Upregulation Of Ca2 Research Articles

Dual signaling by mGluR5a results in bi-directional modulation of N-type Ca 2+ channels

We have studied how N-type Ca 2+ channels are modulated by the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5a (mGluR5a) in Xenopus oocytes. Stimulation of the receptor with glutamate initiated two parallel responses, a rapid inhibition followed by an upregulation of the Ca 2+ current. Although a subsequent stimulation did not upregulate the Ca 2+ current, it did still produce a reduction in the amplitude of the current. The upregulation of Ca 2+ channels was prevented by the protein kinases inhibitor staurosporine and it was mimicked by the activation of PKC with phorbol esters. In contrast, the inhibition of the Ca 2+ current was insensitive to staurosporine. These results show that mGluR5a exerts a bi-directional influence on Ca 2+ channels, which may explain how group I mGluRs facilitate and inhibit glutamate release at central synapses.

Up-regulation of Ca 2+ channels in vas deferens after chronic treatment of newborn rats with nifedipine

Radioligand binding and contraction techniques were used to verify if L-type Ca 2+ channels are modified in rat vas deferens after treatment with the blocker nifedipine (15 μg), injected at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after birth. Vas deferens tissue was used 10, 30 and 90 days after the last injection, to verify if modifications are persistent. Binding studies with cell membranes, using [ 3H]isradipine, showed an increase of the density ( B max) of Ca 2+ channels by more than 60%, after 10 and 30 days, without changes of affinity ( K d). Maximal contractions ( E max) of KCl, were increased by 106% and 37%, respectively, after 10 and 30 days, without changes of apparent affinity (p D 2). After 90 days, the values of B max, K d, E max and p D 2 were not different from the controls. Differences were also not found for rats injected when adult. It is concluded that treatment of newborn, but not of adult, rats with nifedipine produced a long-lasting, though reversible, up-regulation of L-type Ca 2+ channels.

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in epilepsy.

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VCCs) represent one of the main routes of Ca2+ entry into neuronal cells. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ dynamics and homeostasis can cause long-lasting cellular changes via activation of different Ca2+ dependent signalling pathways. We have investigated the properties of VCCs in human hippocampal dentate granule cells (DGCs) using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp method. Classical high-threshold Ca2+ currents were composed mainly of omega-CgTx-sensitive N-type and nifedipine-sensitive L-type currents that were present in similar proportions. In addition, a Ca2+ current component that was sensitive to low concentrations of Ni2+, but not to nifedipine or omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx GVIA) was present. This latter component showed a half-maximal inactivation at more hyperpolarized potentials than high-threshold currents and a more rapid time-dependent inactivation. This current was termed T-type Ca2+ current. Current components with similar pharmacological and kinetic characteristics could be elicited in acutely isolated control rat DGCs. The current density of high threshold and T-type Ca2+ components was significantly larger in human DGCs and in the kainate model compared to DGCs isolated from adult control rats. These differences in current density were not accompanied by parallel differences in the voltage-dependence of VCCs. Taken together, these data suggest that an up-regulation of Ca2+ current density may occur in hippocampal epileptogenesis without consistent changes in Ca2+ current properties.

Up-regulation of Ca2+ influx mediated by store-operated channels in HL60 cells induced to differentiate by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The physiologically active form of vitamin D, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), induces promyelocytic HL60 cells to differentiate towards monocyte-like cells. During this differentiation increased cytosolic calcium (Cai2+) and expression of surface receptors for chemotactic factors "prime" the cell for the activation of monocyte functions and the triggering of the respiratory burst pathway. We examined whether the Ca2+ influx mediated by store-operated channels (SOC) contributed to the increased Cai2+ following exposure of HL60 cells to 10(-7) M 1,25D3. Cells treated with 1,25D3 for 72 hr demonstrated a rapid transient rise in Cai2+ followed by a second, phasic, increase in Cai2+ in response to the purinergic agonist ATP. This second Cai2+ transient was blocked by Ni2+, SKF 96365, or withdrawal of extracellular Ca2+. In cells suspended in Ca(2+)-free medium, peak changes (delta) in [Ca2+]i elicited by ATP-induced Ca2+ mobilization occurred with similar EC50 values in differentiated and vehicle (EtOH)-treated cells; however, peak [Ca2+]i was reduced by 55% in 1,25D3-treated cells. Decreased Ca2+ mobilization was associated with a 25-35% reduction in intracellular Ca2+ stores (determined with ionomycin). 1,25D3-treated cells exposed to ATP or thapsigargin (Tg) in Ca(2+)-free medium for 3 min with subsequent addition of 1 mM Ca2+ exhibited a respective 80% or 120% stimulation in peak [Ca2+]i compared to EtOH-treated cells. Enhanced Ca2+ influx mediated by SOC was also seen in these cells as an increase in the rate of Mn2+ entry after exposure to ATP or Tg. At 96 hr after addition of 1,25D3, when differentiated phenotype was established, basal Ca2+i and Ca2+ entry mediated by SOC returned to control values, but Ca2+ store size remained reduced. Up-regulation of Ca2+ influx via the SOC pathway during 1,25D3-induced differentiation may contribute to the functional properties of the maturing monocyte, or to the resetting of molecular programs responsible for the changing phenotype.

Expression of carbonic anhydrase IV mRNA in rabbit kidney: stimulation by metabolic acidosis.

The renal carbonic anhydrases, CA II (cytosolic) and CA IV (membrane bound), are believed to facilitate renal acid secretion. We have recently shown that renal cortical sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-resistant hydratase (presumably CA IV) activity was stimulated 241% during chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA). In the present study, we examined the expression and regulation of CA IV mRNA in kidneys from control and acidotic rabbits. To obtain a CA IV probe, we reverse transcribed rabbit kidney total RNA and amplified a approximately 780-base pair (bp) DNA product using primers derived from the human CA IV sequence. Using this product, we screened one-half of a kidney cortex cDNA library and sequenced a 1,194-bp cDNA, which contained the entire open-reading frame of rabbit CA IV. The cDNA was 78% identical to human and 71% to rat CA IV. The deduced amino acid sequence projected an active zinc binding site and two glycosylation sites. Northern analysis yielded a single transcript of approximately 1,600 bp in size expressed more abundantly in cortex and inner medulla than in outer medulla. CA IV mRNA was also expressed abundantly in lung but not in liver or spleen. The high abundance of CA IV mRNA in inner medulla was localized by in situ hybridization to medullary collecting duct cells. Rabbits exposed to CMA showed significant upregulation of CA IV mRNA expression in kidney cortex and outer medulla. Despite a numerical increase, excessive variability precluded statistical significance in the inner medulla. Thus CA IV mRNA was expressed abundantly in kidney and stimulated by CMA, similar to what has been previously observed for SDS-resistant hydratase (presumed CA IV) activity. It is likely that the regulation of CA IV mRNA and activity is relevant to the kidney's adaptation to CMA.

Coordinate regulation of SR Ca(2+)-ATPase and phospholamban expression in developing murine heart.

Phospholamban, the regulator of Ca(2+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), is an important determinant of basal myocardial performance. To determine whether phospholamban expression is developmentally regulated in the mouse and whether such regulation reflects alterations in Ca2+ pump activity, hearts from different stages of development were processed for molecular biological and biochemical studies. Both phospholamban and Ca(2+)-ATPase mRNAs were approximately 40% of adult (100%) levels at birth and gradually increased to approach adult levels by day 15 of development. These changes in transcript levels were indicative of changes at the protein level for both phospholamban and Ca(2+)-ATPase. Analysis of the initial rates of Ca2+ uptake demonstrated that over the course of development the upregulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase correlated with increases in the maximal rates of Ca2+ uptake and the constant apparent stoichiometric ratio of phospholamban to Ca(2+)-ATPase correlated with maintenance of a constant affinity of this enzyme for Ca2+ (0.25 +/- 0.03 microM Ca2+). Furthermore, targeted ablation of phospholamban in the mouse resulted in a much higher affinity of Ca2+ uptake for Ca2+ (0.10 +/- 0.02 microM Ca2+) than that observed in wild-type hearts, and this increased affinity was also maintained across different stages of postnatal development. These findings suggest that phospholamban is a major regulator of the affinity of Ca(2+)-ATPase for Ca2+, and coordinate regulation of the expression levels of these two SR proteins may be necessary for maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis in the developing mammalian heart.

Chronic administration of nifedipine induces upregulation of dihydropyridine receptors in rabbit heart.

In rabbits chronically pretreated with nifedipine (20 mg/day for 25 days), we demonstrate upregulation of Ca2+ channels in mammalian heart (maximal binding capacity = 222 +/- 14 and 421 +/- 55 fmol/mg protein for control and treated, respectively; P < 0.05) without significant changes in dissociation constant. No changes in calcium sensitivity or maximal force were detected by pretreatment with nifedipine in chemically skinned fibers. Cardiac contractility at different extracellular Ca2+ concentrations was similar in control and pretreated animals. This upregulation of Ca2+ channels in mammalian heart offers an explanation for the lack of significant negative inotropic effect after chronic administration of nifedipine.