Alexei V. Tepikin

ATP-dependent accumulation and inositol trisphosphate- or cyclic ADP-ribose-mediated release of Ca2+ from the nuclear envelope.

Uptake and release of Ca2+ from isolated liver nuclei were studied with fluorescent probes. We show with the help of digital imaging and confocal microscopy that the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probe Fura 2 is concentrated in or around the nuclear envelope and that the distribution of Fura 2 fluorescence is similar to that of an endoplasmic reticulum marker. The previously demonstrated ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2+ into isolated nuclei and release of the accumulated Ca2+ by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) are therefore due to transport of Ca2+ into and out of the nuclear envelope and not the nucleoplasm. Dextrans labeled with fluorescent Ca2+ indicators (calcium-Green 1 and Fura 2) are distributed uniformly in the nucleoplasm and can be used to show that changes in the external Ca2+ concentration produce rapid changes in the nucleoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. Nevertheless, IP3 and cyclic ADP-ribose evoke transient intranuclear Ca2+ elevations. The release from the Ca2+ stores in or around the nuclear envelope appears to be directed into the nucleoplasm from where it can diffuse out through the permeable nuclear pore complexes.

Active mitochondria surrounding the pancreatic acinar granule region prevent spreading of inositol trisphosphate‐evoked local cytosolic Ca2+ signals

Agonist‐evoked cytosolic Ca2+ spikes in mouse pancreatic acinar cells are specifically initiated in the apical secretory pole and are mostly confined to this region. The role played by mitochondria in this process has been investigated. Using the mitochondria‐specific fluorescent dyes MitoTracker Green and Rhodamine 123, these organelles appeared as a bright belt concentrated mainly around the secretory granule area. We tested the effects of two different types of mitochondrial inhibitor on the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration using simultaneous imaging of Ca2+‐sensitive fluorescence (Fura 2) and electrophysiology. When carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) was applied in the presence of the Ca2+‐releasing messenger inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3), the local repetitive Ca2+ responses in the granule area were transformed into a global rise in the cellular Ca2+ concentration. In the absence of IP3, CCCP had no effect on the cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Antimycin and antimycin + oligomycin had the same effect as CCCP. Active mitochondria, strategically placed around the secretory pole, block Ca2+ diffusion from the primary Ca2+ release sites in the granule‐rich area in the apical pole to the basal part of the cell containing the nucleus. When mitochondrial function is inhibited, this barrier disappears and the Ca2+ signals spread all over the cytosol.

Perinuclear, perigranular and sub‐plasmalemmal mitochondria have distinct functions in the regulation of cellular calcium transport

We have identified three distinct groups of mitochondria in normal living pancreatic acinar cells, located (i) in the peripheral basolateral region close to the plasma membrane, (ii) around the nucleus and (iii) in the periphery of the granular region separating the granules from the basolateral area. Three‐dimensional reconstruction of confocal slices showed that the perigranular mitochondria form a barrier surrounding the whole of the granular region. Cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations initiated in the granular area triggered mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake mainly in the perigranular area. The most intensive uptake occurred in the mitochondria close to the apical plasma membrane. Store‐operated Ca2+ influx through the basolateral membrane caused preferential Ca2+ uptake into sub‐plasmalemmal mitochondria. The perinuclear mitochondria were activated specifically by local uncaging of Ca2+ in the nucleus. These mitochondria could isolate nuclear and cytosolic Ca2+ signalling. Photobleaching experiments indicated that different groups of mitochondria were not luminally connected. The three mitochondrial groups are activated independently by specific spatiotemporal patterns of cytosolic Ca2+ signals and can therefore participate in the local regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and energy supply.

Ca2+ Flow via Tunnels in Polarized Cells: Recharging of Apical Ca2+ Stores by Focal Ca2+ Entry through Basal Membrane Patch

Intracellular Ca2+ store depletion induces Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane, allowing the store to recharge. In our experiments, Ca2+ stores in pancreatic acinar cells were depleted by acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation in Ca2+-free solution. Thereafter, Ca2+ entry was only allowed through a CaCl2-containing pipette attached to the basal membrane. Recharging intracellular Ca2+ stores via a patch pipette occurred without a rise in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and depended on the operation of a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pump. After a period of focal Ca2+ entry, ACh could again evoke a rise in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, and this rise always started in the apical secretory pole. Recharging the apical Ca2+ store therefore depends on Ca2+ flow through a tunnel from the basal to the secretory pole, and the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump is essential for this process.

Termination of cytosolic Ca2+ signals: Ca2+ reuptake into intracellular stores is regulated by the free Ca2+ concentration in the store lumen

The mechanism by which agonist‐evoked cytosolic Ca2+ signals are terminated has been investigated. We measured the Ca2+ concentration inside the endoplasmic reticulum store of pancreatic acinar cells and monitored the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration by whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording of the Ca2+‐sensitive currents. When the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration was clamped at the resting level by a high concentration of a selective Ca2+ buffer, acetylcholine evoked the usual depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores, but without increasing the Ca2+‐sensitive currents. Removal of acetylcholine allowed thapsigargin‐sensitive Ca2+ reuptake into the stores, and this process stopped when the stores had been loaded to the pre‐stimulation level. The apparent rate of Ca2+ reuptake decreased steeply with an increase in the Ca2+ concentration in the store lumen and it is this negative feedback on the Ca2+ pump that controls the Ca2+ store content. In the absence of a cytoplasmic Ca2+ clamp, acetylcholine removal resulted in a rapid return of the elevated cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration to the pre‐stimulation resting level, which was attained long before the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store had been completely refilled. We conclude that control of Ca2+ reuptake by the Ca2+ concentration inside the intracellular store allows precise Ca2+ signal termination without interfering with store refilling.

The endoplasmic reticulum as one continuous Ca2+ pool: visualization of rapid Ca2+ movements and equilibration

We investigated whether the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a functionally connected Ca2+ store or is composed of separate subunits by monitoring movements of Ca2+ and small fluorescent probes in the ER lumen of pancreatic acinar cells, using confocal microscopy, local bleaching and uncaging. We observed rapid movements and equilibration of Ca2+ and the probes. The bulk of the ER at the base was not connected to the granules in the apical part, but diffusion into small apical ER extensions occurred. The connectivity of the ER Ca2+ store was robust, since even supramaximal acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation for 30 min did not result in functional fragmentation. ACh could elicit a uniform decrease in the ER Ca2+ concentration throughout the cell, but repetitive cytosolic Ca2+ spikes, induced by a low ACh concentration, hardly reduced the ER Ca2+ level. We conclude that the ER is a functionally continuous unit, which enables efficient Ca2+ liberation. Ca2+ released from the apical ER terminals is quickly replenished from the bulk of the rough ER at the base.

NAADP mobilizes Ca2+ from a thapsigargin-sensitive store in the nuclear envelope by activating ryanodine receptors

Ca2+ release from the envelope of isolated pancreatic acinar nuclei could be activated by nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) as well as by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR). Each of these agents reduced the Ca2+ concentration inside the nuclear envelope, and this was associated with a transient rise in the nucleoplasmic Ca2+ concentration. NAADP released Ca2+ from the same thapsigargin-sensitive pool as IP3. The NAADP action was specific because, for example, nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate was ineffective. The Ca2+ release was unaffected by procedures interfering with acidic organelles (bafilomycin, brefeldin, and nigericin). Ryanodine blocked the Ca2+-releasing effects of NAADP, cADPR, and caffeine, but not IP3. Ruthenium red also blocked the NAADP-elicited Ca2+ release. IP3 receptor blockade did not inhibit the Ca2+ release elicited by NAADP or cADPR. The nuclear envelope contains ryanodine and IP3 receptors that can be activated separately and independently; the ryanodine receptors by either NAADP or cADPR, and the IP3 receptors by IP3.

Menadione-induced reactive oxygen species generation via redox cycling promotes apoptosis of murine pancreatic acinar cells

Oxidative stress may be an important determinant of the severity of acute pancreatitis. One-electron reduction of oxidants generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) via redox cycling, whereas two-electron detoxification, e.g. by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, does not. The actions of menadione on ROS production and cell fate were compared with those of a non-cycling analogue (2,4-dimethoxy-2-methylnaphthalene (DMN)) using real-time confocal microscopy of isolated perfused murine pancreatic acinar cells. Menadione generated ROS with a concomitant decrease of NAD(P)H, consistent with redox cycling. The elevation of ROS was prevented by the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine but not by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyliodonium. DMN produced no change in reactive oxygen species per se but significantly potentiated menadione-induced effects, probably via enhancement of one-electron reduction, since DMN was found to inhibit NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase detoxification. Menadione caused apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells that was significantly potentiated by DMN, whereas DMN alone had no effect. Furthermore, bile acid (taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate)-induced caspase activation was also greatly increased by DMN, whereas DMN had no effect per se. These results suggest that acute generation of ROS by menadione occurs via redox cycling, the net effect of which is induction of apoptotic pancreatic acinar cell death. Two-electron detoxifying enzymes such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, which are elevated in pancreatitis, may provide protection against excessive ROS and exert an important role in determining acinar cell fate.

Calcium uptake via endocytosis with rapid release from acidifying endosomes

A number of specific cellular Ca2+ uptake pathways have been described in many different cell types [1] [2] [3]. The possibility that substantial quantities of Ca2+ could be imported via endocytosis has essentially been ignored, although it has been recognized that endosomes can store Ca2+ [4] [5]. Exocrine cells can release significant amounts of Ca2+ via exocytosis [6], so we have investigated the fate of Ca2+ taken up via endocytosis into endosomes. Ca2+-sensitive and H+-sensitive fluorescent probes were placed in the extracellular solution and subsequently taken up into fibroblasts by endocytosis. Confocal microscopy was used to assess the distribution of fluorescence intensity. Ca2+ taken up by endocytosis was lost from the endosomes within a few minutes, over the same period as endosomal acidification took place. The acidification was inhibited by reducing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration, and Ca2+ loss from the endosomes was blocked by bafilomycin (100 nM), a specific inhibitor of the vacuolar proton ATPase. Quantitative evaluation indicated that endocytosis causes substantial import of Ca2+ because of rapid loss from early endosomes.

Neuronal Ca2+-sensor proteins: multitalented regulators of neuronal function

Many aspects of neuronal activity are regulated by Ca2+ signals. The transduction of temporally and spatially distinct Ca2+ signals requires the action of Ca2+-sensor proteins including various EF-hand-containing Ca2+-binding proteins. The neuronal Ca2+ sensor (NCS) protein family and the related Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) have begun to emerge as key players in neuronal function. Many of these proteins are expressed predominantly or only in neurons, sometimes with cell-specific patterns of expression. Their ability to associate with membranes either constitutively or in response to elevated Ca2+ concentration allows the NCS proteins to discriminate between different spatial and temporal patterns of Ca2+ signals. Recent work has established several physiological roles of these proteins, including diverse actions on gene expression, ion channel function, membrane traffic of ion channels and receptors, and the control of apoptosis.