Ágnes Enyedi

Characterization of the inositol trisphosphate-sensitive and insensitive calcium stores by selective inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum-type calcium pump isoforms in isolated platelet membrane vesicles

In mixed platelet membrane vesicles the presence of two distinct endoplasmic reticulum-type calcium pump enzymes of 100 and 97 kD molecular mass has been demonstrated. We have previously shown that both calcium pumps were recognized by polyclonal anti-sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump antisera [11]. In the present work we studied the effects of several calcium pump inhibitors on active calcium transport and inositol trisphosphate-induced calcium release in these vesicles in an attempt to assign the two calcium pump isoenzymes to specific calcium pools. The effect of the PL/IM 430 inhibitory anti-calcium pump antibody was compared to that of other calcium pump inhibitors acting predominantly on the 100 and the 97 kD calcium pump isoforms, respectively. The PL/IM 430 antibody, which recognized the 97 kD pump on Western blots and 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone, which inhibited phosphoenzyme formation of the same pump isoform, inhibited calcium accumulation predominantly into an inositol trisphosphate-releasable calcium pool. On the other hand, low concentration of thapsigargin, which inhibited phosphoenzyme formation mainly of the 100 kD pump isozyme, had a more pronounced effect on calcium uptake into an inositol trisphosphate-resistant pool. These data suggest that in platelets the 97 kD calcium pump isoform is likely to be associated with the inositol trisphosphate-sensitive calcium storage organelle.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase stimulates the formation of polyphosphoinositides in the plasma membranes of different blood cells

Plasma membrane preparations from lymphocytes, platelets and red cells were phosphorylated in the presence of [γ‐32P]ATP. The dissociated catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase increase the 32P‐labelling of proteins and polyphosphoinositides in lymphocyte, platelet and in some red cell membranes. In the majority of red cell membrane preparations the 32P‐labelling of proteins and polyphosphoinositides seemed to be stimulated by the catalytic subunit of the endogenous protein kinase, since the phosphorylation was not increased by the addition of the catalytic subunit but it was decreased by the heat‐stable inhibitor protein of the protein kinase. Different sets of 32P‐labelled proteins were shown by SDS‐gel electrophoresis in the membranes of the 3 cell types. A 24000‐M r protein was the only one which was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit in each membrane.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and Ca2+-calmodulin stimulate the formation of polyphosphoinositjdes in a sarcoplasmic reticulum preparation of rabbit heart

A rabbit heart membrane fraction enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum was incubated in a reaction mixture containing [γ‐32P]ATP. The catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase enhanced the 32P‐labelling of both phosphatidylinositol‐4‐phosphate and phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate. Ca2+‐calmodulin also increased the 32P‐incorporation into both polyphosphoinositides. Upon SDS gel‐electrophoretic analysis of the membrane proteins, phospholamban was found to be concurrently phosphorylated by the exogenous catalytic subunit as well as by an endogenous Ca2+‐calmodulm‐dependent protein kinase.

Visualization of Calcium Dynamics in Kidney Proximal Tubules

Intrarenal changes in cytoplasmic calcium levels have a key role in determining pathologic and pharmacologic responses in major kidney diseases. However, cell-specific delivery of calcium-sensitive probes in vivo remains problematic. We generated a transgenic rat stably expressing the green fluorescent protein-calmodulin-based genetically encoded calcium indicator (GCaMP2) predominantly in the kidney proximal tubules. The transposon-based method used allowed the generation of homozygous transgenic rats containing one copy of the transgene per allele with a defined insertion pattern, without genetic or phenotypic alterations. We applied in vitro confocal and in vivo two-photon microscopy to examine basal calcium levels and ligand- and drug-induced alterations in these levels in proximal tubular epithelial cells. Notably, renal ischemia induced a transient increase in cellular calcium, and reperfusion resulted in a secondary calcium load, which was significantly decreased by systemic administration of specific blockers of the angiotensin receptor and the Na-Ca exchanger. The parallel examination of in vivo cellular calcium dynamics and renal circulation by fluorescent probes opens new possibilities for physiologic and pharmacologic investigations.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase stimulates the formation of polyphosphoinositides in lymphocyte plasma membrane

Inside‐out vesicles from lymphocyte plasma membrane were phosphorylated in the presence of [γ‐32P]ATP. The dissociated catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase stimulated both membrane protein and membrane lipid phosphorylation, indicating the presence of a phosphorylation cascade. The phosphorylated membrane lipids were analyzed by thin‐layer chromatography. Increase of 32P‐labelling stimulated by the cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase was found exclusively in polyphosphoinositides.

Multifaceted plasma membrane Ca2 + pumps: From structure to intracellular Ca2 + handling and cancer

Plasma membrane Ca(2+) ATPases (PMCAs) are intimately involved in the control of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. They reduce Ca(2+) in the cytosol not only by direct ejection, but also by controlling the formation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and decreasing Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pool. In mammals four genes (PMCA1-4) are expressed, and alternative RNA splicing generates more than twenty variants. The variants differ in their regulatory characteristics. They localize into highly specialized membrane compartments and respond to the incoming Ca(2+) with distinct temporal resolution. The expression pattern of variants depends on cell type; a change in this pattern can result in perturbed Ca(2+) homeostasis and thus altered cell function. Indeed, PMCAs undergo remarkable changes in their expression pattern during tumorigenesis that might significantly contribute to the unbalanced Ca(2+) homeostasis of cancer cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium and Cell Fate. Guest Editors: Jacques Haiech, Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs, Thierry Capiod and Olivier Mignen.

The plasma membrane Ca2+ pump PMCA4b inhibits the migratory and metastatic activity of BRAF mutant melanoma cells

Oncogenic mutations of BRAF lead to constitutive ERK activity that supports melanoma cell growth and survival. While Ca2+ signaling is a well‐known regulator of tumor progression, the crosstalk between Ca2+ signaling and the Ras‐BRAF‐MEK‐ERK pathway is much less explored. Here we show that in BRAF mutant melanoma cells the abundance of the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform 4b (PMCA4b, ATP2B4) is low at baseline but markedly elevated by treatment with the mutant BRAF specific inhibitor vemurafenib. In line with these findings gene expression microarray data also shows decreased PMCA4b expression in cutaneous melanoma when compared to benign nevi. The MEK inhibitor selumetinib—similarly to that of the BRAF‐specific inhibitor—also increases PMCA4b levels in both BRAF and NRAS mutant melanoma cells suggesting that the MAPK pathway is involved in the regulation of PMCA4b expression. The increased abundance of PMCA4b in the plasma membrane enhances [Ca2+]i clearance from cells after Ca2+ entry. Moreover we show that both vemurafenib treatment and PMCA4b overexpression induce marked inhibition of migration of BRAF mutant melanoma cells. Importantly, reduced migration of PMCA4b expressing BRAF mutant cells is associated with a marked decrease in their metastatic potential in vivo. Taken together, our data reveal an important crosstalk between Ca2+ signaling and the MAPK pathway through the regulation of PMCA4b expression and suggest that PMCA4b is a previously unrecognized metastasis suppressor.

Decreased calcium pump expression in human erythrocytes is connected to a minor haplotype in the ATP2B4 gene

Plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases are key calcium exporter proteins in most tissues, and PMCA4b is the main calcium transporter in the human red blood cells (RBCs). In order to assess the expression level of PMCA4b, we have developed a flow cytometry and specific antibody binding method to quantitatively detect this protein in the erythrocyte membrane. Interestingly, we found several healthy volunteers showing significantly reduced expression of RBC-PMCA4b. Western blot analysis of isolated RBC membranes confirmed this observation, and indicated that there are no compensatory alterations in other PMCA isoforms. In addition, reduced PMCA4b levels correlated with a lower calcium extrusion capacity in these erythrocytes. When exploring the potential genetic background of the reduced PMCA4b levels, we found no missense mutations in the ATP2B4 coding regions, while a formerly unrecognized minor haplotype in the predicted second promoter region closely correlated with lower erythrocyte PMCA4b protein levels. In recent GWA studies, SNPs in this ATP2B4 haplotype have been linked to reduced mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC), and to protection against malaria infection. Our data suggest that an altered regulation of gene expression is responsible for the reduced RBC-PMCA4b levels that is probably linked to the development of human disease-related phenotypes.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Treatment Increases the Expression of the Plasma Membrane Ca2+ Pump PMCA4b and Inhibits the Migration of Melanoma Cells Independent of ERK

Several new therapeutic options emerged recently to treat metastatic melanoma; however, the high frequency of intrinsic and acquired resistance among patients shows a need for new therapeutic options. Previously, we identified the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 4b (PMCA4b) as a metastasis suppressor in BRAF-mutant melanomas and found that mutant BRAF inhibition increased the expression of the pump, which then inhibited the migratory and metastatic capability of the cells. Earlier it was also demonstrated that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) upregulated PMCA4b expression in gastric, colon, and breast cancer cells. In this study, we treated one BRAF wild-type and two BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines with the HDACis, SAHA and valproic acid, either alone, or in combination with the BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib. We found that HDACi treatment strongly increased the expression of PMCA4b in all cell lines irrespective of their BRAF mutational status, and this effect was independent of ERK activity. Furthermore, HDAC inhibition also enhanced the abundance of the housekeeping isoform PMCA1. Combination of HDACis with vemurafenib, however, did not have any additive effects on either PMCA isoform. We demonstrated that the HDACi-induced increase in PMCA abundance was coupled to an enhanced [Ca2+]i clearance rate and also strongly inhibited both the random and directional movements of A375 cells. The primary role of PMCA4b in these characteristic changes was demonstrated by treatment with the PMCA4-specific inhibitor, caloxin 1c2, which was able to restore the slower Ca2+ clearance rate and higher motility of the cells. While HDAC treatment inhibited cell motility, it decreased only modestly the ratio of proliferative cells and cell viability. Our results show that in melanoma cells the expression of both PMCA4b and PMCA1 is under epigenetic control and the elevation of PMCA4b expression either by HDACi treatment or by the decreased activation of the BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway can inhibit the migratory capacity of the highly motile A375 cells.

Induction of endoplasmic reticulum calcium pump expression during early leukemic B cell differentiation

BackgroundEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium storage and release play important roles in B lymphocyte maturation, survival, antigen-dependent cell activation and immunoglobulin synthesis. Calcium is accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPases (SERCA enzymes). Because lymphocyte function is critically dependent on SERCA activity, it is important to understand qualitative and quantitative changes of SERCA protein expression that occur during B lymphoid differentiation and leukemogenesis.MethodsIn this work we investigated the modulation of SERCA expression during the pharmacologically induced differentiation of leukemic precursor B lymphoblast cell lines that carry the E2A-PBX1 fusion oncoprotein. Changes of SERCA levels during differentiation were determined and compared to those of established early B lymphoid differentiation markers. SERCA expression of the cells was compared to that of mature B cell lines as well, and the effect of the direct inhibition of SERCA-dependent calcium transport on the differentiation process was investigated.ResultsWe show that E2A-PBX1+ leukemia cells simultaneously express SERCA2 and SERCA3-type calcium pumps; however, their SERCA3 expression is markedly inferior to that of mature B cells. Activation of protein kinase C enzymes by phorbol ester leads to phenotypic differentiation of the cells, and this is accompanied by the induction of SERCA3 expression. Direct pharmacological inhibition of SERCA-dependent calcium transport during phorbol ester treatment interferes with the differentiation process.ConclusionThese data show that the calcium pump composition of the ER is concurrent with increased SERCA3 expression during the differentiation of precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, that a cross-talk exists between SERCA function and the control of differentiation, and that SERCA3 may constitute an interesting new marker for the study of early B cell phenotype.