Transglutaminase 2 inhibits apoptosis induced by calciumoverload through down-regulation of Bax

An abrupt increase of intracellular Ca2+ is observed in cells under hypoxic or oxidatively stressed conditions. The dysregulated increase of cytosolic Ca2+ triggers apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial swelling and activation of Ca2+-dependent enzymes. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a Ca2+-dependent enzyme that catalyzes transamidation reaction producing cross-linked and polyaminated proteins. TG2 activity is known to be involved in the apoptotic process. However, the pro-apoptotic role of TG2 is still controversial. In this study, we investigate the role of TG2 in apoptosis induced by Ca2+-overload. Overexpression of TG2 inhibited the A23187-induced apoptosis through suppression of caspase-3 and -9 activities, cytochrome c release into cytosol, and mitochondria membrane depolarization. Conversely, down-regulation of TG2 caused the increases of cell death, caspase-3 activity and cytochrome c in cytosol in response to Ca2+-overload. Western blot analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins showed that TG2 reduced the expression level of Bax protein. Moreover, overexpression of Bax abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of TG2, indicating that TG2-mediated suppression of Bax is responsible for inhibiting cell death under Ca2+-overloaded conditions. Our findings revealed a novel anti-apoptotic pathway involving TG2, and suggested the induction of TG2 as a novel strategy for promoting cell survival in diseases such as ischemia and neurodegeneration.

Calcium-influx increases SOD1 aggregates via nitric oxide in cultured motor neurons

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) is caused by mutations in Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and SOD1 aggregation and calcium toxicity are involved in neuronal death. However, the effect of altered calcium homeostasis on the SOD1 aggregation is unknown. To investigate whether calcium triggers mutant SOD1 aggregation in vitro, human mutant SOD1 (G93A) was transfected into motor neuronal cell line (VSC 4.1 cells). These cells were then treated with calcium ionophore A23187 or agents that induce intracellular calcium release like cyclic ADP ribose, ryanodine or thapsigargin. A23187 was found to increase mutant SOD1 aggregation and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression. Moreover, the NOS inhibitor (L-NAME) and a NO-dependent cyclic GMP cascade inhibitor (ODQ) reduced SOD1 aggregation, whereas an exogenous NO donor (GSNO) increased mutant SOD1 aggregation, which was also prevented by NOS or cGMP cascade inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that calcium-influx increases SOD1 aggregation by upregulating NO in cultured motor neuronal cells.

Inhibition of tryptase release from human colon mast cells by histamine receptor antagonists.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the ability of histamine receptor antagonists to modulate tryptase release from human colon mast cells induced by histamine. Enzymatically dispersed cells from human colon were challenged with histamine in the absence or presence of the histamine receptor antagonists, and the tryptase release was determined. It was found that histamine induced tryptase release from colon mast cells was inhibited by up to approximately 61.5% and 24% by the H1 histamine receptor antagonist terfenadine and the H2 histamine receptor antagonist cimetidine, respectively, when histamine and its antagonists were added to cells at the same time. The H3 histamine receptor antagonist clobenpropit had no effect on histamine induced tryptase release from colon mast cells at all concentrations tested. Preincubation of terfenadine, cimetidine or clobenpropit with cells for 20 minutes before challenging with histamine did not enhance the ability of these antihistamines to inhibit histamine induced tryptase release. Apart from terfenadine at 100 microg/ml, the antagonists themselves did not stimulate tryptase release from colon mast cells following both 15 minutes and 35 minutes incubation periods. It was concluded that H1 and H2 histamine receptor antagonists were able to inhibit histamine induced tryptase release from colon mast cells. This not only added some new data to our hypothesis of self-amplification mechanisms of mast cell degranulation, but also suggested that combining these two types of antihistamine drugs could be useful for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Involvement of throm box aneA2 and tyrosine kinase in the synergistic interaction of platelet activating factor and calcium ionophore A23187 in human platelet aggregation

The present study was carried out to examine the mechanisms of the synergistic interaction of PAF and A23187 mediated platelet aggregation. We found that platelet aggregation mediated by subthreshold concentrations of PAF (5 nM) and A23187 (1 micrometer) was inhibited by PAF receptor blocker (WEB 2086, IC50=0.65 micrometer) and calcium channel blockers, diltiazem (IC50=13 micrometer) and verapamil (IC50=18 micrometer). Pretreatment of platelets with PAF and A23187 induced rise in intracellular calcium and this effect was also blocked by verapamil. While examining the role of the down stream signaling pathways, we found that platelet aggregation induced by the co-addition of PAF and A23187 was also inhibited by low concentrations of phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor (U73122; IC50 = 10 micrometer), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin; IC50=0.2 micrometer) and inhibitor of TLCK, herbimycin A with IC50 value of 5 micrometer. The effect was also inhibited by a specific TXA2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29548 with very low IC50 value of 0.05 micrometer. However, the inhibitors of MAP kinase, PD98059 and protein kinase C, chelerythrine had no effect on PAF and A23187-induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that the synergism between PAF and A23187 in platelet aggregation involves activation of thromboxane and tyrosine kinase pathways.

Influence of calcium ion on host cell invasion and intracellular replication by Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of Ca2+ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and Ca2+ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the Ca2+ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular Ca2+ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.

Na+i, K+i and Cl-i regulation of exocytosis in guinea-pig antral mucous cells

Effects of intracellular Na+, K+ and Cl- on Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis activated by 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh) were studied in guinea-pig antral mucous cells which are permeabilized by nystatin treatment. Ca(2+)-regulated exocytotic events were modulated by [Na+]i, [K+]i and [Cl-]i via mediation of PTX-sensitive G proteins. Increases in [Na+]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Na)), which suppressed the exocytosis. Increases in [K+]i caused the exchange of G proteins (from G(Na) to G(K)) to increase, and GK evoked activation of the exocytosis and was inhibited by PTX. Increases in [Cl-]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Cl)), which stimulates exocytotic events. Based on these observations, the exocytosis in antral mucous cells were modulated by intracellular ions, concentration of which were increased or decreased by cell volume changes caused by Ach.

Peritoneal fluid modulates the sperm acrosomal exocytosis induced by N-acetylglucosaminyl neoglycoprotein

The effect of peritoneal fluid (PF) on the human sperm acrosome reaction (AR) was tested. Sperm was pre-incubated with PF and the AR was induced by calcium ionophore A23187 and a neoglycoprotein bearing N-acetylglycosamine residues (NGP). The AR induced by calcium ionophore was inhibited 40 percent by PF from controls (PFc) and 50 percent by PF from the endometriosis (PFe) group, but not by PF from infertile patients without endometriosis (PFi). No significant differences were found in the spontaneous AR. When the AR was induced by NGP, pre-incubation with PFc reduced (60 percent) the percentage of AR, while PFe and PFi caused no significant differences. The average rates of acrosome reactions obtained in control, NGP- and ionophore-treated sperm showed that NGP-induced exocytosis differed significantly between the PFc (11 percent) and PFe/PFi groups (17 percent), and the ionophore-induced AR was higher for PFi (33 percent) than PFc/PFe (25 percent). The incidence of the NGP-induced AR was reduced in the first hour of pre-incubation with PFc and remained nearly constant throughout 4 h of incubation. The present data indicate that PF possesses a protective factor which prevents premature AR

Comparison of basophil histamine releasability between atopic and nonatopic thmatics

To compare the mediator releasability between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics, we measured basophil histamine releasability (BaHR) using a calcium-ionophore A23187 and anti-IgE in 137 subjects who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital. Subjects were categorized into atopic (group AA, n=77) or nonatopic asthmatics (group NA, n=32), or normal controls (group NC, n=28). Serum total IgE levels were determined and correlation with BaHR was assessed. Anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR in groups AA, NA, and NC was 41.0+/-3.2, 23.1+/-4.5, and 16.8+/-3.8, respectively (mean+/-SE, %). Anti-IgE-induced BaHR in group AA was significantly higher than that in groups NA and NC (p<0.05). Calcium ionophore A23187-induced maximal BaHR was 43.1+/-2.8, 40.8+/-4.4, and 50.5+/-5.2, respectively (mean+/-SE, %), and there was no significant difference among the groups. Serum total IgE level correlated significantly with anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR (r=0.281, p<0.01) but not with that induced by calcium ionophore A23187. In conclusion, IgE receptor-related BaHR is higher in atopic asthmatics than in nonatopic asthmatics, and this increased BaHR in atopics is significantly associated with increased serum total IgE level.

Efeito protetor da criocardioplegia cristalóide na isquemia global e reperfusäo durante circulaçäo extracorpórea: um mecanismo dependente do endotélio? / Protective effect of crystalloid cryocardioplegia in the global ischemia and reperfusion during extracorporeal circulation: an endothelium-dependent mechanism?

Estudos prévios demonstraram que o comprometimento da produçäo de EDRF/NO mediada por receptores, após isquemia global e reperfusäo, possa ser devido a uma disfunçäo de G-proteínas que liga os receptores da célula endotelial à via da síntese de EDRF/NO. O presente trabalho experimental sugere que a criocardioplegia cristalóide, associada a hipotermia tópica, previne ou pode reverter, em parte, a disfunçäo endotelial nas mesmas condiçöes. Mais estudos seräo necessários para conclusöes mais definitivas, pois as análises estatísticas mais acuradas sugeriram aumento da amostragem. Este detalhe talvez seja devido às grandes dificuldades de uniformizaçäo relacionada a este tipo de experimentos. Além disso, demonstrou-se pela primeira vez que a hipotermia, por si só, pode estimular a liberaçäo de EDRF/NO pelo endotélio vascular. Isto sugere que o endotélio possa ser um importante sensor de mudanças da temperatura sangüínea e tem importantes implicaçöes para o entendimento da fisiologia da CEC e dos mecanismos locais de auto-regulaçäo.

Cardioplegia cristalóide, barotrauma e funçäo endotelial: consideraçöes experimentais / Crystalloid cardioplegia, barotrauma and endothelium function: experimental considerations

O presente ensaio experimental estudou o efeito da infusao de soluçao cardioplégica cristalóide a altas pressoes sobre a funçao endotelial de artérias epicárdicas de caes. Nao se encontraram alteraçoes a nível de receptores (curvas dose-respostas à ACH e ADP; da transduçao do sinal iniciado nos receptores/sitema de G-proteínas (fluoreto de sódio) e nos processos intracelulares da produçao de EDRF/NO (fosfolipase C e ionóforo do cálcio A23187). A funçao da musculatura lisa vascular nao foi afetada quando se analisaram as respostas relaxantes (nitroprussiato de sódio e isoproterenol) e contráteis (KCI e prostaglandina 2alfa). Estes achados permitem as seguintes consideraçoes especulativas: a) O barotrauma produzido pela infusao da cardioplegia cristalóide a altas pressoes ocorreria apenas em circulaçoes coronarianas previamente doentes? b) Uma vez que as infusoes duraram de 2 a 3 minutos, seria o barotrauma coronariano um fenômeno dependente do tempo de infusao? c) Para que ocorra o barotrauma seriam necessários níveis mais elevados de Potássio? d) Questionara existência do fenômeno do barotrauma coronariano produzido pela infusao de soluçoes cadioplégicas pelo menos nas condiçoes experimentais utilizadas. e) A metodologia empregada estuda apenas as reatividades vasculares de artérias coronarias epicárdicas. estas artérias seriam menos sensíveis aos efeitos da pressao de infusao da cardioplegia do que a microcirculaçao coronariana? f) Seria a circulaçao coronária do cao menos sensível a altas pressoes do que do homem? Estas observaçoes experimentais sugerem que a infusao de cardioplegia cristalóide, moderadamente hipocalêmica, a altas pressoes em um tempo de 2 a 3 minutos, nao interfere com a produçao de EDRF/NO pelo endotélio de coronárias epicárdicas do cao.

Papel del calcio en la regulacion de la oxidacion del oxoglutarato en la mucosa gastrica del conejo / Role of calcium in regulation of oxoglutarate oxidation in the rabbit gastric mucosa

The stimulation of the oxyntic cell by gastric secretagogues is associated to the activation of oxidative metabolism. The mechanisms of this activation are not exactly known. In the present work, we investigated the possible direct effect of Ca2+ on both oxoglutarate oxidation in rabbit gastric glands and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity (OGDH) is isolated gastric mitochondria. Both carbachol and Ca2+ ionophores +(A23187 and ionomycin) significantly stimulated oxoglutarate oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was only observed in the presence of low substrate concentrations. BAPTA-AM, an intracellular calcium chelator, significantly inhibited the rate of oxoglutarate oxidation. OGDH activity was stimulated by physiological concentrations of Ca2+ in a dose-depentent manner. This effect was reduced by ruthenium red, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and it was additionally increased by spermine, a stimulant of Ca2+ influx to the mitochondria. Results support the hypothesis that Ca2+ plays a direct role in the activation of oxidative metabolism in the oxyntic cell

Papel del calcio en la regulacion de la oxidacion del oxoglutarato en la mucosa gastrica del conejo / Role of calcium in regulation of oxoglutarate oxidation in the rabbit gastric mucosa

The stimulation of oxyntic cell by gastric secretagogues is associated to the activation of oxidative metabolism. The mechanisms of this activation are not exactly known. In the present work, we investigated the possible direct effect of Ca2+ on both oxoglutarate oxidation in rabbit gastric glands and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity (OGDH) in isolated gastric mitochondria. Both carbachol and Ca2+ ionophores (A23187 and ionomycin) significantly stimulated oxoglutarate oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was only observed in the presence of low substrate concentrations. APTA-AM, an intracellular calcium chelator, significantly inhibited the rate of oxoglutarate oxidation. OGDH activity was stimulated by physiological concentrations of Ca2+ in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was reduced by ruthenium red, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and it was additionally increased by spermine, a stimulant of Ca2+ influx to the mitochondria. The results support the hypothesis that Ca2+ plays a direct role in the activation of oxidative metabolism in the oxyntic cell

Swelling of the vesicle is prerequisite for PTH secretion

Unlike most secretory cells, high extra cellular calcium inhibits rather than stimulates hormonal secretion in several cells such as parathyroid cells, Juxtaglomerular cells and osteoclast. To gain further insight into the common but unique stimulus-secretion coupling mechanism in these cells, bovine parathyroid slices were incubated in various conditions of Krebs-Ringer (KR) solution containing essential amino acids. Parathyroid cells showed the inverse dependency of secretion on extra cellular calcium concentration as we expected. Ammonium acetate overcame the inhibitory effect of 2.5 mM of calcium and the maximum effect was as much as the five times of the basal value, while there was a little additive effect under 0 mM CaCl2. PTH secretion was biphasic according to the change of extra cellular osmolarity and the lowest response was observed at 300 mOsm/l. In Na-rich KR solution, high concentration of nigericin (> 10(-4)M) completely overcame the inhibitory effect of 2.5 mM CaCl2 and the maximum stimulatory effect was 8 times greater whereas it was only 2 times greater without CaCl2. In K-rich KR solution that abolished the K-gradient between the extra cellular solution and the cytoplasm, the rate of PTH secretion increased, and furthermore the addition of nigericin increased the rate of secretion significantly. The results above suggested that the osmotic swelling of the secretory vesicle in parathyroid cells might promote exocytosis as in Juxtaglomerular cells. We propose that the swelling of the vesicle is also prerequisite for secretion in several cells inhibited paradoxically by Ca++, whatever the signal transduction pathway for swelling of the secretory granules induced by the lowering of Ca++ in cytoplasm are.

Effect of Ca(2+)-channel blockers, Ca(2+)-ionophore and increased pyrene excimer formation on the microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase.

The dependence of microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activity on Ca2+ as well as the membrane lipid microviscosity was studied by the effect of Ca(2+)-channel blockers (namely verapamil and nifedipine), Ca(2+)-ionophore, A23187 and pyrene excimer formation. Channel blockers depressed the G-6-Pase and Ca(2+)-ATPase while the ionophore increased these activities. Dimethyl sulfoxide, a known membrane surface active agent showed no change. Ca(2+)-uptake into the membrane has expectedly been lowered by the channel blockers while the ionophores facilitated the ion flux. Excimer formation of the fluorescent probe, pyrene as an indicator of increased membrane fluidity, and microviscosity calculated from there on, showed that Ca(2+)- and lipid microenvironment in the membrane significantly influenced the activity of G-6-Pase. Membrane lipid composition such as phospholipid/cholesterol molar ratio which also indicates an increased membrane fluidity is markedly increased with the ionophore but decreased with the channel blockers, while protein/phospholipid ratio remained unchanged. Microsomal G-6-Pase is a multicomponent multifunctional protein. It is argued that Ca2+ may play the role of an obligatory cofactor not only for the hydrolysis of G-6-P (catalytic part of the enzyme) but also involved in the regulation of substrate and product transport in or out of the endoplasmic reticulum lumen.

Requirements for in vitro growth of human thymocytes

Since it is difficult to study human thymocyte maturation in vitro, we have developed an in vitro thymocyte culture system which has allowed us to select the optimal growth conditions for thymocyte subpopulations. Three thymocyte subpopulations (CD3-CD1-, CD1+CD3-, and CD3+CD1-) were isolated by a single step percoll density gradient centrifugation and indirect panning procedure using anti-CD1 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies, and their purity was checked by flow cytometry. The combination of concanavalin A (Con A), tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), and IL-2 was shown to be the most reliable stimulus for the proliferation of CD3-CD1- thymocytes for up to 15 days in a culture system in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis for the phenotypic change of CD3-CD1- thymocytes revealed a steady increase of CD3 antigen after a 3-day cultivation, whereas there was no change in CD1 antigen intensity. A combination of Con A and IL-2 was both sufficient and necessary to induce growth of CD3+CD1- thymocytes. The major population of immature cortical thymocytes (CD3-CD1+ or CD3+CD1+), which are considered to be the most unresponsive dead-end cells, could not be maintained or stimulated with any combination used in this experiment, even in the presence of thymic accessory cells.

Interrelaçäo dos benzodiazepínicos com receptores do Gaba-ionoforo CL- / Interrelation of the benzodiazepines and gaba-receptor-ionophore complex

O mecanismo de açäo dos benzodiazepínicos no complexo macromolecular constituído por receptor do GABA, receptor dos benzodiazepínicos, e ionoforo C1- é revisto. É enfatizado que a interaçäo dos benzodiazepínicos com seus receptores facilita o efeito do GABA como neurotransmissor ao nível do sistema nervoso central. O processo molecular desencadeado por essa interaçäo ainda näo está completamente esclarecido, embora o resultado final da ativaçäo dos receptores GABAérgicos seja a abertura dos canais de cloro. A açäo de outros agonistas, de drogas antagonistas, e de possíveis ligantes endógenos é também discutida