Time-resolved role of P2X4 and P2X7 during CD8+ T cell activation.

CD8+ T cells are a crucial part of the adaptive immune system, responsible for combating intracellular pathogens and tumor cells. The initial activation of T cells involves the formation of highly dynamic Ca2+ microdomains. Recently, purinergic signaling was shown to be involved in the formation of the initial Ca2+ microdomains in CD4+ T cells. In this study, the role of purinergic cation channels, particularly P2X4 and P2X7, in CD8+ T cell signaling from initial events to downstream responses was investigated, focusing on various aspects of T cell activation, including Ca2+ microdomains, global Ca2+ responses, NFAT-1 translocation, cytokine expression, and proliferation. While Ca2+ microdomain formation was significantly reduced in the first milliseconds to seconds in CD8+ T cells lacking P2X4 and P2X7 channels, global Ca2+ responses over minutes were comparable between wild-type (WT) and knockout cells. However, the onset velocity was reduced in P2X4-deficient cells, and P2X4, as well as P2X7-deficient cells, exhibited a delayed response to reach a certain level of free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). NFAT-1 translocation, a crucial transcription factor in T cell activation, was also impaired in CD8+ T cells lacking P2X4 and P2X7. In addition, the expression of IFN-γ, a major pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by activated CD8+ T cells, and Nur77, a negative regulator of T cell activation, was significantly reduced 18h post-stimulation in the knockout cells. In line, the proliferation of T cells after 3 days was also impaired in the absence of P2X4 and P2X7 channels. In summary, the study demonstrates that purinergic signaling through P2X4 and P2X7 enhances initial Ca2+ events during CD8+ T cell activation and plays a crucial role in regulating downstream responses, including NFAT-1 translocation, cytokine expression, and proliferation on multiple timescales. These findings suggest that targeting purinergic signaling pathways may offer potential therapeutic interventions.

The importance of Ca2+ microdomains for the adaptive immune response.

Calcium signaling stands out as the most widespread and universally used signaling system and is of utmost importance for immunity. Controlled elevations in cytosolic and organellar Ca2+ concentrations in T cells control complex and essential effector functions including proliferation, differentiation, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxicity, among others. Additionally, disruptions in Ca2+ regulation in T cells contribute to diverse autoimmune, inflammatory, and immunodeficiency conditions. Among the initial intracellular signals, which occurring even before T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation are highly localized, spatially and temporally restricted so-called Ca2+ microdomains, caused by adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins (ECM proteins). The Ca2+ microdomains present both before and within the initial seconds following TCR stimulation are likely to play a crucial role in fine-tuning the downstream activity of T cell activation and thus, shaping an adaptive immune response. In this review, the emphasis is on the recent advances of adhesion-dependent Ca2+ microdomains (ADCM) in the absence of TCR stimulation, initial Ca2+ microdomains evoked by TCR stimulation (TDCM), the downstream signaling processes as well as possible therapeutic targets for interventions.

The TRPM2 ion channel regulates metabolic and thermogenic adaptations in adipose tissue of cold-exposed mice.

Introduction: During thermogenesis, adipose tissue (AT) becomes more active and enhances oxidative metabolism. The promotion of this process in white AT (WAT) is called "browning" and, together with the brown AT (BAT) activation, is considered as a promising approach to counteract obesity and metabolic diseases. Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 2 (TRPM2), is an ion channel that allows extracellular Ca2+ influx into the cytosol, and is gated by adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADPR), produced from NAD+ degradation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of TRPM2 in the regulation of energy metabolism in BAT, WAT, and liver during thermogenesis. Methods: Wild type (WT) and Trpm2-/- mice were exposed to 6°C and BAT, WAT and liver were collected to evaluate mRNA, protein levels and ADPR content. Furthermore, O2 consumption, CO2 production and energy expenditure were measured in these mice upon thermogenic stimulation. Finally, the effect of the pharmacological inhibition of TRPM2 was assessed in primary adipocytes, evaluating the response upon stimulation with the ß-adrenergic receptor agonist CL316,243. Results: Trpm2-/- mice displayed lower expression of browning markers in AT and lower energy expenditure in response to thermogenic stimulus, compared to WT animals. Trpm2 gene overexpression was observed in WAT, BAT and liver upon cold exposure. In addition, ADPR levels and mono/poly-ADPR hydrolases expression were higher in mice exposed to cold, compared to control mice, likely mediating ADPR generation. Discussion: Our data indicate TRPM2 as a fundamental player in BAT activation and WAT browning. TRPM2 agonists may represent new pharmacological strategies to fight obesity.

T cell Ca2+ microdomains through the lens of computational modeling.

Cellular Ca2+ signaling is highly organized in time and space. Locally restricted and short-lived regions of Ca2+ increase, called Ca2+ microdomains, constitute building blocks that are differentially arranged to create cellular Ca2+ signatures controlling physiological responses. Here, we focus on Ca2+ microdomains occurring in restricted cytosolic spaces between the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum, called endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane junctions. In T cells, these microdomains have been finely characterized. Enough quantitative data are thus available to develop detailed computational models of junctional Ca2+ dynamics. Simulations are able to predict the characteristics of Ca2+ increases at the level of single channels and in junctions of different spatial configurations, in response to various signaling molecules. Thanks to the synergy between experimental observations and computational modeling, a unified description of the molecular mechanisms that create Ca2+ microdomains in the first seconds of T cell stimulation is emerging.

Short-term dietary changes can result in mucosal and systemic immune depression.

Omnivorous animals, including mice and humans, tend to prefer energy-dense nutrients rich in fat over plant-based diets, especially for short periods of time, but the health consequences of this short-term consumption of energy-dense nutrients are unclear. Here, we show that short-term reiterative switching to 'feast diets', mimicking our social eating behavior, breaches the potential buffering effect of the intestinal microbiota and reorganizes the immunological architecture of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. The first dietary switch was sufficient to induce transient mucosal immune depression and suppress systemic immunity, leading to higher susceptibility to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes infections. The ability to respond to antigenic challenges with a model antigen was also impaired. These observations could be explained by a reduction of CD4+ T cell metabolic fitness and cytokine production due to impaired mTOR activity in response to reduced microbial provision of fiber metabolites. Reintroducing dietary fiber rewired T cell metabolism and restored mucosal and systemic CD4+ T cell functions and immunity. Finally, dietary intervention with human volunteers confirmed the effect of short-term dietary switches on human CD4+ T cell functionality. Therefore, short-term nutritional changes cause a transient depression of mucosal and systemic immunity, creating a window of opportunity for pathogenic infection.

Adhesion to laminin-1 and collagen IV induces the formation of Ca2+ microdomains that sensitize mouse T cells for activation.

During an immune response, T cells migrate from blood vessel walls into inflamed tissues by migrating across the endothelium and through extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins facilitate T cell binding to endothelial cells and ECM proteins. Here, we report that Ca2+ microdomains observed in the absence of T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 stimulation are initial signaling events triggered by adhesion to ECM proteins that increase the sensitivity of primary murine T cells to activation. Adhesion to the ECM proteins collagen IV and laminin-1 increased the number of Ca2+ microdomains in a manner dependent on the kinase FAK, phospholipase C (PLC), and all three inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) subtypes and promoted the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NFAT-1. Mathematical modeling predicted that the formation of adhesion-dependent Ca2+ microdomains required the concerted activity of two to six IP3Rs and ORAI1 channels to achieve the increase in the Ca2+ concentration in the ER-plasma membrane junction that was observed experimentally and that required SOCE. Further, adhesion-dependent Ca2+ microdomains were important for the magnitude of the TCR-induced activation of T cells on collagen IV as assessed by the global Ca2+ response and NFAT-1 nuclear translocation. Thus, adhesion to collagen IV and laminin-1 sensitizes T cells through a mechanism involving the formation of Ca2+ microdomains, and blocking this low-level sensitization decreases T cell activation upon TCR engagement.

2-Methoxyestradiol-3,17-O,O-bis-sulfamate inhibits store-operated Ca2+ entry in T lymphocytes and prevents experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Ca2+ signaling is one of the essential signaling systems for T lymphocyte activation, the latter being an essential step in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) ensures long lasting Ca2+ signaling and is of utmost importance for major downstream T lymphocyte activation steps, e.g. nuclear localization of the transcription factor 'nuclear factor of activated T cells' (NFAT). 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), an endogenous metabolite of estradiol (E2), blocks nuclear translocation of NFAT. The likely underlying mechanism is inhibition of SOCE, as shown for its synthetic sulfamate ester analogue 2-ethyl-3-sulfamoyloxy-17ß-cyanomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene (STX564). Here, we demonstrate that another synthetic bis-sulfamoylated 2ME2 derivative, 2-methoxyestradiol-3,17-O,O-bis-sulfamate (2-MeOE2bisMATE, STX140), an orally bioavailable, multi-targeting anticancer agent and potent steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitor, antagonized SOCE in T lymphocytes. Downstream events, e.g. secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ and interleukin-17, were decreased by STX140 in in vitro experiments. Remarkably, STX140 dosed in vivo completely blocked the clinical disease in both active and transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats, a T cell-mediated animal model for MS, at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day i.p., whereas neither 2ME2 nor Irosustat, a pure STS inhibitor, showed any effect. The STS inhibitory activity of STX140 is therefore not responsible for its activity in this model. Taken together, inhibition of SOCE by STX140 resulting in full antagonism of clinical symptoms in EAE in the Lewis rat, paired with the known excellent bioavailability and pharmaceutical profile of this drug, open potentially new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of MS.

The actin bundling activity of ITPKA mainly accounts for its migration-promoting effect in lung cancer cells.

Expression of Ins(1,4,5)P3-kinase-A (ITPKA), the neuronal isoform of Ins(1,4,5)P3-kinases, is up-regulated in many tumor types. In particular, in lung cancer cells this up-regulation is associated with bad prognosis and it has been shown that a high level of ITPKA increases migration and invasion of lung cancer cell lines. However, since ITPKA exhibits actin bundling and Ins(1,4,5)P3-kinase activity, it was not clear which of these activities account for ITPKA-promoted migration and invasion of cancer cells. To address this issue, we inhibited endogenous actin bundling activity of ITPKA in lung cancer H1299 cells by overexpressing the dominant negative mutant ITPKAL34P. Analysis of actin dynamics in filopodia as well as wound-healing migration revealed that ITPKAL34P inhibited both processes. Moreover, the formation of invasive protrusions into collagen I was strongly blocked in cells overexpressing ITPKAL34P. Furthermore, we found that ATP stimulation slightly but significantly (by 13%) increased migration of cells overexpressing ITPKA while under basal conditions up-regulation of ITPKA had no effect. In accordance with these results, overexpression of a catalytic inactive ITPKA mutant did not affect migration, and the Ins(1,4,5)P3-kinase-inhibitor GNF362 reversed the stimulating effect of ITPKA overexpression on migration. In summary, we demonstrate that under basal conditions the actin bundling activity controls ITPKA-facilitated migration and invasion and in presence of ATP the Ins(1,4,5)P3-kinase activity slightly enhances this effect.

DARTS: an open-source Python pipeline for Ca2+ microdomain analysis in live cell imaging data.

Ca2+ microdomains play a key role in intracellular signaling processes. For instance, they mediate the activation of T cells and, thus, the initial adaptive immune system. They are, however, also of utmost importance for activation of other cells, and a detailed understanding of the dynamics of these spatially localized Ca2+ signals is crucial for a better understanding of the underlying signaling processes. A typical approach to analyze Ca2+ microdomain dynamics is live cell fluorescence microscopy imaging. Experiments usually involve imaging a larger number of cells of different groups (for instance, wild type and knockout cells), followed by a time consuming image and data analysis. With DARTS, we present a modular Python pipeline for efficient Ca2+ microdomain analysis in live cell imaging data. DARTS (Deconvolution, Analysis, Registration, Tracking, and Shape normalization) provides state-of-the-art image postprocessing options like deep learning-based cell detection and tracking, spatio-temporal image deconvolution, and bleaching correction. An integrated automated Ca2+ microdomain detection offers direct access to global statistics like the number of microdomains for cell groups, corresponding signal intensity levels, and the temporal evolution of the measures. With a focus on bead stimulation experiments, DARTS provides a so-called dartboard projection analysis and visualization approach. A dartboard projection covers spatio-temporal normalization of the bead contact areas and cell shape normalization onto a circular template that enables aggregation of the spatiotemporal information of the microdomain detection results for the individual cells of the cell groups of interest. The dartboard visualization allows intuitive interpretation of the spatio-temporal microdomain dynamics at the group level. The application of DARTS is illustrated by three use cases in the context of the formation of initial Ca2+ microdomains after cell stimulation. DARTS is provided as an open-source solution and will be continuously extended upon the feedback of the community. Code available at: 10.5281/zenodo.10459243.

P2X7 is expressed on human innate-like T lymphocytes and mediates susceptibility to ATP-induced cell death.

Extracellular ATP activates the P2X7 receptor, leading to inflammasome activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in monocytes. However, a detailed analysis of P2X7 receptor expression and function in the human T cell compartment has not been reported. Here, we used a P2X7-specific nanobody to assess cell membrane expression and function of P2X7 on peripheral T lymphocyte subsets. The results show that innate-like T cells, which effectively react to innate stimuli by secreting high amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, have the highest expression of P2X7 in the human T cell compartment. Using Tγδ cells as example for an innate-like lymphocyte population, we demonstrate that these cells are more sensitive to P2X7 receptor activation than conventional T cells, affecting fundamental cellular mechanisms like calcium signaling and ATP-induced cell death. The increased susceptibility of innate-like T cells to P2X7-mediated cell death provides a mechanism to control their homeostasis under inflammatory conditions. Understanding the expression and function of P2X7 on human immune cells is essential to assume the benefits and consequences of newly developed P2X7-based therapeutic approaches.

Three-Dimensional Model of Sub-Plasmalemmal Ca2+ Microdomains Evoked by T Cell Receptor/CD3 Complex Stimulation.

Ca2+ signalling plays an essential role in T cell activation, which is a key step to start an adaptive immune response. During the transition from a quiescent to a fully activated state, Ca2+ microdomains of reduced spatial and temporal extents develop in the junctions between the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These microdomains rely on Ca2+ entry from the extracellular medium, via the ORAI1/STIM1/STIM2 system that mediates store operated Ca2+ entry Store operated calcium entry. The mechanism leading to local store depletion and subsequent Ca2+ entry depends on the activation state of the cells. The initial, smaller microdomains are triggered by D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) signalling in response to T cell adhesion. T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 stimulation then initiates nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate signalling, which activates ryanodine receptors (RYR). We have recently developed a mathematical model to elucidate the spatiotemporal Ca2+ dynamics of the microdomains triggered by IP3 signalling in response to T cell adhesion (Gil et al., 2021). This reaction-diffusion model describes the evolution of the cytosolic and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ concentrations in a three-dimensional ER-PM junction and was solved using COMSOL Multiphysics. Modelling predicted that adhesion-dependent microdomains result from the concerted activity of IP3 receptors and pre-formed ORAI1-STIM2 complexes. In the present study, we extend this model to include the role of RYRs rapidly after TCR/CD3 stimulation. The involvement of STIM1, which has a lower KD for Ca2+ than STIM2, is also considered. Detailed 3D spatio-temporal simulations show that these Ca2+ microdomains rely on the concerted opening of ∼7 RYRs that are simultaneously active in response to the increase in NAADP induced by T cell stimulation. Opening of these RYRs provoke a local depletion of ER Ca2+ that triggers Ca2+ flux through the ORAI1 channels. Simulations predict that RYRs are most probably located around the junction and that the increase in junctional Ca2+ concentration results from the combination between diffusion of Ca2+ released through the RYRs and Ca2+ entry through ORAI1 in the junction. The computational model moreover provides a tool allowing to investigate how Ca2+ microdomains occur, extend and interact in various states of T cell activation.

P2X4 and P2X7 are essential players in basal T cell activity and Ca2+ signaling milliseconds after T cell activation.

Initial T cell activation is triggered by the formation of highly dynamic, spatiotemporally restricted Ca2+ microdomains. Purinergic signaling is known to be involved in Ca2+ influx in T cells at later stages compared to the initial microdomain formation. Using a high-resolution Ca2+ live-cell imaging system, we show that the two purinergic cation channels P2X4 and P2X7 not only are involved in the global Ca2+ signals but also promote initial Ca2+ microdomains tens of milliseconds after T cell stimulation. These Ca2+ microdomains were significantly decreased in T cells from P2rx4-/- and P2rx7-/- mice or by pharmacological inhibition or blocking. Furthermore, we show a pannexin-1-dependent activation of P2X4 in the absence of T cell receptor/CD3 stimulation. Subsequently, upon T cell receptor/CD3 stimulation, ATP release is increased and autocrine activation of both P2X4 and P2X7 then amplifies initial Ca2+ microdomains already in the first second of T cell activation.

Time-Dependent Image Restoration of Low-SNR Live-Cell Ca2 Fluorescence Microscopy Data.

Live-cell Ca2+ fluorescence microscopy is a cornerstone of cellular signaling analysis and imaging. The demand for high spatial and temporal imaging resolution is, however, intrinsically linked to a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the acquired spatio-temporal image data, which impedes on the subsequent image analysis. Advanced deconvolution and image restoration algorithms can partly mitigate the corresponding problems but are usually defined only for static images. Frame-by-frame application to spatio-temporal image data neglects inter-frame contextual relationships and temporal consistency of the imaged biological processes. Here, we propose a variational approach to time-dependent image restoration built on entropy-based regularization specifically suited to process low- and lowest-SNR fluorescence microscopy data. The advantage of the presented approach is demonstrated by means of four datasets: synthetic data for in-depth evaluation of the algorithm behavior; two datasets acquired for analysis of initial Ca2+ microdomains in T-cells; finally, to illustrate the transferability of the methodical concept to different applications, one dataset depicting spontaneous Ca2+ signaling in jGCaMP7b-expressing astrocytes. To foster re-use and reproducibility, the source code is made publicly available.

Trans-Ned 19-Mediated Antagonism of Nicotinic Acid Adenine Nucleotide-Mediated Calcium Signaling Regulates Th17 Cell Plasticity in Mice.

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is the most potent Ca2+ mobilizing agent and its inhibition proved to inhibit T-cell activation. However, the impact of the NAADP signaling on CD4+ T-cell differentiation and plasticity and on the inflammation in tissues other than the central nervous system remains unclear. In this study, we used an antagonist of NAADP signaling, trans-Ned 19, to study the role of NAADP in CD4+ T-cell differentiation and effector function. Partial blockade of NAADP signaling in naïve CD4+ T cells in vitro promoted the differentiation of Th17 cells. Interestingly, trans-Ned 19 also promoted the production of IL-10, co-expression of LAG-3 and CD49b and increased the suppressive capacity of Th17 cells. Moreover, using an IL-17A fate mapping mouse model, we showed that NAADP inhibition promotes conversion of Th17 cells into regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo. In line with the results, we found that inhibiting NAADP ameliorates disease in a mouse model of intestinal inflammation. Thus, these results reveal a novel function of NAADP in controlling the differentiation and plasticity of CD4+ T cells.

Dual NADPH oxidases DUOX1 and DUOX2 synthesize NAADP and are necessary for Ca2+ signaling during T cell activation.

The formation of Ca2+ microdomains during T cell activation is initiated by the production of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) from its reduced form NAADPH. The reverse reaction­NAADP to NAADPH­is catalyzed by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Here, we identified NADPH oxidases NOX and DUOX as NAADP-forming enzymes that convert NAADPH to NAADP under physiological conditions in vitro. T cells express NOX1, NOX2, and, to a minor extent, DUOX1 and DUOX2. Local and global Ca2+ signaling were decreased in mouse T cells with double knockout of Duoxa1 and Duoxa2 but not with knockout of Nox1 or Nox2. Ca2+ microdomains in the first 15 s upon T cell activation were significantly decreased in Duox2−/− but not in Duox1−/− T cells, whereas both DUOX1 and DUOX2 were required for global Ca2+ signaling between 4 and 12 min after stimulation. Our findings suggest that a DUOX2- and G6PD-catalyzed redox cycle rapidly produces and degrades NAADP through NAADPH as an inactive intermediate.

Spatio-temporal feature learning with reservoir computing for T-cell segmentation in live-cell [Formula: see text] fluorescence microscopy.

Advances in high-resolution live-cell [Formula: see text] imaging enabled subcellular localization of early [Formula: see text] signaling events in T-cells and paved the way to investigate the interplay between receptors and potential target channels in [Formula: see text] release events. The huge amount of acquired data requires efficient, ideally automated image processing pipelines, with cell localization/segmentation as central tasks. Automated segmentation in live-cell cytosolic [Formula: see text] imaging data is, however, challenging due to temporal image intensity fluctuations, low signal-to-noise ratio, and photo-bleaching. Here, we propose a reservoir computing (RC) framework for efficient and temporally consistent segmentation. Experiments were conducted with Jurkat T-cells and anti-CD3 coated beads used for T-cell activation. We compared the RC performance with a standard U-Net and a convolutional long short-term memory (LSTM) model. The RC-based models (1) perform on par in terms of segmentation accuracy with the deep learning models for cell-only segmentation, but show improved temporal segmentation consistency compared to the U-Net; (2) outperform the U-Net for two-emission wavelengths image segmentation and differentiation of T-cells and beads; and (3) perform on par with the convolutional LSTM for single-emission wavelength T-cell/bead segmentation and differentiation. In turn, RC models contain only a fraction of the parameters of the baseline models and reduce the training time considerably.

HN1L/JPT2: A signaling protein that connects NAADP generation to Ca2+ microdomain formation.

NAADP-evoked Ca2+ release through type 1 ryanodine receptors (RYR1) is a major mechanism underlying the earliest signals in T cell activation, which are the formation of Ca2+ microdomains. In our characterization of the molecular machinery underlying NAADP action, we identified an NAADP-binding protein, called hematological and neurological expressed 1-like protein (HN1L) [also known as Jupiter microtubule-associated homolog 2 (JPT2)]. Gene deletion of Hn1l/Jpt2 in human Jurkat and primary rat T cells resulted in decreased numbers of initial Ca2+ microdomains and delayed the onset and decreased the amplitude of global Ca2+ signaling. Photoaffinity labeling demonstrated direct binding of NAADP to recombinant HN1L/JPT2. T cell receptor/CD3-dependent coprecipitation of HN1L/JPT2 with RYRs and colocalization of these proteins suggest that HN1L/JPT2 connects NAADP formation with the activation of RYR channels within the first seconds of T cell activation. Thus, HN1L/JPT2 enables NAADP to activate Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum through RYR.

The first junior European Calcium Society meeting: calcium research across scales, Kingdoms and countries.

The first junior European Calcium Society online meeting, held October 20-21, 2020, aimed to promote junior researchers in the Ca2+ community. The meeting included four scientific sessions, covering Ca2+ research from molecular detail to whole organisms. Each session featured one invited speaker and three speakers selected based on submitted abstracts, with the overall aim of actively involving early-career researchers. Consequently, the meeting underlined the diversity of Ca2+ physiology, by showcasing research across scales and Kingdoms, as presented by a correspondingly diverse speaker panel across career stages and countries. In this meeting report, we introduce the visions of the junior European Calcium Society board and summarize the meeting content.

2-Methoxyestradiol and its derivatives inhibit store-operated Ca2+ entry in T cells: Identification of a new and potent inhibitor.

T cell activation starts with formation of second messengers that release Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and thereby activate store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), one of the essential signals for T cell activation. Recently, the steroidal 2-methoxyestradiol was shown to inhibit nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). We therefore investigated 2-methoxyestradiol for inhibition of Ca2+ entry in T cells, screened a library of 2-methoxyestradiol analogues, and characterized the derivative 2-ethyl-3-sulfamoyloxy-17ß-cyanomethylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene (STX564) as a novel, potent and specific SOCE inhibitor. STX564 inhibits Ca2+ entry via SOCE without affecting other ion channels and pumps involved in Ca2+ signaling in T cells. Downstream effects such as cytokine expression and cell proliferation were also inhibited by both 2-methoxyestradiol and STX564, which has potential as a new chemical biology tool.

Mechanisms and functions of calcium microdomains produced by ORAI channels, d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, or ryanodine receptors.

With the discovery of local Ca2+ signals in the 1990s the concept of 'elementary Ca2+ signals' and 'fundamental Ca2+ signals' was developed. While 'elementary Ca2+signals' relate to optical signals gained by activity of small clusters of Ca2+channels, 'fundamental signals' describe such optical signals that arise from opening of single Ca2+channels. In this review, we discuss (i) concepts of local Ca2+ signals and Ca2+ microdomains, (ii) molecular mechanisms underlying Ca2+ microdomains, (iii) functions of Ca2+ microdomains, and (iv) mathematical modelling of Ca2+ microdomains. We focus on Ca2+ microdomains produced by ORAI channels, D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, or ryanodine receptors. In summary, research on local Ca2+ signals in different cell models aims to better understand how cells use the Ca2+ toolkit to produce Ca2+ microdomains as relevant signals for specific cellular responses, but also how local Ca2+ signals as building blocks merge into global Ca2+ signaling.