Ca2+-activated Cl- channel currents in rat ventral prostate epithelial cells

BACKGROUND: In many epithelial tissues, the Cl(-) efflux via Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channels (Cl(Ca)) play a key role for the fluid secretion. To elucidate the mechanism of prostatic fluid secretion, the properties of whole-cell chloride conductance were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat prostate secretory epithelial cells (RPSECs) were isolated by collagenase treatment, and were used for the whole-cell voltage clamp. Both extra- and intracellular monovalent cations were replaced by N-methyl-D-glucamate to record the Cl(-) current selectively. RESULTS: A bath application of Ca(2+)-ionophore, ionomycin (0.2 micro M), increased the membrane conductance with outwardly rectifying voltage-dependence. On step-like depolarization from -60 to +80 mV (500 msec), the ionomycin-induced current showed slowly activating kinetics, a known property of Cl(Ca) current (I(Cl(Ca))) of other tissues. The relative permeability of Cl(Ca) to various anions was calculated from the reversal potentials measured under a total replacement of extracellular Cl(-) with various anions, and the relative order of permeability was SCN(-)>I(-)>Br(-)>Cl(-)>gluconate. The amplitude of I(Cl(Ca)) was decreased by various anion channel blockers: niflumic acid (100 micro M), DPC (100 micro M), DIDS (1 mM), and NPPB (200 micro M). CONCLUSIONS: RPSECs have Cl(Ca) that may provide Cl(-) efflux pathways for the exocrine secretions of the prostate.     

K+ channel currents in rat ventral prostate epithelial cells

BACKGROUND: Electrophysiological function of the normal prostate has not been extensively studied. In particular, ion channel currents and their regulation have not been studied in freshly-isolated prostate cells. METHODS: Rat prostate secretory epithelial (RPSE) cells were isolated by collagenase treatment. Columnar epithelial cells were used for nystatin-perforated, whole-cell voltage clamp, and the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was measured using fura-2. RESULTS: Step-like depolarizing pulses (900 msec) starting from - 90 mV induced outwardly rectifying K(+) currents without inactivation. ACh (10 microM) or ATP (100 microM) increased the outward current and hyperpolarized the cell membrane potential. Ionomycin (0.1 microM), a Ca(2+) ionophore, induced a similar increase in the outward current. TEA (5 mM), charybdotoxin (50 nM), and iberiotoxin (30 nM) inhibited the effect of ACh (or ATP) on the outward current, whereas apamin (100 nM) had no effect. The [Ca(2+)](i) of RPSE cells was increased by ACh, ATP, and UTP. CONCLUSIONS: RPSE cells have iberiotoxin-sensitive Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels that may play an important role in the exocrine secretions of the prostate.     

Intracellular Ca2+ regulation in a human prostate stromal cell culture

AIMS: Prostate stromal cell cultures are used in vitro to study the cellular pathophysiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but their functional properties are poorly understood. This study characterized intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) regulation in a cultured cell line in comparison to freshly isolated cells, as a background to understanding contractile regulation and cellular proliferation in this tissue. METHODS: Prostate stromal cells were isolated from either PrS6 cell cultures, with an extended life span by transfection with the SV40 T-antigen, tsA58-U19, or freshly obtained transition zone prostate samples, primary cells. [Ca2+]i was measured in vitro with the indicator Fura-2 by epifluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Phenylephrine, high-K+, and caffeine induced Ca2+-transients in primary cells (resting [Ca2+]i 94 +/- 8 nM, n = 29; peak 193 +/- 26 nM, n = 19). In PrS6 cells resting [Ca2+]i was 96 +/- 8 nM (n = 78) and in 34 of these 78 cells, 30 microM phenylephrine increased [Ca2+]i to 296 +/- 28 nM. 5-methyl-urapidil (10-30 microM) inhibited this response in 10 of 16 cells. Spontaneous Ca2+-transients were also observed in 91% of phenylephrine-responsive cells, but in only 20% of non-responsive cells (P < 0.01). Ca2+-transients were also induced by high-K+ solution, and 20 mM caffeine. The latter abolished the response to subsequent phenylephrine application. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by caffeine or restoration from a Ca2+-free superfusate caused a substantial rise of [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSIONS: PrS6 prostate stromal cells express functional alpha1-adrenoceptors associated with spontaneous intracellular Ca2+-transients. They exhibit functional Ca2+ channels, intracellular Ca2+ stores, and Ca2+ entry induced by store depletion. Stromal cultures can therefore be used to characterize the cellular physiology of prostate stromal cell contraction and proliferation.     

Muscarinic M2 receptors inhibit Ca2+-activated K+ channels in rat bladder smooth muscle.

PURPOSE: To clarify the functional relationship between M2 muscarinic receptor and Ca2+-activated K+ channel, we investigated the effect of carbachol (CCh) on the membrane current of rat bladder smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Rat bladder single smooth muscle cells were patch clamped with whole-cell configuration. RESULTS: CCh (10 micro mol/L) transiently induced an outward current in the presence of K+ in the pipette solution. A high Ca2+ concentration in the pipette solution persistently induced an outward current, which was inhibited by CCh. In the presence of M2 inhibitor, AFDX-384, CCh induced the outward current persistently, indicating that M2 was involved in the current inhibition. In pertussis toxin pretreated cells, CCh did not apparently inhibit the outward current. The CCh-induced outward current was inhibited by iberiotoxin, a selective inhibitor of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa). CONCLUSION: CCh induces BKCa, which is inhibited by M2- and Gi-mediated signal transduction pathway. This M2-mediated pathway may enhance contraction which is initiated by M3-stimulation in rat bladder smooth muscle.     

Caribbean maitotoxin elevates [Ca2+]i and activates non-selective cation channels in HIT-T15 cells

AIM: To investigate the cytotoxic mechanism of caribbean maitotoxin (MTX-C) in mammalian cells.METHODS: We used whole-cell patch-clamp techniques and fluorescence calcium imaging to determine the cellular toxic mechanisms of MTX-C in insulin secreting HIT-T15 cells, which is a system where the effects of MTX have been observed. HIT-T15 cells stably express L-type calcium current, making it a suitable model for this study. Using the fluorescence calcium indicator Indo-1 AM, we found that there is a profound increase in HIT-T15 intracellular free calcium 3 min after application of 200 nmol/L MTX-C.RESULTS: About 3 min after perfusion of MTX-C, a gradual increase in free calcium concentration was observed. This elevation was sustained throughout the entire recording period. Application of MTX-C did not elicit the L-type calcium current, but large cationic currents appeared after applying MTX-C to the extracellular solution. The current-voltage relationship of the cation current is approximately linear within the voltage range from -60 to 50 mV, but flattened at voltages at -80 and -100 mV. These results indicate that MTX-C induces a non-voltage activated, inward current under normal physiological conditions, which by itself or through a secondary mechanism results in a large amount of cationic influx. The biophysical mechanism of MTX-C is different to its isoform, pacific maitotoxin (MTX-P), when the extracellular calcium is removed.CONCLUSION: We conclude that MTX-C causes the opening of non-selective, non-voltage-activated ion channels, which elevates level of intracellular calcium concentration and leads to cellular toxicities.     

Role of the T-type Ca2+ current on the contractile performance of guinea pig detrusor smooth muscle

AIMS: The importance of the T-type Ca(2+) current in determining detrusor contractile function was investigated by using guinea pig muscle in vitro. METHODS: NiCl(2) (200 microM) was used to block selectively the T-type Ca(2+) current, and 20 microM verapamil was used to block the L-type Ca(2+) current in this tissue. The selectivity of these agents at such concentrations has been previously demonstrated. RESULTS: In normal extracellular solution (4 mM KCl) 200 microM NiCl(2) and 20 microM verapamil reduced electrically stimulated contractions by 17 +/- 6% and 65 +/- 10%, respectively. At high concentrations of the two agents, the contraction was completely abolished by NiCl(2) but by only 74 +/- 18% in the case of verapamil; this finding suggests that NiCl(2) has additional negative inotropic actions at higher concentrations. Carbachol and KCl contractures were attenuated to a similar extent to that of electrically stimulated contractions by NiCl(2) and verapamil, which suggests that they act on the muscle rather than the motor nerve. The dependence of the membrane potential on the relative ability of NiCl(2) and verapamil to attenuate the contraction was tested by varying the extracellular [KCl], [KCl](o). Varying [KCl](o) between 2 and 10 mM depolarised detrusor myocytes from (-65.1 +/- 4.7 mV to -42.7 +/- 4.0 mV (a slope of 32 mV per 10-fold change of [KCl](o)). In low [KCl](o),blockade by NiCl(2) was more effective and that of verapamil less effective; at high [KCl](o), the reverse potency was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The data are consistent with the hypothesis that Ca(2+) influx through both T-type and L-type Ca(2+) channels determines the contractile status of detrusor smooth muscle and that T-type channel activity is more important at membrane potentials near the resting level. A significant role for T-type channel activity in the resting state was evident in that spontaneous contractions were attenuated to a greater extent than evoked contractions.     

Bee venom induces apoptosis through intracellular Ca2+ -modulated intrinsic death pathway in human bladder cancer cells

Objectives: To focus on bee venom‐induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer TSGH‐8301 cells and to investigate its signaling pathway to ascertain whether intracellular calcium iron (Ca²⁺) is involved in this effect. Methods: Bee venom‐induced cytotoxic effects, productions of reactive oxygen species and Ca²⁺ and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis‐associated proteins were examined by Western blot analysis and confocal laser microscopy. Results: Bee venom‐induced cell morphological changes and decreased cell viability through the induction of apoptosis in TSGH‐8301 cell were found. Bee venom promoted the protein levels of Bax, caspase‐9, caspase‐3 and endonuclease G. The enhancements of endoplasmic reticulum stress‐related protein levels were shown in bee venom‐provoked apoptosis of TSGH‐8301 cells. Bee venom promoted the activities of caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9, increased Ca²⁺ release and decreased the level of ΔΨm. Co‐localization of immunofluorescence analysis showed the releases of endonuclease G and apoptosis‐inducing factor trafficking to nuclei for bee venom‐mediated apoptosis. The images revealed evidence of nuclear condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies by 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole staining and DNA gel electrophoresis showed the DNA fragmentation in TSGH‐8301 cells. Conclusions: Bee venom treatment induces both caspase‐dependent and caspase‐independent apoptotic death through intracellular Ca²⁺‐modulated intrinsic death pathway in TSGH‐8301 cells.     

RhoA/Rho kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization in the contraction of human prostate

AIMS: The contractile mechanisms of prostatic smooth muscle have been extensively investigated at the receptor level. However, the intracellular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated, especially in human tissue. In the present study, we examined the functional role of RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK), one of the major intracellular molecules involved in smooth muscle contraction, in the contraction of the human prostate. METHODS: Ring preparations made of cultured human prostatic stromal cells (CHPSCs) or fresh human prostatic tissue was used for an isometric tension study. Gene transfer using baculovirus vector and alpha-toxin permeabilized preparations were also used. RESULTS: RhoA, ROCK I and ROCK II proteins were all expressed in CHPSCs and fresh human prostatic tissue. In CHPSCs ring preparations, the contraction induced by endothelin (ET)-1 was enhanced by over-expression of RhoA and inhibited by ROCK inhibitor. In alpha-toxin permeabilized preparations, ET-1 or GTP-gammaS induced an additional contraction at a constant [Ca2+]i, that was inhibited by ROCK inhibitor. In fresh human prostatic tissue, norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction was inhibited by ROCK inhibitor at a constant [Ca2+]i in alpha-toxin permeabilized preparations. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that RhoA/ROCK-mediated Ca2+ sensitization is likely involved in the contraction of the human prostate. The antagonisms of this pathway may thus be useful as an alternative target in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).     

Mechanism of estrogens-induced increases in intracellular Ca(2+) in PC3 human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND: The effect of estrogens (diethylstilbestrol [DES], 17 beta-estradiol) on intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) in hormone-insensitive PC3 human prostate cancer cells was examined. METHODS: [Ca(2+)](i) changes in suspended cells were measured by using the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. RESULTS: Estrogens (1--20 microM) increased [Ca(2+)](i) concentration-dependently with DES being more potent. Ca(2+) removal inhibited 50 +/- 10% of the signal. In Ca(2+)-free medium, pretreatment with 20 microM estrogens abolished the [Ca(2+)](i) increases induced by 2 microM carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP, a mitochondrial uncoupler) and 1 microM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor), but pretreatment with CCCP and thapsigargin did not alter DES-induced Ca(2+) release and partly inhibited 17 beta-estradiol-induced Ca(2+) release. Addition of 3 mM Ca(2+) increased [Ca(2+)](i) in cells pretreated with 1- 20 microM estrogens in Ca(2+)-free medium. Pretreatment with 1 microM U73122 to block phospholipase C-coupled inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation did not alter estrogens-induced Ca(2+) release. The effect of 20 microM estrogen on [Ca(2+)](i) was not affected by pretreatment with 0.1 microM estrogens. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen induced significant Ca(2+) release and Ca(2+) influx in an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-independent manner in PC3 cells. These effects of estrogens on Ca(2+) signaling appear to be nongenomic. Prostate 47:141-148, 2001.     

三氧化二砷对肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721[Ca2＋]i的影响

目的观察不同浓度三氧化二砷(arsenic trioxide,As2O3)对人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721增殖及细胞内Ca2 的影响,探讨其在肝癌化疗中的可能机制。方法MTT法测定不同浓度As2O3对SMMC-7721细胞的抑制作用;Fura2-AM标记细胞内Ca2 ,荧光分析仪测定不同浓度As2O3对SMMC-7721细胞内Ca2 浓度的影响。结果As2O3在0.5～2.0μg/ml的浓度范围内对肝癌SMMC-7721细胞的生长具有抑制趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);As2O3在0.5,1.0μg/ml浓度时,对SMMC-7721细胞内Ca2 浓度的影响,与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);当As2O3浓度为2.0μg/ml,作用时间为48h,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),而作用时间至72h,细胞内Ca2 又恢复至正常水平(P>0.05)。结论As2O3对SMMC-7721细胞内Ca2 的影响不仅与浓度有关而且与作用时间有关。     

Ion-channel currents of smooth muscle cells isolated from the prostate of guinea-pig

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the voltage-activated ion-channel currents in guinea-pig prostate smooth muscle cells (GPSMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: GPSMCs were isolated using collagenase, and used in a whole-cell patch clamp study. RESULTS: When GPSMCs were dialysed with a CsCl solution all the outward K+ currents were blocked and the step-like depolarization (holding voltage -70 mV) of the cell membrane evoked inward currents that were completely blocked by nifedipine (1 micromol/L). With KCl solution, step depolarizations showed outward K+ currents composed of fast, transient outward current (Ito) and outward currents that did not inactivate. Ito was resistant to a high concentration of tetraethylammonium (TEA, 5 mmol/L) but was blocked by 4-aminopyridine (5 mmol/L). The half-activation and half-inactivation voltages of Ito were 6 mV and -58 mV, respectively. With low Ca2+ buffer (0.1 mmol/L EGTA) in the solution, there were spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) at depolarized membrane voltages (0 mV). STOCs were blocked by TEA (1 mmol/L) or iberiotoxin (10 nmol/L) but were insensitive to apamin (100 nmol/L). CONCLUSION: This voltage-clamp study showed that GPSMCs have l-type Ca2+ channels and more than two types of K+ channels. The voltage- and time-dependent changes of these ion channels and their interactions might be important in forming action potentials and regulating contractility.     

The role of Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release in the muscarinic-mediated contraction of mammalian urinary bladder smooth muscle

OBJECTIVE To study the involvement of extracellular Ca2+ and the properties of the intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) stores on the carbachol-induced contraction of mammalian urinary bladder smooth muscle strips under polarized and depolarized conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Strips of bladder were suspended between platinum ring electrodes in a cylindrical organ bath (0.2 mL) and continuously superfused with Krebs' solution at 1 mL/min. The effect of nifedipine, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), thapsigargin, procaine, ryanodine and caffeine before and during a 10-s application of 100 microm carbachol under polarized conditions were studied. The effect of these drugs was also assessed under depolarized conditions using a protocol that allowed a more detailed assessment of the role of [Ca2+]i stores, consisting of emptying the stores by exposure to Ca2+-free solution, rapidly refilling them by a 10-s application of 81.5 mm Ca2+ (priming), returning to the Ca2+-free solution for 3 min and then applying 100 microm carbachol (10 s) in Ca2+-free solution (store release). RESULTS: Under polarized conditions, nifedipine and Ca2+ removal almost completely inhibited the carbachol-induced contractions. CPA increased the amplitude and duration of both carbachol- and electrical field stimulation-induced contractions. Although ryanodine had no inhibitory effect, caffeine and procaine significantly inhibited the carbachol-induced contraction. Under depolarized conditions nifedipine blocked both priming and store release contractions. CPA, thapsigargin, procaine and ryanodine significantly increased the priming and inhibited the store release contractions. However, caffeine virtually abolished both priming and store release contractions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in guinea-pig urinary bladder smooth muscle the Ca2+ necessary for contraction enters the cell through voltage-dependent dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels and is pumped into an intracellular store that is released by carbachol. Under polarized conditions, the blockade of sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATP-ase (SERCA) with CPA increases [Ca2+]i and carbachol-induced contractions. The effects of caffeine and procaine suggest that store release involves ryanodine receptors and calcium-induced calcium release. Under depolarized conditions, Ca2+ entry is blocked by nifedipine and the stores diminish. Stored Ca2+ is also greatly reduced by the blockade of SERCA with either CPA or thapsigargin. Procaine, ryanodine and caffeine blocked the store release contractions, suggesting that this involves ryanodine receptors and calcium-induced calcium release.     

脂多糖受体簇和大电导Ca2+活K+通道在脂多糖信号识别中的作用

背景 细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)可激活细胞合成和释放多种细胞因子,导致全身炎症反应.LPS识别及跨膜信号转导是引起细胞效应的关键,成为近年的研究热点.目的 对新近提出的“LPS受体簇”理论和大电导Ca2+激活K+通道(MaxiK)在LPS信号识别中的作用研究进展进行综述.内容 LPS与CD14结合后,不同的信号分子在脂质筏内聚集,LPS被释放到脂质双分子层,并与由多种受体分子组成的受体簇相互作用.根据不同的细胞类型和细菌刺激,形成了不同的LPS受体簇.MaxiK通道在LPS诱导的巨噬细胞信号转导过程的早期即被激活.并且以IκB-α/NF-κB为中心的促炎症反应依赖MaxiK的功能.趋向 需要进一步研究来阐明LPS受体簇在细胞膜特定区域内形成的确切分子机制,以及组成受体簇的几种蛋白分子在刺激识别和信号转导过程中的作用.     

蛋白激酶A对大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞钙通道电流的作用

目的研究蛋白激酶A(PKA)在大鼠肾上腺髓质嗜铬细胞分泌儿茶酚胺(CA)中的作用机制。方法利用全细胞膜片钳技术,在维持电压-70 mV的条件下,给予细胞40 ms,从-60mV到+60 mV的序列除极方波,阶跃10 mv,引导出钙通道电流(ICa),观察各种不同浓度PKA激动剂对大鼠嗜铬细胞ICa的影响。结果100μmol/L dcAMP对大鼠嗜铬细胞内ICa作用不明显;1和10 μmol/L Forskolin对ICa有明显抑制作用,灌洗细胞10 min对ICa峰值抑制率分别为(15.8±2.0)％和(29.7±2.0)％。结论PKA在大鼠肾上腺髓质嗜铬细胞CA分泌过程中的作用不明显。Forskolin能够明显抑制大鼠嗜铬细胞ICa,从而抑制CA的分泌,其机制可能是对钙通道的直接作用。     

The effect of flow on the neutrophil-mediated Ca2+ responses in human vascular endothelial cells stimulated by endotoxin

2+ levels ([Ca²⁺]_i). Cultured human umbilical vein ECs stimulated by endotoxin were labeled with Fura-2 and exposed to fluid flow with neutrophils. The individual changes in [Ca²⁺]_i were monitored. The application of flow with neutrophils to stimulated ECs led to an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i although either flow without neutrophils or neutrophils without flow rarely induced a rise in [Ca²⁺]_i. Furthermore, flow application with neutrophils to unstimulated ECs also rarely promoted a rise in [Ca²⁺]_i. These findings suggest that the flow might thus induce or enhance the inflammatory process by the induction of Ca²⁺ signaling in endotoxin-stimulated endothelium facing neutrophils in the blood flow. (Received for publication on Sept. 28, 1998; accepted on Mar. 11, 1999)