Vasopressin induces frequency-modulated repetitive calcium transients in single insulin-secreting hit cells

Characterization of preptin-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells

We aimed to characterize the effects of preptin on insulin secretion at the single-cell level, as well as the mechanisms underlying these changes, with respect to regulation by intracellular Ca(2+) [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization. This study assessed the effect of preptin on insulin secretion and investigated the link between preptin and the phospholipase C (PLC)/protein kinase C (PKC) pathway at the cellular level using fura-2 pentakis(acetoxymethyl) ester-loaded insulin-producing cells (Min 6 cells). Our results demonstrate that preptin promotes insulin secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. Using a PLC inhibitor (chelerythrine) or a PKC inhibitor (U73122) resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in insulin secretion. Also, preptin mixed with IGF2 receptor (IGF2R) antibodies suppressed insulin secretion in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates that activation of IGF2R is mediated probably because preptin is a type of proIGF2. In addition, preptin stimulated insulin secretion to a similar level as did glibenclamide. The activation of PKC/PLC by preptin stimulation is highly relevant to the potential mechanisms for increase in insulin secretion. Our results provide new insight into the insulin secretion of preptin, a secreted proIGF2-derived peptide that can induce greater efficacy of signal transduction resulting from PLC and PKC activation through the IGF2R.

Free fatty acids increase cytosolic free calcium and stimulate insulin secretion from beta-cells through activation of GPR40

Free fatty acids (FFA) cause a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells. The G-protein coupled receptor GPR40 can be activated by medium- and long-chain FFA. We investigated a potential role for GPR40 in the generation of the FFA-induced Ca2+ signal and insulin secretion. [Ca2+]i was measured in primary mouse beta-cells and in INS-1 cells, and insulin secretion was assessed from INS-1 cells. GPR40 expression was determined by RT-PCR and downregulation of GPR40 expression by siRNA transfection was carried out in INS-1 cells. A number of saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated medium- and long-chain FFA caused a rise in [Ca2+]i both in primary mouse beta-cells and in INS-1 cells. By contrast, the short-chain saturated caproic acid was ineffective at concentrations up to 300 microM. In INS-1 cells, the FFA-induced Ca2+ signal required mobilization of internal Ca2+ and Ca2+ influx through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. RT-PCR analysis revealed that GPR40 is expressed in INS-1 cells. Downregulation of GPR40 by specific siRNA treatment lead to a significant inhibition of the FFA-induced [Ca2+]i response and insulin secretion, indicating that the FFA-stimulated Ca2+ signal and insulin secretion involve activation of GPR40 in pancreatic beta-cells.

Palmitate-induced Ca2+-signaling in pancreatic beta-cells

Free fatty acids (FFA) have been proposed to participate in the regulation of insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells (beta-cells). As a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca(2+)]i) is a key event for the stimulation of insulin secretion, the effects of saturated FFA on [Ca2+]i were investigated. Palmitate was used as a reference compound and [Ca2+]i was measured in single fura-2 loaded HIT-T15 and in primary mouse beta-cells. Stimulation of single beta-cells with palmitate (100 microM) caused either repetitive Ca2+ transients or a plateau-like rise in [Ca2+]i. In HIT-T15 and in mouse beta-cells, the number of palmitate-responsive cells, and the amplitude of the palmitate-induced Ca2+-signals were dependent on the extracellular glucose concentration. In Ca2+-free medium palmitate (100 microM) caused only 1 or 2 Ca2+ transients indicating mobilization of Ca2+ from internal stores. Withdrawal of external Ca2+, the addition of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel (VSCC) blockers, as well as the K(ATP)-channel opener diazoxide (100 microM) reversibly blocked the palmitate-induced cytosolic Ca2+ responses. This demonstrates that Ca2+ influx through VSCC of the L-type coupled to membrane depolarization through closure of K(ATP)-channels are crucial for a sustained Ca2+-signal in response to palmitate. Methyl palmoxirate (100 microM) and 2-bromopalmitate (100 microM), which both inhibit transport of acyl-CoA into the mitochondria, reversibly blocked the palmitate-induced Ca2+-signals in HIT-T15 as well as in primary mouse beta-cells. By contrast, cerulenin (100 microM), an inhibitor of protein acylation, had no effect on the palmitate-induced changes in [Ca2+]i, which suggests that mitochondrial palmitate metabolism is required for eliciting the Ca2+-signals. Simultaneous measurement of [Ca2+]i and the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi) revealed palmitate-induced depolarization of DeltaPsi which demonstrates that palmitate does not enhance mitochondrial ATP production. Therefore mitochondrial signals other than ATP appear to be generated from palmitate metabolism that underly the palmitate-induced Ca2+-signals in pancreatic beta-cells.

Coupling of vasopressin-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and apical exocytosis in perfused rat kidney collecting duct

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulates the osmotic water permeability of the kidney collecting duct by inducing exocytotic insertion of aquaporin-2 into apical membrane. The coupling between AVP-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and apical exocytosis was investigated in isolated perfused rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) segments using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Changes of [Ca2+]i in IMCD cells were measured with fluo-4. A novel confocal imaging technique using a styryl dye, FM1-43, was developed to monitor real-time exocytosis induced by arginine vasopressin. AVP (0.1 nM) triggered a rapid increase of [Ca2+]i in IMCD cells, followed by sustained oscillations. Ratiometric measurement of [Ca2+]i confirmed that the observed [Ca2+]i oscillation was a primary event and was not secondary to changes in cell volume. The frequencies of [Ca2+]i oscillations in each IMCD cell were independent and time variant. 1-Deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (a V2 receptor agonist, 0.1 nM) simulated the effects of AVP by triggering [Ca2+]i oscillations. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, ryanodine (0.1 mM) inhibited AVP-induced Ca2+ mobilization. AVP (0.1 nM) triggered accumulative apical exocytosis in IMCD cells within 20 s after application. Pre-incubating the IMCD with an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA, prevented AVP-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, apical exocytosis, and increase of osmotic water permeability. These results indicate that AVP, via the V2 receptor, triggers a calcium signalling cascade observed as [Ca2+]i oscillations in the IMCD and that intracellular Ca2+ mobilization is required for exocytotic insertion of aquaporin-2.

Cyclic-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-stimulated c-fos gene transcription involves distinct calcium pathways in single beta-cells

In beta-cells activation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-signaling cascade stimulates c-fos mRNA expression, which involves cAMP- and Ca(2+)-mediated mechanisms. To delineate potential crosstalk between both pathways at the transcriptional level we simultaneously measured c-fos promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression and cytosolic free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) in single beta-cells (HIT-T15). Forskolin stimulated a rapid rise in cellular cAMP and in [Ca(2+)](i) through activation of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+)-influx and enhanced wild-type c-fos promoter-driven EGFP (pF711d2EGFP) expression about 4-fold after 6 h. The voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel (VSCC)-blocker nifedipine, which completely blocked the forskolin-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i), partially inhibited the forskolin-induced increase in pF711d2EGFP expression, while it was completely abolished in Ca(2+)-free medium. VSCC-dependent Ca(2+)-influx per se when stimulated by K(+) (45 mM) increased pF711d2EGFP expression only minimally. No correlations could be delineated between the forskolin-induced amplitude of the Ca(2+) signal and the expression of pF711d2EGFP at the single cell level, which may indicate that small rises in [Ca(2+)](i) are sufficient to fully activate the Ca(2+)-dependent pathways required for cAMP-dependent c-fos promoter regulation. In experiments with various deletion constructs of the c-fos promoter, it could be shown that cAMP-mediated activation of the c-fos promoter involves both the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) and the serum-responsive element (SRE). While nifedipine completely abrogated the cAMP-dependent activation of c-fos transcription via the SRE, the CRE-mediated effect of cAMP on the c-fos promoter remained unaffected by nifedipine. Thus, cAMP and Ca(2+) are required for full c-fos promoter activation by the cAMP-signaling pathway in beta-cells. cAMP-dependent Ca(2+)-influx through VSCC is crucial for c-fos gene transcription via the SRE, whereas cAMP-mediated activation of the CRE demands Ca(2+)-influx, which is distinct from voltage-sensitive Ca(2+)-influx. This indicates a complex interplay between cAMP and Ca(2+) in controlling c-fos gene transcription and suggests that the mode of Ca(2+) entry may differentially act on signaling pathways leading to gene transcription in beta-cells.

Tolbutamide and diazoxide modulate phospholipase C-linked Ca(2+) signaling and insulin secretion in beta-cells

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), bombesin, and ACh increase cytosolic free Ca(2+) and potentiate glucose-induced insulin release by activating receptors linked to phospholipase C (PLC). We examined whether tolbutamide and diazoxide, which close or open ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels), respectively, interact with PLC-linked Ca(2+) signals in HIT-T15 and mouse beta-cells and with PLC-linked insulin secretion from HIT-T15 cells. In the presence of glucose, the PLC-linked Ca(2+) signals were enhanced by tolbutamide (3-300 microM) and inhibited by diazoxide (10-100 microM). The effects of tolbutamide and diazoxide on PLC-linked Ca(2+) signaling were mimicked by BAY K 8644 and nifedipine, an activator and inhibitor of L-type voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels, respectively. Neither tolbutamide nor diazoxide affected PLC-linked mobilization of internal Ca(2+) or store-operated Ca(2+) influx through non-L-type Ca(2+) channels. In the absence of glucose, PLC-linked Ca(2+) signals were diminished or abolished; this effect could be partly antagonized by tolbutamide. In the presence of glucose, tolbutamide potentiated and diazoxide inhibited AVP- or bombesin-induced insulin secretion from HIT-T15 cells. Nifedipine (10 microM) blocked both the potentiating and inhibitory actions of tolbutamide and diazoxide on AVP-induced insulin release, respectively. In glucose-free medium, AVP-induced insulin release was reduced but was again potentiated by tolbutamide, whereas diazoxide caused no further inhibition. Thus tolbutamide and diazoxide regulate both PLC-linked Ca(2+) signaling and insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells by modulating K(ATP) channels, thereby determining voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) influx.

Ca2+/calmodulin inhibition and phospholipase C-linked Ca2+ Signaling in clonal beta-cells

Neurotransmitters and hormones, such as arginine vasopressin (AVP) and bombesin, evoke frequency-modulated repetitive Ca2+ transients in insulin-secreting HIT-T15 cells by binding to receptors linked to phospholipase C (PLC). The role of calmodulin (CaM)-dependent mechanisms in the generation of PLC-linked Ca2+ transients was investigated by use of the naphthalenesulfonamide CaM antagonists W-7 and W-13 and their dechlorinated control analogs W-5 and W-12. W-7 (10-30 microM) and W-13 (30-100 microM), but not W-5 (100 microM) and W-12 (300 microM), reversibly inhibited the AVP- and bombesin-induced Ca2+ transients. As the generation of PLC-linked Ca2+ transients requires mobilization of internal Ca2+ and Ca2+ influx through voltage-sensitive (VSCC) and -insensitive (VICC) Ca2+ channels, the effects of the W compounds on these processes were further investigated. First, W-7 dose dependently diminished K+ (45 mM)-induced Ca2+ signals (IC50, approximately 25 microM), and W-13 (100 microM) reduced the K+ (45 mM)-induced [Ca2+]i rise by about 40-60%, whereas W-5 (100 microM) and W-12 (300 microM) had no effect. In addition, W-7 (100 microM) inhibited whole cell Ca2+ currents in mouse beta-cells by about 60%. Second, pretreatment of cells (5 min) with W-7 (30 microM), but not W-5 (30 microM), inhibited agonist-induced internal Ca2+ mobilization by about 75% in Ca2+-free medium. Neither W-7 (30 microM) nor W-5 (30 microM) affected AVP (100 nM)-stimulated formation of IP3. Third, capacitative Ca2+ influx through VICC activated by thapsigargin (2 microM) in the presence of verapamil (50 microM) was inhibited by W-7 (30 microM) but not by W-5 (30 microM). As all of the W compound effects corresponded well to their reported anticalmodulin activity, a specific anticalmodulin action can be assumed. Thus, Ca2+ via activation of CaM-dependent processes could provide positive feedback on the generation of PLC-linked Ca2+ transients in HIT-T15 cells. This appears to involve CaM-dependent regulation of both mobilization of internal Ca2+ and Ca2+ influx through VSCC and VICC.

Regulation of cytosolic free calcium concentration by extracellular nucleotides in human hepatocytes

The effects of extracellular ATP and other nucleotides on the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) have been studied in single primary human hepatocytes and in human Hep G2 and HuH-7 hepatoma cells. ATP, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), and UTP caused a concentration-dependent biphasic increase in [Ca2+]i with an initial peak followed by a small sustained plateau in most cells. In some cells, however, repetitive Ca2+ transients were observed. The rank order of potency was ATP >/= UTP > ATPgammaS, and complete cross-desensitization of the Ca2+ responses occurred between ATP and UTP. The initial transient peak in [Ca2+]i was resistant to extracellular Ca2+ depletion, which demonstrates mobilization of internal Ca2+ by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate whose formation was enhanced by ATP and UTP. In contrast, the sustained plateau phase required influx of external Ca2+. Ca2+ influx occurs most likely through a capacitative Ca2+ entry mechanism, which was shown to exist in these cells by experiments performed with thapsigargin. On the molecular level, specific mRNA coding for the human P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, and P2Y6 receptors could be detected by RT-PCR in Hep G2 and HuH-7 cells. However, ADP and UDP, which are agonists for P2Y1 and P2Y6 receptors, respectively, caused no changes in [Ca2+]i, demonstrating that these receptors are not expressed at a functional level. Likewise, alpha,beta-methylene-ATP, beta,gamma-methylene-ATP, AMP, and adenosine were inactive in elevating [Ca2+]i, suggesting that the ATP-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was not caused by activation of P2X or P1 receptors. Thus, on the basis of the pharmacological profile of the nucleotide-induced Ca2+-responses, extracellular ATP and UTP increase [Ca2+]i by activating P2Y2 and possibly P2Y4 receptors coupled to the Ca2+-phosphatidylinositol signaling cascade in human hepatocytes. This suggests that extracellular nucleotides from various sources may contribute to the regulation of human liver cell functions.

Effects of extracellular calcium on electrical bursting and intracellular and luminal calcium oscillations in insulin secreting pancreatic beta-cells

The extracellular calcium concentration has interesting effects on bursting of pancreatic beta-cells. The mechanism underlying the extracellular Ca2+ effect is not well understood. By incorporating a low-threshold transient inward current to the store-operated bursting model of Chay, this paper elucidates the role of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration in influencing electrical activity, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and the luminal Ca2+ concentration in the intracellular Ca2+ store. The possibility that this inward current is a carbachol-sensitive and TTX-insensitive Na+ current discovered by others is discussed. In addition, this paper explains how these three variables respond when various pharmacological agents are applied to the store-operated model.