) or a predominant abnormality in diastolic function (diastolic heart failure). Randomized clinical trials have identified a number of pharmaceutical agents that can reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with systolic heart failure. Despite significant therapeutic advances, systolic heart failure continues to result in high rates of morbidity and mortality. In contrast to systolic heart failure, no randomized clinical trials have been performed in patients with diastolic heart failure. Common to the mechanisms causing both systolic and diastolic heart failure are abnormalities in calcium homeostasis. Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation has developed a compound (MCC-135, INN; caldaret) whose mechanism of action is proposed to be modulation of calcium homeostasis at the sarcoplasmic reticulum and cellular membrane. The purpose of this study was to test the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of MCC-135 in patients with mild to moderate heart failure. MethodsThis was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study of parallel group design comparing 3 oral dose regimens of MCC-135 (5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, twice daily) with a placebo control. The treatment period was 24 weeks. A total of 511 patients were recruited from 69 centers in the United States and Europe. One hundred and twenty-five patients were recruited in each of the 4 treatment groups. Patients in each treatment group were divided into 2 cohorts: those with an ejection fraction ≤ 40%, and those with an ejection fraction >40% as determined by core laboratory analysis of echocardiographic studies. ConclusionPatient recruitment was completed in September 2002. Patient follow-up was completed by February 2003; the results will be available for release in 2004.

Nucleic acid-based modulation of cardiac gene expression for the treatment of cardiac diseases. Approaches and perspectives.

During the past few years major conceptual and technical advances have been made towards the therapeutic modulation of cardiac gene expression for the treatment of cardiac diseases. Among these are 1) the identification of new molecular therapy targets in cardiac disorders, often derived from genetic animal models. 2) A better understanding of the molecular and cellular determinants of cardiac gene transfer in vivo, in animal models and in first clinical trials. 3) The development of novel regulatable and long-term stable vector systems. This review is focused on nucleic acid-based modulation of cardiac calcium homeostasis as a paradigm for the new gene therapeutic approaches, since recent landmark papers have suggested this to be a molecular target of key importance in heart failure. In particular, the development of severe heart failure in the genetic MLP(-/-) animal model could be completely abolished by the targeted ablation of phospholamban (PL), a key regulator of cardiac calcium homeostasis. This impressive effect of permanent germline PL ablation provides-in conjunction with former important work on disturbed calcium handling in the failing human heart-a rationale for the gene therapeutic approach of ad hoc suppression of PL by antisense strategies (antisense RNAs, ribozymes, RNA interference) or PL variants. Based on the broad spectrum of methods employed to characterize this general strategy, PL-targeted approaches may be considered as a paradigm of future genetic treatments of cardiac disorders, although the differences between animal models and humans must be kept in mind. High safety of any such therapy will be a prerequisite for any possible clinical application and therefore novel methods to improve control are being devised: 1) The regulation of gene therapy vectors by biochemical abnormalities associated with the target disease itself (" Induction-by-Disease" gene therapy). 2) External control of vector activity by the employment of drug-sensitive promotors. In addition, the important goal of cardiac long-term stability of the therapeutic vectors has recently been achieved in animal models using vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAVs).

ST1926, a novel and orally active retinoid-related molecule inducing apoptosis in myeloid leukemia cells: modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis

AbstractRetinoid-related molecules (RRMs) are derivatives of retinoic acid and promising antileukemic agents with a mechanism of action different from that of other common chemotherapeutics. Here, we describe a novel chemical series designed against the RRM prototype, CD437. This includes molecules with apoptotic effects in acute promyelocytic leukemia and other myelogenous leukemia cell lines, as well as ST2065, an RRM with antagonistic properties. The most interesting apoptotic agent is ST1926, a compound more powerful than CD437 in vitro and orally active in vivo on severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice that received transplants of NB4 cells. ST1926 has the same mechanism of action of CD437, as indicated by the ability totrans-activate retinoic acid receptor γ, to induce the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, and to down-regulate the expression of many genes negatively modulated by CD437. ST1926 causes an immediate increase in the cytosolic levels of calcium that are directly related to the apoptotic potential of the RRMs considered. The intracellular calcium elevation is predominantly the result of an inhibition of the mitochondrial calcium uptake. The phenomenon is blocked by the ST2065 antagonist, the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA (1,2 bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N, N, N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetrakis (acetoxymethyl ester), and by high concentrations of calcium blockers of the dihydropyridine type, compounds that suppress ST1926-induced apoptosis.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 modulates calcium responses to glutamate and membrane depolarization in hippocampal neurons.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) activates receptors coupled to cAMP production and calcium influx in pancreatic cells, resulting in enhanced glucose sensitivity and insulin secretion. Despite evidence that the GLP-1 receptor is present and active in neurons, little is known of the roles of GLP-1 in neuronal physiology. As GLP-1 modulates calcium homeostasis in pancreatic beta cells, and because calcium plays important roles in neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative processes, we examined the effects of GLP-1 on calcium regulation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. When neurons were pre-treated with GLP-1, calcium responses to glutamate and membrane depolarization were attenuated. Whole-cell patch clamp analyses showed that glutamate-induced currents and currents through voltage-dependent calcium channels were significantly decreased in neurons pre-treated with GLP-1. Pre-treatment of neurons with GLP-1 significantly decreased their vulnerability to death induced by glutamate. Acute application of GLP-1 resulted in a transient elevation of intracellular calcium levels, consistent with the established effects of GLP-1 on cAMP production and activation of cAMP response element-binding protein. Collectively, our findings suggest that, by modulating calcium responses to glutamate and membrane depolarization, GLP-1 may play important roles in regulating neuronal plasticity and cell survival.

External pharmacological control of vector-based phospholamban-antisense-RNA expression for the flexible modulation of cardiac calcium homeostasis

External pharmacological control of vector-based phospholamban-antisense-RNA expression for the flexible modulation of cardiac calcium homeostasis

Oxidation of Met144 and Met145 in calmodulin blocks calmodulin dependent activation of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase.

Methionine oxidation in calmodulin (CaM) isolated from senescent brain results in an inability to fully activate the plasma membrane (PM) Ca-ATPase, which may contribute to observed increases in cytosolic calcium levels under conditions of oxidative stress and biological aging. To identify the functional importance of the oxidation of Met(144) and Met(145) near the carboxyl-terminus of CaM, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to substitute leucines for methionines at other positions in CaM, permitting the site-specific oxidation of Met(144) and Met(145). Prior to their oxidation, the CaM-dependent activation of the PM-Ca-ATPase by these CaM mutants is similar to that of wild-type CaM. Likewise, oxidation of individual methionines has a minimal effect on the CaM concentration necessary for half-maximal activation of the PM-Ca-ATPase. These results are consistent with previous suggestions that no single methionine within CaM is essential for activation of the PM-Ca-ATPase. Oxidation of either Met(144) and Met(145) or all nine methionines in CaM results in an equivalent inhibition of the PM-Ca-ATPase, resulting in a 50-60% reduction in the level of enzyme activation. Oxidation of Met(144) is largely responsible for the decreased extent of enzyme activation, suggesting that this site is critical in modulating the sensitivity of CaM to oxidant-induced loss-of-function. These results are discussed in terms of a possible functional role for Met(144) and Met(145) in CaM as redox sensors that function to modulate calcium homeostasis and energy metabolism in response to conditions of oxidative stress.