Disruption Of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis Research Articles

Buparvaquone Induces Ultrastructural and Physiological Alterations Leading to Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Caspase-Independent Apoptotic Cell Death in Leishmania donovani.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (endemic in 99 countries) caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania. As treatment options are limited, there is an unmet need for new drugs. The hydroxynaphthoquinone class of compounds demonstrates broad-spectrum activity against protozoan parasites. Buparvaquone (BPQ), a member of this class, is the only drug licensed for the treatment of theileriosis. BPQ has shown promising antileishmanial activity but its mode of action is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructural and physiological effects of BPQ for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the in vitro antiproliferative activity in Leishmania donovani. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses of BPQ-treated parasites revealed ultrastructural effects characteristic of apoptosis-like cell death, which include alterations in the nucleus, mitochondrion, kinetoplast, flagella, and the flagellar pocket. Using flow cytometry, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and fluorometry, we found that BPQ induced caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death by losing plasma membrane phospholipid asymmetry and cell cycle arrest at sub-G0/G1 phase. Depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane leads to the generation of oxidative stress and impaired ATP synthesis followed by disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Collectively, these findings provide valuable mechanistic insights and demonstrate BPQ's potential for development as an antileishmanial agent.

Congenital Hyperinsulinism in Humans and Insulin Secretory Dysfunction in Mice Caused by Biallelic DNAJC3 Variants.

The BiP co-chaperone DNAJC3 protects cells during ER stress. In mice, the deficiency of DNAJC3 leads to beta-cell apoptosis and the gradual onset of hyperglycemia. In humans, biallelic DNAJC3 variants cause a multisystem disease, including early-onset diabetes mellitus. Recently, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH) has been recognized as part of this syndrome. This report presents a case study of an individual with HH caused by DNAJC3 variants and provides an overview of the metabolic phenotype of individuals with HH and DNAJC3 variants. The study demonstrates that HH may be a primary symptom of DNAJC3 deficiency and can persist until adolescence. Additionally, glycemia and insulin release were analyzed in young DNACJ3 knockout (K.O.) mice, which are equivalent to human infants. In the youngest experimentally accessible age group of 4-week-old mice, the in vivo glycemic phenotype was already dominated by a reduced total insulin secretion capacity. However, on a cellular level, the degree of insulin release of DNAJC3 K.O. islets was higher during periods of increased synthetic activity (high-glucose stimulation). We propose that calcium leakage from the ER into the cytosol, due to disrupted DNAJC3-controlled gating of the Sec61 channel, is the most likely mechanism for HH. This is the first genetic mechanism explaining HH solely by the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Clinicians should screen for HH in DNAJC3 deficiency and consider DNAJC3 variants in the differential diagnosis of congenital hyperinsulinism.

Disruption of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis Leads to ERLIN2-Linked Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia in Patient-Derived Stem Cell Models

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a category of neurodegenerative illnesses with significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Homozygous truncated variants of the ERLIN2 gene lead to HSP18 (MIM #611225). However, it is still unclear whether there is an autosomal dominant pathogenic pattern. The specific molecular mechanism needs to be investigated. We generated patient-derived iPSC models to study the mechanism of ERLIN2 heterogeneous variants leading to HSP. We identified a heterozygous missense variant p.Val71Ala of ERLIN2 in an HSP family. Based on IP-mass spectrometry, we found that the ERLIN2 heterozygous missense variant protein recruited the ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF213 to degrade IP3R1. The degradation of IP3R1 leads to the reduction of intracellular free calcium, which triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis. Calcium homeostasis imbalance inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway that contributed to decreased cell proliferation. In summary, these results suggest that the autosomal dominant inheritance of heterozygous missense variants in ERLIN2 is a novel pathogenic mode of HSP. Furthermore, the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis is the pathological mechanism.

Cisapride induced hypoglycemia via the KCNH6 potassium channel

Mutations in KCNH6 has been proved to cause hypoinsulinemia and diabetes in human and mice. Cisapride is a stomach-intestinal motility drug used to treat gastrointestinal dysfunction. Cisapride has been reported to be a potential inhibitor of the KCNH family, but it remained unclear whether cisapride inhibited KCNH6. Here, we discovered the role of cisapride on glucose metabolism, focusing on the KCNH6 potassium channel protein. Cisapride reduced blood glucose level and increased serum insulin secretion in wild-type (WT) mice fed standard normal chow/a high-fat diet or in db/db mice, especially when combined with tolbutamide. This effect was much stronger after 4 weeks of intraperitoneal injection. Whole-cell patch-clamp showed that cisapride inhibited KCNH6 currents in transfected HEK293 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Cisapride induced an increased insulin secretion through the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis in a rat pancreatic β-cell line, INS-1E. Further experiments revealed that cisapride did not decrease blood glucose or increase serum insulin in KCNH6 β-cell knockout (Kcnh6-β-KO) mice when compared with WT mice. Cisapride also ameliorated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in response to high glucose in WT but not Kcnh6-β-KO mice. Thus, our data reveal a novel way for the effect of KCNH6 in cisapride-induced hypoglycemia.

Mannan-binding lectin deficiency augments hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress through IP3R-controlled calcium release

The aberrant release of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium leads to the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis, which is associated with the occurrence of ER stress and closely related to the pathogenesis of liver damage. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a soluble calcium-dependent protein synthesized primarily in hepatocytes and is a pattern recognition molecule in the innate immune system. MBL deficiency is highly prevalent in the population and has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to several liver diseases. We here showed that genetic MBL ablation strongly sensitized mice to ER stress-induced liver injury. Mechanistic studies established that MBL directly interacted with ER-resident chaperone immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP), and MBL deficiency accelerated the separation of PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) from BiP during hepatic ER stress. Moreover, MBL deficiency led to enhanced activation of the PERK-C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) pathway and initiates an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R)-mediated calcium release from the ER, thereby aggravating the hepatic ER stress response. Our results demonstrate an unexpected function of MBL in ER calcium homeostasis and ER stress response, thus providing new insight into the liver injury related to ER stress in patients with MBL deficiency.

Amyloid beta regulates ER exit sites formation through O-GlcNAcylation triggered by disrupted calcium homeostasis.

Aberrant production of amyloid beta (Aβ) causes disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis, a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Calcium is required for the fusion and trafficking of vesicles. Previously, we demonstrated that Sec31A, a main component for coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles at ER exit sites (ERES), is modulated by O-GlcNAcylation. O-GlcNAcylation, a unique and dynamic protein glycosylation process, modulates the formation of COPII vesicles. In this study, we observed that disrupted calcium levels affected the formation of COPII vesicles in ERES through calcium-triggered O-GlcNAcylation of Sec31A. Additionally, we found that Aβ impaired ERES through Aβ-disturbed calcium homeostasis and O-GlcNAcylation of Sec31A in neuronal cells. Furthermore, we identified that Aβ disrupted the ribbon-like structure of Golgi. Golgi fragmentation by Aβ was rescued by up-regulation of O-GlcNAcylaion levels using Thiamet G (ThiG), an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that the Golgi reassembly stacking proteins having a function in Golgi stacking showed attenuation at COPII vesicles following Aβ treatment. This study demonstrated that Aβ impaired Sec31A targeting to ERES through altered Sec31A O-GlcNAcylation triggered by disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. The findings of this study suggested that protection of ERES or Sec31 O-GlcNAcylation may offer a promising novel avenue for development of AD therapeutics.

Disruption of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis as a Therapeutic Target Against Trypanosoma cruzi.

There is no effective cure for Chagas disease, which is caused by infection with the arthropod-borne parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. In the search for new drugs to treat Chagas disease, potential therapeutic targets have been identified by exploiting the differences between the mechanisms involved in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, both in humans and in trypanosomatids. In the trypanosomatid, intracellular Ca2+ regulation requires the concerted action of three intracellular organelles, the endoplasmic reticulum, the single unique mitochondrion, and the acidocalcisomes. The single unique mitochondrion and the acidocalcisomes also play central roles in parasite bioenergetics. At the parasite plasma membrane, a Ca2+-−ATPase (PMCA) with significant differences from its human counterpart is responsible for Ca2+ extrusion; a distinctive sphingosine-activated Ca2+ channel controls Ca2+ entrance to the parasite interior. Several potential anti-trypansosomatid drugs have been demonstrated to modulate one or more of these mechanisms for Ca2+ regulation. The antiarrhythmic agent amiodarone and its derivatives have been shown to exert trypanocidal effects through the disruption of parasite Ca2+ homeostasis. Similarly, the amiodarone-derivative dronedarone disrupts Ca2+ homeostasis in T. cruzi epimastigotes, collapsing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and inducing a large increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from this organelle and from the acidocalcisomes in the parasite cytoplasm. The same general mechanism has been demonstrated for SQ109, a new anti-tuberculosis drug with potent trypanocidal effect. Miltefosine similarly induces a large increase in the [Ca2+]i acting on the sphingosine-activated Ca2+ channel, the mitochondrion and acidocalcisomes. These examples, in conjunction with other evidence we review herein, strongly support targeting Ca2+ homeostasis as a strategy against Chagas disease.

Therapeutic benefits of maintaining mitochondrial integrity and calcium homeostasis by forced expression of Hsp27 in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

BackgroundVincristine, a widely used antineoplastic agent, is known to be neurotoxic and to lead to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is characterized by nerve damage. Growing evidence suggests that disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis in peripheral neurons contributes largely to the pathological conditions of CIPN. Our previous study showed that forced expression of a peripheral nerve injury-induced small heat shock protein (Hsp), Hsp27, accelerates axon regeneration and functional recovery. In the current study, we examined whether neuronal expression of human Hsp27 (hHsp27) can prevent the inhibitory effects of vincristine in two mouse models of peripheral nerve injury, namely, sciatic nerve crush and CIPN. MethodsThe protective effects of hHsp27 against vincristine were examined in mouse models of both sciatic nerve crush and CIPN using multiple approaches, including animal behavioral tests, histology, electrophysiology, transmission electron microscopy and calcium imaging. ResultsVincristine delayed functional recovery in littermate mice; however, hHsp27 Tg mice were unaffected after vincristine treatment and sciatic nerve crush. In CIPN mice, hHsp27 protected against vincristine-induced mechanical and cold allodynia by preventing axonal degeneration, demyelination, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Strikingly, vincristine-induced calcium influx was markedly attenuated in sensory neurons of hHsp27 Tg mice. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that preserving myelin and mitochondrial integrity as well as maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis is beneficial for preventing CIPN, and these findings shed new light on the development of anti-CIPN drugs.

Peimine inhibits the growth and motility of prostate cancer cells and induces apoptosis by disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis through Ca2+ /CaMKII/JNK pathway.

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in man. Peimine (PM) is a bioactive substance isolated from Fritillaria. Previous studies have shown that PM could inhibit the occurrence of a variety of cancers. However, the roles of PM in PC and its related mechanism have not been elucidated. Calcium (Ca2+ ) is an important intracellular messenger involved in a variety of cell processes. In this study, we found that the appropriate doses of PM (2.5, 5, and 10 μM) significantly inhibited the growth of PC cells (DU-145, LNCap, and PC-3), but has no significant effect on normal prostate cells (RWPE-1). In addition, PM treatment inhibited the invasion and migration of PC-3 cells and blocked the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. These effects were exhibited a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the current results also showed that PM treatment significantly increased the Ca2+ concentration, the increased Ca2+ promoted the phosphorylation of Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), further inhibited the growth and invasion of PC-3 cells, and induced its apoptosis. Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM (1 μM) could counteract the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Similarly, JNK pathway inhibitor SP600125 (10 μM) also inhibited cell growth and invasion and induced apoptosis. In addition, experiments in nude mice showed that PM inhibited tumor formation through Ca2+ /CaMKII/JNK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results show that PM inhibits the growth and motility of prostate cancer cells and induces apoptosis by disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis through Ca2+ /CaMKII/JNK pathway.

An integrated characterization of contractile, electrophysiological, and structural cardiotoxicity of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep. in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

BackgroundCardiotoxicity remains an important concern in drug discovery and clinical medication. Meanwhile, Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep. (S. tonkinensis) held great value in the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine, but cardiotoxic effects were reported, with matrine, oxymatrine, cytisine, and sophocarpine being the primary toxic components.MethodsIn this study, impedance and extracellular field potential (EFP) of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were recorded using the cardio non-labeled cell function analysis and culture system (Cardio-NLCS). The effects of matrine, oxymatrine, cytisine, and sophocarpine (2, 10, 50 μM) on cell viability; level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (CTn-I); antioxidant activities; production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA); and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis were also added into the integrated assessment.ResultsThe results showed that matrine and sophocarpine dose-dependently affected both impedance and EFP, while oxymatrine and cytisine altered impedance significantly. Our study also indicated that cardiotoxicity of matrine, oxymatrine, cytisine, and sophocarpine was related to the disruption of calcium homeostasis and oxidative stress. Four alkaloids of S. tonkinensis showed significant cardiotoxicity with dose dependence and structural cardiotoxicity synchronized with functional changes of cardiomyocytes.ConclusionsThis finding may provide guidance for clinical meditation management. Furthermore, this study introduced an efficient and reliable approach, which offers alternative options for evaluating the cardiotoxicity of the listed drugs and novel drug candidates.

Proteomic study on neurite responses to oxidative stress: search for differentially expressed proteins in isolated neurites of N1E-115 cells.

Reactive oxygen species attack several living organs and induce cell death. Previously, we found axonal/dendrite degeneration before the induction of cell death in hydrogen peroxide-treated neuroblastoma: N1E-115 cells and primary neurons. This phenomenon may be connected with membrane oxidation, microtubule destabilization and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. However, its detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we identified proteins after treatment with hydrogen peroxide using isolated neurites by liquid chromatography-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/time of flight analysis. Twenty-one proteins were increased after treatment with hydrogen peroxide. Specifically, 5 proteins which were secretogranin-1, heat shock protein family D member 1, Brain acid soluble protein 1, heat shock 70-kDa protein 5 and superoxide dismutase 1, were identified of all experiments and increased in isolated neurites of hydrogen peroxide-treated cells compared to the controls. Furthermore, secretogranin-1 and heat shock protein family D member 1 protein expressions were significantly increased in normal aged and Alzheimer’s transgenic mice brains. These results indicate that secretogranin-1 and heat shock protein family D member 1 might contribute to reactive oxygen species-induced neurite degeneration. Both proteins have been related to neurodegenerative disorders, so their study may shed light on neurite dysfunction.

Calcium Signaling, PKC Gamma, IP3R1 and CAR8 Link Spinocerebellar Ataxias and Purkinje Cell Dendritic Development.

BackgroundSpinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of cerebellar diseases characterized by progressive ataxia and cerebellar atrophy. Several forms of SCAs are caused by missense mutations or deletions in genes related to calcium signaling in Purkinje cells. Among them, spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is caused by missense mutations in PRKCG gene which encodes protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ). It is remarkable that in several cases in which SCA is caused by point mutations in an individual gene, the affected genes are involved in the PKCγ signaling pathway and calcium signaling which is not only crucial for proper Purkinje cell function but is also involved in the control of Purkinje cell dendritic development. In this review, we will focus on the PKCγ signaling related genes and calcium signaling related genes then discuss their role for both Purkinje cell dendritic development and cerebellar ataxia.MethodsResearch related to SCAs and Purkinje cell dendritic development is reviewed.ResultsPKCγ dysregulation causes abnormal Purkinje cell dendritic development and SCA14. Carbonic anhydrase related protein 8 (Car8) encoding CAR8 and Itpr1 encoding IP3R1were identified as upregulated genes in one of SCA14 mouse model. IP3R1, CAR8 and PKCγ proteins are strongly and specifically expressed in Purkinje cells. The common function among them is that they are involved in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in Purkinje cells and their dysfunction causes ataxia in mouse and human. Furthermore, disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis caused by mutations in some calcium channels in Purkinje cells links to abnormal Purkinje cell dendritic development and the pathogenesis of several SCAs.ConclusionOnce PKCγ signaling related genes and calcium signaling related genes are disturbed, the normal dendritic development of Purkinje cells is impaired as well as the integration of signals from other neurons, resulting in abnormal development, cerebellar dysfunction and eventually Purkinje cell loss.

Plakophilin-2 is required for transcription of genes that control calcium cycling and cardiac rhythm

Plakophilin-2 (PKP2) is a component of the desmosome and known for its role in cell–cell adhesion. Mutations in human PKP2 associate with a life-threatening arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, often of right ventricular predominance. Here, we use a range of state-of-the-art methods and a cardiomyocyte-specific, tamoxifen-activated, PKP2 knockout mouse to demonstrate that in addition to its role in cell adhesion, PKP2 is necessary to maintain transcription of genes that control intracellular calcium cycling. Lack of PKP2 reduces expression of Ryr2 (coding for Ryanodine Receptor 2), Ank2 (coding for Ankyrin-B), Cacna1c (coding for CaV1.2) and Trdn (coding for triadin), and protein levels of calsequestrin-2 (Casq2). These factors combined lead to disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and isoproterenol-induced arrhythmias that are prevented by flecainide treatment. We propose a previously unrecognized arrhythmogenic mechanism related to PKP2 expression and suggest that mutations in PKP2 in humans may cause life-threatening arrhythmias even in the absence of structural disease.

MECHANISMS OF GENERAL ANESTHETICS MEDIATED NEUROTOXICITY IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: ROLE OF AUTOPHAGY DYSFUNCTION

We hypothesize that general anesthetics propofol and isoflurane, induce cell death through impairment of lysosome and autophagy function via disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). PC12 cells transfected with wild type (WT) or mutated presenilin-1 (L286V) were treated with different concentrations of propofol for 6 or 12 hr or 2.4% isoflurane for 24 hr. The effects of propofol or isoflurane on cell survival, cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) and autophagy induction and flux were investigated. Changes with [Ca2+]c were determined by Fura-2 AM dye. We evaluated [Ca2+]c after exposing to propofol in the presence or absence of the ryanodine receptor (RYR) antagonist (dantrolene), the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor antagonist, (Xc), and intracellular calcium chelator (BAPTA-AM). We used LysoTracker probes to determine the effects of propofol on lysosome acidification. We examined the effects of isoflurane on autophagy induction and flux using a mRFP-GFP-LC3 construct and transfection procedure. VATPase on lysosome and ER was determined by immunostaining technique. Propofol dose- and time- dependently induced cytotoxicity in both PC12 cells, while bafilomycin significantly aggravated the propofol-mediated cell death only in L286V but not WT cells. BAPTA-AM, dantrolene and Xc significantly inhibited propofol-induced elevation of [Ca2+]c and cell damage. However, combined use of dantrolene and Xc, paradoxically and abnormally increased [Ca2+]c by calcium influx from the extracellular space and potentiated propofol induced cell damage. AD cells demonstrated significantly impaired lysosome acidification. Isoflurane significantly impaired the turnover of autolysosome in an InsP3R activity dependent manner, in L286V but not WT PC12 cells. AD cells significantly increased VATPase in ER but decreased VATPase in lysosome, resulting in significantly more impaired lysosome acidification. Our results show that propofol and isoflurane induce neurotoxicity in an FAD cell model with PS1 mutation through autophagy flux or functional impairment via excessive calcium release from the ER through over-activation of RYR or InsP3R, which may be associated with lysosome and autophagsome dysfunction.

A critical concentration of N-terminal pyroglutamylated amyloid beta drives the misfolding of Ab1-42 into more toxic aggregates

A wide consensus based on robust experimental evidence indicates pyroglutamylated amyloid-β isoform (AβpE3-42) as one of the most neurotoxic peptides involved in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, AβpE3-42 co-oligomerized with excess of Aβ1-42, produces oligomers and aggregates that are structurally distinct and far more cytotoxic than those made from Aβ1-42 alone. Here, we investigate quantitatively the influence of AβpE3-42 on biophysical properties and biological activity of Aβ1-42. We tested different ratios of AβpE3-42/Aβ1-42 mixtures finding a correlation between the biological activity and the structural conformation and morphology of the analyzed mixtures. We find that a mixture containing 5% AβpE3-42, induces the highest disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and the highest neuronal toxicity. These data correlate to an high content of relaxed antiparallel β-sheet structure and the coexistence of a population of big spheroidal aggregates together with short fibrils. Our experiments provide also evidence that AβpE3-42 causes template-induced misfolding of Aβ1-42 at ratios below 33%. This means that there exists a critical concentration required to have seeding on Aβ1-42 aggregation, above this threshold, the seed effect is not possible anymore and AβpE3-42 controls the total aggregation kinetics.

Sequestration of sorcin by aberrant forms of tau results in the defective calcium homeostasis.

Neurofi brillary tangles (NFTs) of microtubule-associated protein tau are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been known to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. However, the exact role of ER stress in tau pathology has not yet been clearly elucidated. In present study, the possible relationship between tau pathology and ER stress was examined in terms of sorcin, which is a calcium binding protein and plays an important role in calcium homeostasis. Our previous yeast two hybrid study showed that sorcin is a novel tau interacting protein. Caspase-3-cleaved tau (T4C3) showed significantly increased tau-sorcin interaction compared to wild type tau (T4). Thapsigargin-induced ER stress and co-expression of constitutively active GSK3β (GSK3β-S9A) also exhibited significantly increased tau-sorcin interactions. T4C3-expressing cells showed potentiated thapsigargin-induced apoptosis and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis compared to T4-expressing cells. Overexpression of sorcin signifi cantly attenuated thapsigargin-induced apoptosis and disruption of calcium homeostasis. In contrary, siRNA-mediated knock-down of sorcin showed significantly increased thapsigargin-induced apoptosis and disruption of calcium homeostasis. These data strongly suggest that sequestration of sorcin by aberrant forms of tau compromises the function of sorcin, such as calcium homeostasis and cellular resistance by ER stress, which may consequently result in the contribution to the progression of AD.

Taurine resumed neuronal differentiation in arsenite-treated N2a cells through reducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The goal of the study is to investigate the preventive effect of taurine against arsenite-induced arrest of neuronal differentiation in N2a cells. Our results revealed that taurine reinstated the neurite outgrowth in arsenite-treated N2a cells. Meanwhile, arsenite-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as degradation of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) were also inhibited by co-treatment of taurine. Since oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, we further examined indicators of ER stress, 78kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) protein expression. The results demonstrated that taurine significantly reduced arsenite-induced ER stress in N2a cells. In the parallel experiment, arsenite-induced disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis was also ameliorated by taurine. The proven bio-function of taurine preserved a preventive effect against deleteriously cross-talking between oxidative stress, mitochondria, and ER. Overall, the results of the study suggested that taurine reinstated neuronal differentiation by inhibiting oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in arsenite-treated N2a cells.

UVB irradiation enhances TiO2 nanoparticle-induced disruption of calcium homeostasis in human lens epithelial cells.

Currently, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been widely used in various applications including cosmetics, food additives and biomedicine. However, there are few reports available using TiO2 NPs to treat ocular diseases. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery, which is induced by the proliferation and migration of lens epithelial cells. Thus, inhibiting the proliferation of lens epithelial cells will efficiently reduce the occurrence of PCO. In this study, we investigated the effects of TiO2 NPs on HLE B-3 cells with or without ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in vitro. We found that TiO2 NPs can inhibit HLE B-3 cell growth, cause the elevation of intracellular [Ca(2+)], produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), further reduce Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and decrease the expression of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), finally disrupt the intracellular calcium homeostasis and induce cell damage. Importantly, UVB irradiation can apparently enhance these effects on HLE B-3 cells in the presence of TiO2 NPs. Taken together, the generation of excessive ROS and the disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis may be both involved in TiO2 nanoparticle-induced HLE B-3 cell damage under UVB irradiation.

NRA-2, a Nicalin Homolog, Regulates Neuronal Death by Controlling Surface Localization of Toxic Caenorhabditis elegans DEG/ENaC Channels

Hyperactivated DEG/ENaCs induce neuronal death through excessive cation influx and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Caenorhabditis elegans DEG/ENaC MEC-4 is hyperactivated by the (d) mutation and induces death of touch neurons. The analogous substitution in MEC-10 (MEC-10(d)) co-expressed in the same neurons is only mildly neurotoxic. We exploited the lower toxicity of MEC-10(d) to identify RNAi knockdowns that enhance neuronal death. We report here that knock-out of the C. elegans nicalin homolog NRA-2 enhances MEC-10(d)-induced neuronal death. Cell biological assays in C. elegans neurons show that NRA-2 controls the distribution of MEC-10(d) between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell surface. Electrophysiological experiments in Xenopus oocytes support this notion and suggest that control of channel distribution by NRA-2 is dependent on the subunit composition. We propose that nicalin/NRA-2 functions in a quality control mechanism to retain mutant channels in the endoplasmic reticulum, influencing the extent of neuronal death. Mammalian nicalin may have a similar role in DEG/ENaC biology, therefore influencing pathological conditions like ischemia.

Disturbance of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis and CaMKII/CREB Signaling is Associated with Learning and Memory Impairments Induced by Chronic Aluminum Exposure

Aluminum-induced neuronal injury has been implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders. However, the underlying mechanism involved in this pathogenesis still remains unknown. Our present findings demonstrated that chronic aluminum exposure resulted in spatial learning impairment and significantly increased intracellular calcium level in the hippocampus of rats. Examination of the associated protein molecules essential for induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation revealed that aluminum exposure could increase the expression level of calmodulin (CaM), but the expression levels of CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) were significantly reduced, whereas the total protein levels of CaMKII and CREB did not change in the aluminum-treated hippocampus. Thus, we provide a previously unrecognized mechanism whereby chronic aluminum exposure impairs hippocampal learning and memory, at least in part, through disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis and CaM/CaMKII/CREB signaling pathway.