Ca2+ ionophores trigger membrane remodeling without a need for store-operated Ca2+ entry

Ionomycin induces prostaglandin E2 formation in murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells via mechanisms independent of its ionophoric nature

Ionomycin and A23187 are divalent cation ionophores with a marked preference for calcium. Studies using these ionophores have almost exclusively interpreted their results in the light of calcium elevation. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effects of ionomycin in osteoblatic MC3T3-E1 cells that are not attributable to its ionophoric properties. Thus, we have found that in contrast to A23187, ionomycin shows similar effects on prostaglandin E2 formation as bradykinin and endothelin-1, being potentiated by extracellular nickel and inhibited by cholera toxin and pertussis toxin. Our data strongly suggest that inomycin, at least in part, exerts its effects via specific binding to a G-protein coupled receptor, thereby evoking downstream cellular events like arachidonate release with subsequent prostaglandin formation.

Cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of circulating microparticles

Microparticles (MPs) derived from platelets, monocytes, endothelial cells, red blood cells, and granulocytes may be detected in low concentrations in normal plasma and at increased levels in atherothrombotic cardiovascular diseases. The elucidation of the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of circulating MPs is crucial for improving our understanding of their pathophysiological role in health and disease. The flopping of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is the key event that will ultimately lead to the shedding of procoagulant MPs from activated or apoptotic cells. Research over the last few years has revealed important roles for calcium-, mitochondrial-, and caspase-dependent mechanisms leading to PS exposure. The study of Scott cells has unraveled different molecular mechanisms that may contribute to fine-tuning of PS exposure and MP release in response to a variety of specific stimuli. The pharmacological modulation of MP release may have a substantial therapeutic impact in the management of atherothrombotic vascular disorders. Because PS exposure is a key feature in pathological processes different from hemostasis and thrombosis, the most important obstacle in the field of MP-modulating drugs seems to be carefully targeting MP release to relevant cell types at an optimal level, so as to achieve a beneficial action and limit possible adverse effects.

Involvement of the Na+/H+ exchanger in membrane phosphatidylserine exposure during human platelet activation

Platelet membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure that regulates the production of thrombin represents an important link between platelet activation and the coagulation cascade. Here, we have evaluated the involvement of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) in this process in human platelets. PS exposure induced in human platelets by thrombin, TRAP, collagen or TRAP+ collagen was abolished in a Na+ -free medium. Inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) by 5-(N-Ethyl-N-Isopropyl) Amiloride (EIPA) reduced significantly PS exposure, whereas monensin or nigericin, which mimic or cause activation of NHE, respectively, reproduced the agonist effect. These data suggest a role for Na+ influx through NHE activation in the mechanism of PS exposure. This newly identified pathway does not discount a role for Ca2+, whose cytosolic concentration varies together with that of Na+ after agonist stimulation. Ca2+ deprivation from the incubation medium only attenuated PS exposure induced by thrombin, measured from the uptake of FM1-43 (a marker of phospholipid scrambling independent of external Ca2+). Surprisingly, removal of external Ca2+ partially reduced FM1-43 uptake induced by A23187, known as a Ca2+ ionophore. The residual effect can be attributed to an increase in [Na+]i mediated by the ionophore due to a lack of its specificity. Finally, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), previously reported as a target for Ca2+ in the induction of phospholipid scrambling, was involved in PS exposure through a regulation of NHE activity. All these results would indicate that the mechanism that results in PS exposure uses redundant pathways inextricably linked to the physio-pathological requirements of this process.

Identification of genes involved in Ca2+ ionophore A23187-mediated apoptosis and demonstration of a high susceptibility for transcriptional repression of cell cycle genes in B lymphoblasts from a patient with Scott syndrome

Background

In contrast to other agents able to induce apoptosis of cultured cells, Ca²⁺ ionophore A23187 was shown to elicit direct activation of intracellular signal(s). The phenotype of the cells derived from patients having the hemorrhagic disease Scott syndrome, is associated with an abnormally high proportion of apoptotic cells, both in basal culture medium and upon addition of low ionophore concentrations in long-term cultures. These features are presumably related to the mutation also responsible for the defective procoagulant plasma membrane remodeling. We analyzed the specific transcriptional re-programming induced by A23187 to get insights into the effect of this agent on gene expression and a defective gene regulation in Scott cells.

Results

The changes in gene expression upon 48 hours treatment with 200 nM A23187 were measured in Scott B lymphoblasts compared to B lymphoblasts derived from the patient's daughter or unrelated individuals using Affymetrix microarrays. In a similar manner in all of the B cell lines, results showed up-regulation of 55 genes, out of 12,000 represented sequences, involved in various pathways of the cell metabolism. In contrast, a group of 54 down-regulated genes, coding for histones and proteins involved in the cell cycle progression, was more significantly repressed in Scott B lymphoblasts than in the other cell lines. These data correlated with the alterations of the cell cycle phases in treated cells and suggested that the potent effect of A23187 in Scott B lymphoblasts may be the consequence of the underlying molecular defect.

Conclusion

The data illustrate that the ionophore A23187 exerts its pro-apoptotic effect by promoting a complex pattern of genetic changes. These results also suggest that a subset of genes participating in various steps of the cell cycle progress can be transcriptionally regulated in a coordinated fashion. Furthermore, this research brings a new insight into the defect in cultured Scott B lymphoblasts, leading to hypothesize that a mutated gene plays a role not only in membrane remodeling but also in signal transduction pathway(s) leading to altered transcriptional regulation of cell cycle genes.