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Mitochondrial [Ca 2+ ] plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial function, controlling ATP production and apoptosis triggered by mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload. This regulation depends on Ca 2+ entry into the mitochondria during cell activation processes, which is thought to occur through the mitochondrial Ca 2+ uniporter (MCU). Here, we have studied the mitochondrial Ca 2+ dynamics in control and MCU-defective C. elegans worms in vivo, by using worms expressing mitochondrially-targeted YC3.60 yellow cameleon in pharynx muscle. Our data show that the small mitochondrial Ca 2+ oscillations that occur during normal physiological activity of the pharynx were very similar in both control and MCU-defective worms, except for some kinetic differences that could mostly be explained by changes in neuronal stimulation of the pharynx. However, direct pharynx muscle stimulation with carbachol triggered a large and prolonged increase in mitochondrial [Ca 2+ ] that was much larger in control worms than in MCU-defective worms. This suggests that MCU is necessary for the fast mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake induced by large cell stimulations. However, low-amplitude mitochondrial Ca 2+ oscillations occurring under more physiological conditions are independent of the MCU and use a different Ca 2+ pathway.

Ca 2+ is a ubiquitous second messenger that plays an essential role in physiological processes such as muscle contraction, neuronal secretion, and cell proliferation or differentiation. There is ample evidence that the dysregulation of Ca 2+ signaling is one of the key events in the development of neurodegenerative processes, an idea called the "calcium hypothesis" of neurodegeneration. Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans ) is a very good model for the study of aging and neurodegeneration. In fact, many of the signaling pathways involved in longevity were first discovered in this nematode, and many models of neurodegenerative diseases have also been developed therein, either through mutations in the worm genome or by expressing human proteins involved in neurodegeneration (β-amyloid, α-synuclein, polyglutamine, or others) in defined worm tissues. The worm is completely transparent throughout its whole life, which makes it possible to carry out Ca 2+ dynamics studies in vivo at any time, by expressing Ca 2+ fluorescent probes in defined worm tissues, and even in specific organelles such as mitochondria. This review will summarize the evidence obtained using this model organism to understand the role of Ca 2+ signaling in aging and neurodegeneration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

The 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient-sensitive kinase that plays a key role in the control of cellular energy metabolism. We have explored here the relationship between AMPK and Ca 2+ signaling by looking at the effect of an AMPK activator (A769662) and an AMPK inhibitor (dorsomorphin) on histamine-induced Ca 2+ -release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in HeLa cells. Our data show that incubation with A769662 (EC 50  = 29 μM) inhibited histamine-induced Ca 2+ -release from the ER in intact cells, as well as inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 )-induced Ca 2+ release in permeabilized cells. On the contrary, dorsomorphin (EC 50  = 0.4 μM) activated both histamine and IP 3 -induced Ca 2+ -release and reversed the effect of A769662. These results suggest a direct effect of AMPK regulation on IP 3 receptor (IP 3 R) function. A phosphoproteomic study did not reveal changes in IP 3 R phosphorylation, but showed significant changes in phosphorylation of proteins placed upstream in the IP 3 R interactome and in several proteins related with Ca 2+ metabolism, which could be candidates to mediate the effects observed. In conclusion, our data suggest that AMPK negatively regulates IP 3 R. This effect constitutes a novel and very important link between Ca 2+ signaling and the AMPK pathway., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ca2+ is a key signal transducer for muscle contraction. Continuous in vivo monitoring of intracellular Ca2+-dynamics in C. elegans pharynx muscle revealed surprisingly complex Ca2+ patterns. Despite the age-dependent decline of pharynx pumping, we observed unaltered fast Ca2+ oscillations both in young and old worms. In addition, sporadic prolonged Ca2+ increases lasting many seconds or minutes were often observed in between periods of fast Ca2+ oscillations. We attribute them to the inhibition of ATP-dependent Ca2+-pumps upon energy depletion. Accordingly, food deprivation largely augmented the frequency of prolonged [Ca2+] increases. However, paradoxically, prolonged [Ca2+] increases were more frequently observed in young worms than in older ones, and less frequently observed in energy-deficient mitochondrial respiratory chain nuo-6 mutants than in wild-type controls. We hypothesize that young animals are more susceptible to energy depletion due to their faster energy consumption rate, while nuo-6 mutants may keep better the energy balance by slowing energy consumption. Our data therefore suggest that the metabolic state of the pharynx during feeding stimulation depends mainly on the delicate balance between the instant rates of energy production and consumption. Thus, in vivo monitoring of muscle Ca2+ dynamics can be used as a novel tool to study cellular energy availability.

MICU1 and MICU2 are the main regulators of the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-uniporter (MCU), but their precise functional role is still under debate. We show here that MICU2 behaves as a pure inhibitor of MCU at low cytosolic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)]c), though its effects decrease as [Ca(2+)]c is increased and disappear above 7 μM. Regarding MICU1, studying its effects is more difficult because knockdown of MICU1 leads also to loss of MICU2. However, while knockdown of MICU2 induces only a persistent increase in mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, knockdown of MICU1 also induces a peculiar use-dependent transient activation of MCU that cannot be attributed to the parallel loss of MICU2. Therefore, MICU1 is endowed with a specific inhibitory effect on MCU at low [Ca(2+)]c, separate and kinetically different from that of MICU2. On the other hand, we and others have shown previously that MICU1 activates MCU at [Ca(2+)]c above 2.5 μM. Thus, MICU1 has a double role in MCU regulation, inhibitory at low [Ca(2+)]c and activatory at high [Ca(2+)]c., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The role of mitochondria in intracellular Ca(2+) signaling relies mainly in its capacity to take up Ca(2+) from the cytosol and thus modulate the cytosolic [Ca(2+)]. Because of the low Ca(2+)-affinity of the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-uptake system, this organelle appears specially adapted to take up Ca(2+) from local high-Ca(2+) microdomains and not from the bulk cytosol. Mitochondria would then act as local Ca(2+) buffers in cellular regions where high-Ca(2+) microdomains form, that is, mainly close to the cytosolic mouth of Ca(2+) channels, both in the plasma membrane and in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). One of the first targets proposed already in the 1990s to be regulated in this way by mitochondria were the store-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCE). Mitochondria, by taking up Ca(2+) from the region around the cytosolic mouth of the SOCE channels, would prevent its slow Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation, thus keeping them active for longer. Since then, evidence for this mechanism has accumulated mainly in immunitary cells, where mitochondria actually move towards the immune synapse during T cell activation. However, in many other cell types the available data indicate that the close apposition between plasma and ER membranes occurring during SOCE activation precludes mitochondria from getting close to the Ca(2+)-entry sites. Alternative pathways for mitochondrial modulation of SOCE, both Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent, have also been proposed, but further work will be required to elucidate the actual mechanisms at work. Hopefully, the recent knowledge of the molecular nature of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter will allow soon more precise studies on this matter.

MICU1 (Ca2+ uptake protein 1, mitochondrial) is an important regulator of the MCU (Ca2+ uniporter protein, mitochondrial) that has been shown recently to act as a gatekeeper of the MCU at low [Ca2+]c (cytosolic [Ca2+]). In the present study we have investigated in detail the dynamics of MCU activity after shRNA-knockdown of MICU1 and we have found several new interesting properties. In MICU1-knockdown cells, the rate of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was largely increased at a low [Ca2+]c (<2 μM), but it was decreased at a high [Ca2+]c (>4 μM). In the 2-4 μM range a mixed behaviour was observed, where mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake started earlier in the MICU1-silenced cells, but at a lower rate than in the controls. The sensitivity of Ca2+ uptake to Ruthenium Red and Ru360 was similar at both high and low [Ca2+]c, indicating that the same Ca2+ pathway was operating in both cases. The increased Ca2+-uptake rate observed at a [Ca2+]c below 2 μM was transient and became inhibited during Ca2+ entry. Development of this inhibition was slow, requiring 5 min for completion, and was hardly reversible. Therefore MICU1 acts both as a MCU gatekeeper at low [Ca2+]c and as a cofactor necessary to reach the maximum Ca2+-uptake rate at high [Ca2+]c. Moreover, in the absence of MICU1, the MCU becomes sensitive to a slow-developing inhibition that requires prolonged increases in [Ca2+]c in the low micromolar range.

We use here a new very low-Ca(2+)-affinity targeted aequorin to measure the [Ca(2+)] in the endoplasmic reticulum ([Ca(2+)]ER). The new aequorin chimera has the right Ca(2+)-affinity to make long-lasting measurements of [Ca(2+)]ER in the millimolar range. Moreover, previous Ca(2+)-depletion of the ER is no longer required. The steady-state [Ca(2+)]ER obtained is 1-2 mM, higher than previously reported. In addition, we find evidence that there is significant heterogeneity in [Ca(2+)]ER among different regions of the ER. About half of the ER had a [Ca(2+)]ER of 1 mM or below, and the rest had [Ca(2+)]ER values above 1mM and in some parts even above 2 mM. About 5% of the ER was also found to have high [Ca(2+)]ER levels but to be thapsigargin-insensitive and inositol trisphosphate insensitive. The rate of refilling with Ca(2+) of the ER was almost linearly dependent on the extracellular [Ca(2+)] between 0.1 and 3 mM, and was only partially affected by mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Instead, it was significantly reduced by loading cells with chelators, and the fast chelator BAPTA was much more effective than the slow chelator EGTA. This suggests that local [Ca(2+)] microdomains connecting the store operated Ca(2+) channels with the ER Ca(2+) pumps may be important during refilling., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondria have a very large capacity to accumulate Ca(2+) during cell stimulation driven by the mitochondrial membrane potential. Under these conditions, [Ca(2+)](M) (mitochondrial [Ca(2+)]) may well reach millimolar levels in a few seconds. Measuring the dynamics of [Ca(2+)](M) during prolonged stimulation has been previously precluded by the high Ca(2+) affinity of the probes available. We have now developed a mitochondrially targeted double-mutated form of the photoprotein aequorin which is able to measure [Ca(2+)] in the millimolar range for long periods of time without problems derived from aequorin consumption. We show in the present study that addition of Ca(2+) to permeabilized HeLa cells triggers an increase in [Ca(2+)](M) up to an steady state of approximately 2-3 mM in the absence of phosphate and 0.5-1 mM in the presence of phosphate, suggesting buffering or precipitation of calcium phosphate when the free [Ca(2+)] reaches 0.5-1 mM. Mitochondrial pH acidification partially re-dissolved these complexes. These millimolar [Ca(2+)](M) levels were stable for long periods of time provided the mitochondrial membrane potential was not collapsed. Silencing of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter largely reduced the rate of [Ca(2+)](M) increase, but the final steady-state [Ca(2+)](M) reached was similar. In intact cells, the new probe allows monitoring of agonist-induced increases of [Ca(2+)](M) without problems derived from aequorin consumption.

Available methods to measure mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](M)) include both targeted proteins and fluorescent dyes. Targeted proteins usually report much higher [Ca(2+)](M) values than fluorescent dyes, up to two orders of magnitude. However, we show here that the low-Ca(2+)-affinity dye rhod-5N provides [Ca(2+)](M) values similar to those reported by targeted aequorin, suggesting that the discrepancies are mainly due to the higher Ca(2+)-affinity of the fluorescent dyes used. We find rhod-5N has an apparent in situ intramitochondrial Kd around 0.5mM. Addition of Ca(2+) buffers containing between 4.5 and 10μM [Ca(2+)] to permeabilized cells loaded with rhod-5N induced increases in calibrated [Ca(2+)](M) up to the 100μM-1mM range, which were dependent on mitochondrial membrane potential. Ca(2+) release from mitochondria was largely dependent on [Na(+)]. We have then used rhod-5N loaded cells to investigate the [Ca(2+)](M) response to agonist stimulation at the single-cell and subcellular level. The [Ca(2+)](M) peaks induced by histamine varied by nearly 10-fold among different cells, with a mean about 25μM. In the presence of the Ca(2+) uniporter stimulator kaempferol, the [Ca(2+)](M) peaks induced by histamine were also highly variable, and the mean [Ca(2+)](M) peak was 3-fold higher. Simultaneous measurement of cytosolic and mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] peaks showed little correlation among the heights of the peaks in both compartments. Studying the [Ca(2+)](M) peaks at the subcellular level, we found significant heterogeneities among regions in the same cell. In particular, the [Ca(2+)](M) increase in mitochondrial regions close to the nucleus was more than double that of mitochondrial regions far from the nucleus., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We have investigated the kinetics of mitochondrial Ca(2+) influx and efflux and their dependence on cytosolic [Ca(2+)] and [Na(+)] using low-Ca(2+)-affinity aequorin. The rate of Ca(2+) release from mitochondria increased linearly with mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](M)). Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) release was predominant al low [Ca(2+)](M) but saturated at [Ca(2+)](M) around 400muM, while Na(+)-independent Ca(2+) release was very slow at [Ca(2+)](M) below 200muM, and then increased at higher [Ca(2+)](M), perhaps through the opening of a new pathway. Half-maximal activation of Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) release occurred at 5-10mM [Na(+)], within the physiological range of cytosolic [Na(+)]. Ca(2+) entry rates were comparable in size to Ca(2+) exit rates at cytosolic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](c)) below 7muM, but the rate of uptake was dramatically accelerated at higher [Ca(2+)](c). As a consequence, the presence of [Na(+)] considerably reduced the rate of [Ca(2+)](M) increase at [Ca(2+)](c) below 7muM, but its effect was hardly appreciable at 10muM [Ca(2+)](c). Exit rates were more dependent on the temperature than uptake rates, thus making the [Ca(2+)](M) transients to be much more prolonged at lower temperature. Our kinetic data suggest that mitochondria have little high affinity Ca(2+) buffering, and comparison of our results with data on total mitochondrial Ca(2+) fluxes indicate that the mitochondrial Ca(2+) bound/Ca(2+) free ratio is around 10- to 100-fold for most of the observed [Ca(2+)](M) range and suggest that massive phosphate precipitation can only occur when [Ca(2+)](M) reaches the millimolar range., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The dynamics of mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](M)) plays a key role in a variety of cellular processes. The most important methods available to monitor [Ca(2+)](M) are fluorescent dyes such as rhod-2 and specifically targeted proteins such as aequorin and pericam. However, significant discrepancies, both quantitative and qualitative, exist in the literature between the results obtained with different methods. We have made here a systematic comparison of the response of several fluorescent dyes, rhod-2 and rhod-FF, and two Ca(2+)-sensitive proteins, aequorin and pericam. Our results show that measurements obtained with aequorin and pericam are consistent in terms of dynamic Ca(2+) changes. Instead, fluorescent dyes failed to follow Ca(2+) changes adequately, especially during repetitive stimulation. In particular, measures obtained with rhod-2 or rhod-FF evidenced the previously reported Ca(2+)-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, but data obtained with aequorin or pericam under the same conditions did not. The reason for the loss of response of fluorescent dyes is unclear. Loading with these dyes produced changes in mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential, which were small and reversible at low concentrations (1-2 microM), but produced large and prolonged damage at higher concentrations. In addition, cells loaded with low concentrations of rhod-2 suffered large changes in mitochondrial morphology after light excitation. Our results suggest that [Ca(2+)](M) data obtained with these dyes should be taken with care., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We study the effect of Ca(2+) on the lateral segregation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) (3:1, mol/mol). Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Since SLBs are formed from liposomes of POPE:POPG, we examined the effect of calcium on these suspensions by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P NMR). AFM images revealed the existence of two separated phases, the higher showing a region with protruding subdomains. Force spectroscopy (FS) was applied to clarify the nature of each phase. The values of breakthrough force (F(y)), adhesion force (F(adh)), and height extracted from the force curves were assigned to the corresponding gel (L(beta)) and fluid (L(alpha)) phase. The endotherms obtained by DSC suggest that, in the presence of Ca(2+), phase separation already exists in the suspensions of POPE:POPG used to form SLBs. Due to the temperature changes applied during preparation of SLBs a (31)P NMR study was performed to assess the lamellar nature of the samples before spreading them onto mica. With in situ AFM experiments we showed that the binding of Ca(2+) to POPG-enriched domains only induces the formation of subdomains in the L(beta) phase.

Mitochondrial Ca(2+) activates many processes, from mitochondrial metabolism to opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and apoptosis. However, there is considerable controversy regarding the free mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](M)) levels that can be attained during cell activation or even in mitochondrial preparations. Studies using fluorescent dyes (rhod-2 or similar), have reported that phosphate precipitation precludes [Ca(2+)](M) from increasing above 2-3 microM. Instead, using low-Ca(2+)-affinity aequorin probes, we have measured [Ca(2+)](M) values more than two orders of magnitude higher. We confirm here these values by making a direct in situ calibration of mitochondrial aequorin, and we show that a prolonged increase in [Ca(2+)](M) to levels of 0.5-1mM was actually observed at any phosphate concentration (0-10mM) during continuous perfusion of 3.5-100 microM Ca(2+)-buffers. In spite of this high and maintained (>10 min) [Ca(2+)](M), mitochondria retained functionality and the [Ca(2+)](M) drop induced by a protonophore was fully reversible. In addition, this high [Ca(2+)](M) did not induce PTP opening unless additional activators (phenyl arsine oxide, PAO) were present. PAO induced a rapid, concentration-dependent and irreversible drop in [Ca(2+)](M). In conclusion [Ca(2+)](M) levels of 0.5-1mM can be reached and maintained for prolonged periods (>10 min) in phosphate-containing medium, and massive opening of PTP requires additional pore activators.

The secretory granules constitute one of the less well-known compartments in terms of Ca2+ dynamics. They contain large amounts of total Ca2+, but the free intragranular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]SG), the mechanisms for Ca2+ uptake and release from the granules and their physiological significance regarding exocytosis are still matters of debate. We used in the present work an aequorin chimera targeted to the granules to investigate [Ca2+]SG homeostasis in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. We found that most of the intracellular aequorin chimera is present in a compartment with 50-100 microM Ca2+. Ca2+ accumulation into this compartment takes place mainly through an ATP-dependent mechanism, namely, a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+-ATPase. In addition, fast Ca2+ release was observed in permeabilized cells after addition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) or caffeine, suggesting the presence of InsP3 and ryanodine receptors in the vesicular membrane. Stimulation of intact cells with the InsP3-producing agonist histamine or with caffeine also induced Ca2+ release from the vesicles, whereas acetylcholine or high-[K+] depolarization induced biphasic changes in vesicular[Ca2+], suggesting heterogeneous responses of different vesicle populations, some of them releasing and some taking up Ca2+during stimulation. In conclusion, our data show that chromaffin cell secretory granules have the machinery required for rapid uptake and release of Ca2+, and this strongly supports the hypothesis that granular Ca2+ may contribute to its own secretion.

The recent availability of activators of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter allows direct testing of the influence of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake on the overall Ca(2+) homeostasis of the cell. We show here that activation of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake by 4,4',4''-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT) or kaempferol stimulates histamine-induced Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that this effect is enhanced if the mitochondrial Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger is simultaneously inhibited with CGP37157. This suggests that both Ca(2+) uptake and release from mitochondria control the ability of local Ca(2+) microdomains to produce feedback inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP(3)Rs). In addition, the ability of mitochondria to control Ca(2+) release from the ER allows them to modulate cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations. In histamine stimulated HeLa cells and human fibroblasts, both PPT and kaempferol initially stimulated and later inhibited oscillations, although kaempferol usually induced a more prolonged period of stimulation. Both compounds were also able to induce the generation of Ca(2+) oscillations in previously silent fibroblasts. Our data suggest that cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations are exquisitely sensitive to the rates of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and release, which precisely control the size of the local Ca(2+) microdomains around InsP(3)Rs and thus the ability to produce feedback activation or inhibition of Ca(2+) release.

There is increasing evidence that mitochondria play an important role in the control of cytosolic Ca2+ signaling. We show here that the main mitochondrial Ca2+-exit pathway, the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, controls the pattern of cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations in non-excitable cells. In HeLa cells, the inhibitor of the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger CGP37157 changed the pattern of the oscillations induced by histamine from a high-frequency irregular one to a lower frequency baseline spike type, surprisingly with little changes in the average Ca2+ values of a large cell population. In human fibroblasts, CGP37157 increased the frequency of the baseline oscillations in cells having spontaneous activity and induced the generation of oscillations in cells without spontaneous activity. This effect was dose-dependent, disappeared when the inhibitor was washed out and was not mimicked by mitochondrial depolarization. CGP37157 increased mitochondrial [Ca2+] and ATP production in histamine-stimulated HeLa cells, but the effect on ATP production was only transient. CGP37157 also activated histamine-induced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and increased the size of the cytosolic Ca2+ peak induced by histamine in HeLa cells. Our results suggest that the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger directly modulates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release and in that way controls cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations.

Ca(2+) uptake by mitochondria is a key element in the control of cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and Ca(2+)-dependent phenomena. It has been known for many years that this Ca(2+) uptake is mediated by the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter, a specific Ca(2+) channel of the inner mitochondrial membrane. We have shown previously that this channel is strongly activated by a series of natural phytoestrogenic flavonoids. We show here that several agonists and antagonists of estrogen receptors (ERs) also modulate the activity of the uniporter. The specific alpha-ER agonist 4,4',4''-(4-propyl-[1H]-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)trisphenol (PPT) was the strongest activator, increasing the rate of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake in permeabilized HeLa cells by 10-fold at 2 microM. Consistently, PPT largely increased the histamine-induced mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] peak and reduced the cytosolic one. Diethylstilbestrol and 17-beta-estradiol (but not 17-alpha-estradiol) were active at pharmacological concentrations while the beta-estrogen-receptor agonist 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN) was little effective. The ER modulators tamoxifen and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen inhibited mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake (IC(50) 2.5+/-1.5 and 2.5+/-1.4 microM, mean+/-s.d., respectively) both in the presence and in the absence of PPT, but raloxifene and the pure estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780 produced no effect. Activation by PPT was immediate and inhibition by tamoxifen or 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen required only 5 min to reach maximum. Tamoxifen did not modify mitochondrial membrane potential and PPT induced a slow mitochondrial depolarization at higher concentrations than those required to activate mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake. These results suggest that some kind of ER or related protein located in mitochondria controls the activity of the Ca(2+) uniporter by a nongenomic mechanism. This novel mechanism of action of estrogen agonists and antagonists can provide a new interpretation for several previously reported effects of these compounds.

We have used an aequorin chimera targeted to the membrane of the secretory granules to monitor the free [Ca(2+)] inside them in neurosecretory PC12 cells. More than 95% of the probe was located in a compartment with an homogeneous [Ca(2+)] around 40 microM. Cell stimulation with either ATP, caffeine or high-K(+) depolarization increased cytosolic [Ca(2+)] and decreased secretory granule [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](SG)). Inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate, cyclic ADP ribose and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate were all ineffective to release Ca(2+) from the granules. Changes in cytosolic [Na(+)] (0-140 mM) or [Ca(2+)] (0-10 microM) did not modify either ([Ca(2+)](SG)). Instead, [Ca(2+)](SG) was highly sensitive to changes in the pH gradient between the cytosol and the granules. Both carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) and nigericin, as well as cytosolic acidification, reversibly decreased [Ca(2+)](SG), while cytosolic alcalinization reversibly increased [Ca(2+)](SG). These results are consistent with the operation of a H(+)/Ca(2+) antiporter in the vesicular membrane. This antiporter could also mediate the effects of ATP, caffeine and high-K(+) on [Ca(2+)](SG), because all of them induced a transient cytosolic acidification. The FCCP-induced decrease in [Ca(2+)](SG) was reversible in 10-15 min even in the absence of cytosolic Ca(2+) or ATP, suggesting that most of the calcium content of the vesicles is bound to a slowly exchanging Ca(2+) buffer. This large store buffers [Ca(2+)](SG) changes in the long-term but allows highly dynamic free [Ca(2+)](SG) changes to occur in seconds or minutes.

During cell activation, mitochondria play an important role in Ca2+ homoeostasis due to the presence of a fast and specific Ca2+ channel in its inner membrane, the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. This channel allows mitochondria to buffer local cytosolic [Ca2+] changes and controls the intramitochondrial Ca2+ levels, thus modulating a variety of phenomena from respiratory rate to apoptosis. We have described recently that SB202190, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), strongly activated the uniporter. We show in the present study that a series of natural plant flavonoids, widely distributed in foods, produced also a strong stimulation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. This effect was of the same magnitude as that induced by SB202190 (an approx. 20-fold increase in the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake rate), developed without measurable delay and was rapidly reversible. In intact cells, the mitochondrial Ca2+ peak induced by histamine was also largely increased by the flavonoids. Stimulation of the uniporter by either flavonoids or SB202190 did not require ATP, suggesting a direct effect on the uniporter or an associated protein which is not mediated by protein phosphorylation. The most active compound, kaempferol, increased the rate of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by 85+/-15% (mean+/-S.E.M., n=4) and the histamine-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ peak by 139+/-19% (mean+/-S.E.M., n=5) at a concentration of 1 microM. Given that flavonoids can reach this concentration range in plasma after ingestion of flavonoid-rich food, these compounds could be modulating the uniporter under physiological conditions.

1. Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a widely used compound because of its potent immunosupressive properties, derived mainly from the inhibition of calcineurin, and also because of its ability to block the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). This second effect has been involved in the protection against apoptosis mediated by release of mitochondrial factors. We show here that CsA (1-10 microm) has an additional effect on Ca(2+) homeostasis in mitochondria that cannot be attributed to inhibition of PTP. 2. By measuring specifically mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] with targeted aequorin, we show that CsA inhibited Ca(2+) entry into mitochondria both in intact and in permeabilized cells, and this effect was stronger when Ca(2+) entry was triggered by low cytosolic [Ca(2+)], below 5 microm. 3. Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake required micromolar concentrations of CsA and was not mimicked by other inhibitors of calcineurin such as FK-506 or cypermethrin, nor by a different inhibitor of the PTP, bongkrekic acid. 4. CsA blocked the increase in mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake rate induced by the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter activator SB202190. 5. Our results suggest that CsA inhibits Ca(2+) entry through the Ca(2+) uniporter by a mechanism independent of the inhibition of PTP or calcineurin. This effect may contribute to reduce depolarization and Ca(2+) overloading in mitochondria after cell stimulation, and thus cooperate with the direct inhibition of PTP to prevent apoptosis.

In HeLa cells, histamine induces production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Ca2+ release is typically biphasic, with a fast and brief initial phase, followed by a much slower and prolonged one. In the presence of inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), including staurosporine and the specific inhibitors GF109203X and Ro-31-8220, the fast phase continued until the ER became fully empty. On the contrary, treatment with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate inhibited Ca2+ release. Staurosporine had no effect on InsP3-induced Ca2+ release in permeabilized cells and did not modify either histamine-induced InsP3 production. These data suggest that histamine induces Ca2+ release and with a short lag activates PKC to down-regulate it. Consistently, Ca2+ oscillations induced by histamine were increased in amplitude and decreased in frequency in the presence of PKC inhibitors. We show also that mitochondrial [Ca2+] was much more sensitive to changes in ER-Ca2+ release induced by PKC modulation than cytosolic [Ca2+]. PKC inhibitors increased the histamine-induced mitochondrial [Ca2+] peak by 4-fold but increased the cytosolic [Ca2+] peak only by 20%. On the contrary, PKC activation inhibited the mitochondrial [Ca2+] peak by 90% and the cytosolic one by only 50%. Similarly, the combination of PKC inhibitors with the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter activator SB202190 led to dramatic increases in mitochondrial [Ca2+] peaks, with little effect on cytosolic ones. This suggests that activation of ER-Ca2+ release by PKC inhibitors could be involved in apoptosis induced by staurosporine. In addition, these mechanisms allow flexible and independent regulation of cytosolic and mitochondrial [Ca2+] during cell stimulation.

The photoprotein aequorin was the first probe used to measure specifically the [Ca(2+)] inside the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum ([Ca(2+)](ER)) of intact cells and it provides values for the steady-state [Ca(2+)](ER), around 500 microM, that closely match those obtained now by other procedures. Aequorin-based methods to measure [Ca(2+)](ER) offer several advantages: (i) targeting of the probe is extremely precise; (ii) the use of low Ca(2+)-affinity aequorin allows covering a large dynamic range of [Ca(2+)], from 10(-5) to 10(-3)M; (iii) aequorin is nearly insensitive to changes in Mg(2+) or pH, has a high signal-to-noise ratio and calibration of the results in [Ca(2+)] is made straightforward using a simple algorithm; and (iv) the equipment required for luminescence measurements in cell populations is simple and low-cost. On the negative side, this technique has also some disadvantages: (i) the relatively low amount of emitted light makes difficult performing single-cell imaging studies; (ii) reconstitution of aequorin with coelenterazine requires previous complete depletion of Ca(2+) of the ER for 1-2h, a maneuver that may result in deleterious effects in some cells; (iii) because of the high rate of aequorin consumption at steady-state [Ca(2+)](ER), only relatively brief experiments can be performed; and (iv) expression of ER-targeted aequorin requires previous transfection or infection to introduce the appropriate DNA construct, or alternatively the use of stable cell clones. Choosing aequorin or other techniques to measure [Ca(2+)](ER) will depend of the correct balance between these properties in a particular problem.

In the last years, intracellular organella have emerged as key components in the generation and transduction of Ca(2+) signals in adrenal chromaffin cells. Therefore, accurate measurements of Ca(2+) inside cytoplasmic organella are essential for a comprehensive analysis of the Ca(2+) redistribution that follows cell stimulation. We have engineered the Ca(2+)-sensitive photoprotein aequorin to monitor selectively Ca(2+) within the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria. The targeted aequorins were delivered to the appropriate organelles of bovine chromaffin cells by using a herpes simplex virus-based amplicon vector, which permits efficient gene transfer and high levels of expression in infected cells. We have investigated the relationship between the caffeine and InsP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) pools and the presence of the Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) mechanism in chromaffin cells. We find that ER Ca(2+) pools responding to caffeine and to InsP(3) mostly overlap and that CICR can be induced by Ca(2+) entry elicited by high K(+) depolarization. Moreover, the activation of Ca(2+) channels, either the voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels on the plasma membrane or the channels on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), generates subplasmalemmal high [Ca(2+)](c) domains that induce Ca(2+) uptake by mitochondria. Interestingly, only a subpopulation of mitochondria, the one contained in the pool located close to the plasma membrane and the ryanodine receptors, take up Ca(2+) efficiently, and the [Ca(2+)](M) reaches values of 300-500 micro M.

Ca(2+) uptake by mitochondria is a potentially important buffering system able to control cytosolic [Ca(2+)]. In chromaffin cells, we have shown previously that stimulation of either Ca(2+) entry or Ca(2+) release via ryanodine receptors triggers large increases in mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](M)) approaching the millimolar range, whose blockade dramatically enhances catecholamine secretion [Montero, Alonso, Carnicero, Cuchillo-Ibañez, Albillos, Garcia, Carcia-Sancho and Alvarez (2000) Nat. Cell Biol. 2, 57-61]. In the present study, we have studied the effect of stimulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) receptors using histamine. We find that histamine produces a heterogeneous increase in [Ca(2+)](M), reaching peak levels at approx. 1 microM in 70% of the mitochondrial space to several hundred micromolar in 2-3% of mitochondria. Intermediate levels were found in the rest of the mitochondrial space. Single-cell imaging experiments with aequorin showed that the heterogeneity had both an intercellular and a subcellular origin. Those mitochondria responding to histamine with increases in [Ca(2+)](M) much greater than 1 microM (30%) were the same as those that also responded with large increases in [Ca(2+)](M) following stimulation with either high-K(+) medium or caffeine. Blocking mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake with protonophores or mitochondrial inhibitors also enhanced catecholamine secretion induced by histamine. These results suggest that some InsP(3) receptors tightly co-localize with ryanodine receptors and voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels in defined subplasmalemmal functional units designed to control secretion induced by different stimuli.

Recent results indicate that Ca2+ transport by organella contributes to shaping Ca2+ signals and exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells. Therefore, accurate measurements of [Ca2+] inside cytoplasmic organella are essential for a comprehensive analysis of the Ca2+ redistribution that follows cell stimulation. Here we have studied changes in Ca2+ inside the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and nucleus by imaging aequorins targeted to these compartments in cells stimulated by brief depolarizing pulses with high K+ solutions. We find that Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels generates subplasmalemmal high [Ca2+]c domains adequate for triggering exocytosis. A smaller increase of [Ca2+]c is produced in the cell core, which is adequate for recruitment of the reserve pool of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Most of the Ca2+ load is taken up by a mitochondrial pool, M1, closer to the plasma membrane; the increase of [Ca2+]M stimulates respiration in these mitochondria, providing local support for the exocytotic process. Relaxation of the [Ca2+]c transient is due to Ca2+ extrusion through the plasma membrane. At this stage, mitochondria release Ca2+ to the cytosol through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, thus maintaining [Ca2+]c discretely increased, especially at core regions of the cell, for periods that outlast the duration of the stimulus.

The oxidizing thiol reagent, thimerosal, has been shown to activate reversibly the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) receptor in several cell types. We have studied here the effects of thimerosal by monitoring the [Ca(2+)] inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of intact HeLa cells with targeted aequorin. We show that thimerosal produced little effects on the ER-Ca(2+)-pump and only slightly increased the ER-Ca(2+)-leak in intact cells. Instead, thimerosal increased the sensitivity to histamine of ER-Ca(2+)-release by about two orders of magnitude, made the response much more prolonged at saturating histamine concentrations and enhanced both cytosolic and mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] responses to histamine. Moreover, inhibition of ER-Ca(2+)release by cytosolic [Ca(2+)] microdomains was fully preserved and sensitive to BAPTA-loading, and histamine-induced Ca(2+) release remained quantal in the presence of both thimerosal and intracellular BAPTA. The effects of thimerosal were reversible in the presence of dithiotreitol, suggesting the possible presence of a physiological redox regulatory mechanism. However, in permeabilized cells thimerosal potentiated InsP(3)-induced Ca(2+) release but oxidized glutathione had no effect. In addition, thimerosal increased the [Ca(2+)](ER) steady-state level in permeabilized cells. Thimerosal partially inhibited also plasma membrane Ca(2+)extrusion and increased Ca(2+)(Mn(2+)) entry through the plasma membrane, both phenomena contributing to increase the steady-state cytosolic [Ca(2+)]. Thimerosal-induced Ca(2+) entry was additive to that induced by emptying of the ER, suggesting that store-operated Ca(2+) channels may not be involved. These results provide new insights on the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of InsP(3) receptors., (Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.)

In chromaffin cells, plasma membrane calcium (Ca2+) channels and mitochondria constitute defined functional units controlling the availability of Ca2+ nearby exocytotic sites. We show here that, when L-/N-type Ca2+ channels were inhibited with nisoldipine and omega-conotoxin GVIA, cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) peaks measured in fura-4F-loaded cells were reduced by 36%; however, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was unaffected and secretion was potentiated by protonophores as in control cells. By contrast, when non L-type Ca2+ channels were inhibited with omega-conotoxin MVIIC, [Ca2+]c peaks induced by high K+ were reduced by 73%, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was abolished, and secretion was not modified by protonophores. However, if Ca2+ entered only through L-type channels activated by FPL64176, high K+ stimulation induced fast mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and catecholamine secretion was strongly increased and potentiated by protonophores. These results confirm the close association of catecholamine secretion to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and indicate the sharp threshold of local [Ca2+]c (about 5 microM) required for triggering fast mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake that is able to modulate secretion. The entry of Ca2+ through L-type channels generated local [Ca2+]c increases just below that, inducing little mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake unless FPL64176 was present. By contrast, Ca2+ entry through P/Q-type channels fully activated mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Control of secretion by mitochondria therefore depends critically on the ability of the stimulus to create large local [Ca2+]c microdomains.

We have reported that a population of chromaffin cell mitochondria takes up large amounts of Ca(2+) during cell stimulation. The present study focuses on the pathways for mitochondrial Ca(2+) efflux. Treatment with protonophores before cell stimulation abolished mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and increased the cytosolic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](c)) peak induced by the stimulus. Instead, when protonophores were added after cell stimulation, they did not modify [Ca(2+)](c) kinetics and inhibited Ca(2+) release from Ca(2+)-loaded mitochondria. This effect was due to inhibition of mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange, because blocking this system with CGP37157 produced no further effect. Increasing extramitochondrial [Ca(2+)](c) triggered fast Ca(2+) release from these depolarized Ca(2+)-loaded mitochondria, both in intact or permeabilized cells. These effects of protonophores were mimicked by valinomycin, but not by nigericin. The observed mitochondrial Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release response was insensitive to cyclosporin A and CGP37157 but fully blocked by ruthenium red, suggesting that it may be mediated by reversal of the Ca(2+) uniporter. This novel kind of mitochondrial Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release might contribute to Ca(2+) clearance from mitochondria that become depolarized during Ca(2+) overload.

Activation of calcium-ion (Ca2+) channels on the plasma membrane and on intracellular Ca2+ stores, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, generates local transient increases in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration that induce Ca2+ uptake by neighbouring mitochondria. Here, by using mitochondrially targeted aequorin proteins with different Ca2+ affinities, we show that half of the chromaffin-cell mitochondria exhibit surprisingly rapid millimolar Ca2+ transients upon stimulation of cells with acetylcholine, caffeine or high concentrations of potassium ions. Our results show a tight functional coupling of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels on the plasma membrane, ryanodine receptors on the endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. Cell stimulation generates localized Ca2+ transients, with Ca2+ concentrations above 20-40 microM, at these functional units. Protonophores abolish mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and increase stimulated secretion of catecholamines by three- to fivefold. These results indicate that mitochondria modulate secretion by controlling the availability of Ca2+ for exocytosis.

1. The novel antimigraineur, dotarizine (30 microM), increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]c, in fura-2-loaded bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. This increase was transient, reached a peak in about 2 - 5 min (0.53+/-0.07 microM; n=19) and then declined to basal levels over a further 5 min period. 2. This transient rise of [Ca2+]c was mimicked by 1 microM thapsigargin and by 30 microM cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), but not by 30 microM flunarizine. Both thapsigargin and CPA occluded the effects of dotarizine and vice versa. 3. All three compounds suppressed the transient [Ca2+]c rises induced by caffeine (10 mM, 10 s); blockade induced by thapsigargin was irreversible and that induced by CPA and dotarizine was reversible. 4. Of the three compounds, only dotarizine blocked reversibly the [Ca2+]c spikes induced by short pulses of high K+ (70 mM, 5 s), suggesting that dotarizine blocks voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels but CPA and thapsigargin do not. 5. Dotarizine caused a gradual and reversible depletion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ in chromaffin cells transfected with ER-targeted aequorin. CPA had a similar effect. 6. These data show that dotarizine shares with thapsigargin and CPA the ability to deplete Ca2+ in the ER; this novel action of dotarizine could be relevant to its prophylactic effects in migraine. Unlike thapsigargin and CPA, however, dotarizine additionally and reversibly blocks Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

The effect of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) on intracellular Ca2+ signaling in human astrocytoma cells was studied. sPLA2 increased cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) in both Ca2+-containing and Ca2+-free medium, thus suggesting Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. The activation by sPLA2 of arachidonate release via cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) was also independent of extracellular Ca2+. As sPLA2 requires Ca2+ for activity, these results indicate that both Ca2+ mobilization and cPLA2 activation induced by sPLA2 are unrelated to phospholipase activity but dependent on signaling mechanisms. The sPLA2-induced [Ca2+]c peak was sensitive to Bordetella pertussis toxin and inhibited by caffeine, suggesting its mediation by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). sPLA2 induced tyrosine phosphorylation and membrane targeting of phospholipase Cgamma-1 (PLCgamma-1). Moreover, the Ca2+ peak was sensitive to protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. sPLA2 activates two signaling pathways: one leading to the activation of the MAP kinase/cPLA2 cascade and another leading to PLCgamma activation and Ca2+ release., (Copyright 1999 Academic Press.)

The presence and physiological role of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) in nonmuscle excitable cells has been investigated only indirectly through measurements of cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c). Using targeted aequorin, we have directly monitored [Ca2+] changes inside the ER ([Ca2+]ER) in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Ca2+ entry induced by cell depolarization triggered a transient Ca2+ release from the ER that was highly dependent on [Ca2+]ER and sensitized by low concentrations of caffeine. Caffeine-induced Ca2+ release was quantal in nature due to modulation by [Ca2+]ER. Whereas caffeine released essentially all the Ca2+ from the ER, inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (InsP3)- producing agonists released only 60-80%. Both InsP3 and caffeine emptied completely the ER in digitonin-permeabilized cells whereas cyclic ADP-ribose had no effect. Ryanodine induced permanent emptying of the Ca2+ stores in a use-dependent manner after activation by caffeine. Fast confocal [Ca2+]c measurements showed that the wave of [Ca2+]c induced by 100-ms depolarizing pulses in voltage-clamped cells was delayed and reduced in intensity in ryanodine-treated cells. Our results indicate that the ER of chromaffin cells behaves mostly as a single homogeneous thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pool that can release Ca2+ both via InsP3 receptors or CICR.

Changes in the free calcium concentration of the endoplasmic reticulum ([Ca2+]er) play a central role controlling cellular functions like contraction, secretion or neuronal signaling. We recently reported that recombinant aequorin targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) [Montero M., Brini M., Marsault R. et al. Monitoring dynamic changes in free Ca2+ concentration in the endoplasmic reticulum of intact cells. EMBO J 1995; 14: 5467-5475, Montero M., Barrero M.J., Alvarez J. [Ca2+] microdomains control agonist-induced Ca2+ release in intact cells. FASEB J 1997; 11: 881-886] can be used to monitor selectively [Ca2+]er in intact HeLa cells. Here we have used a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) based system to deliver targeted aequorin into a number of different cell types including both postmitotic primary cells (anterior pituitary cells, chromaffin cells and cerebellar neurons) and cell lines (HeLa, NIH3T3, GH3 and PC12 cells). Functional studies showed that the steady state lumenal [Ca2+]er ranged from around 300 microM in granule cells to 800 microM in GH3 cells. InsP3-coupled receptor stimulation with agonists like histamine (in HeLa, NIH3T3 and chromaffin cells), UTP and bradykinin (in PC12 cells) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, in GH3 cells) produced a very rapid decrease in lumenal [Ca2+]er. Caffeine caused a rapid Ca2+ depletion of the ER in chromaffin cells, but not in the other cell types. Depolarization by high K+ produced an immediate and reversible increase of [Ca2+]er in all the excitable cells (anterior pituitary, GH3, chromaffin cells and granule neurons). We conclude that delivery of recombinant aequorin to the ER using HSV amplicon provides the first direct quantitative and dynamic measurements of [Ca2+]er in several primary non-dividing cells.

Two recombinant aequorin isoforms with different Ca2+ affinities, specifically targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), were used in parallel to investigate free Ca2+ homeostasis in the lumen of this organelle. Here we show that, although identically and homogeneously distributed in the ER system, as revealed by both immunocytochemical and functional evidence, the two aequorins measured apparently very different concentrations of divalent cations ([Ca2+]er or [Sr2+]er). Our data demonstrate that this contradiction is due to the heterogeneity of the [Ca2+] of the aequorin-enclosing endomembrane system. Because of the characteristics of the calibration procedure used to convert aequorin luminescence into Ca2+ concentration, the [Ca2+]er values obtained at steady state tend, in fact, to reflect not the average ER values, but those of one or more subcompartments with lower [Ca2+]. These subcompartments are not generated artefactually during the experiments, as revealed by the dynamic analysis of the ER structure in living cells carried out by means of an ER-targeted green fluorescent protein. When the problem of ER heterogeneity was taken into account (and when Sr2+ was used as a Ca2+ surrogate), the bulk of the organelle was shown to accumulate free [cation2+]er up to a steady state in the millimolar range. A theoretical model, based on the existence of multiple ER subcompartments of high and low [Ca2+], that closely mimics the experimental data obtained in HeLa cells during accumulation of either Ca2+ or Sr2+, is presented. Moreover, a few other key problems concerning the ER Ca2+ homeostasis have been addressed with the following conclusions: (a) the changes induced in the ER subcompartments by receptor generation of InsP3 vary depending on their initial [Ca2+]. In the bulk of the system there is a rapid release whereas in the small subcompartments with low [Ca2+] the cation is simultaneously accumulated; (b) stimulation of Ca2+ release by receptor-generated InsP3 is inhibited when the lumenal level is below a threshold, suggesting a regulation by [cation2+]er of the InsP3 receptor activity (such a phenomenon had already been reported, however, but only in subcellular fractions analyzed in vitro); and (c) the maintenance of a relatively constant level of cytosolic [Ca2+], observed when the cells are incubated in Ca2+-free medium, depends on the continuous release of the cation from the ER, with ensuing activation in the plasma membrane of the channels thereby regulated (capacitative influx).

We have measured the [Ca2+] in the endoplasmic reticulum ([Ca2+]er) of intact HeLa cells at both 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C using endoplamsic reticulum-targeted, low Ca2+ affinity aequorin reconstituted with coelenterazine n. Aequorin consumption was much slower at 22 degrees C, and this allowed performing a much longer study of the dynamics of [Ca2+]er. The steady-state [Ca2+]er (500-600 microM) was not modified by the temperature, although both the rates of pumping and leak were decreased at 22 degrees C. The behavior of both [Ca2+]er and cytoplasmic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) after the addition of increasing concentrations of agonists and/or Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors, or following incubation in Ca2+-free medium were compared. We show that agonists induce a fast but relatively small decrease in [Ca2+]er, which is enough to produce a sharp increase in [Ca2+]c. Termination of Ca2+ release is controlled by feedback inhibition of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors by [Ca2+]c, a mechanism that appears to be designed to release the minimum amount of Ca2+ necessary to produced the required [Ca2+]c signal. We also show that Ca2+ release is inhibited progressively when [Ca2+]er decreases below a threshold of about 150 microM, even in the absence of Ca2+ pumping or -Ca2+-c increase. This effect is consistent with a regulation of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-gated channels by [Ca2+]er.

We have monitored specifically the [Ca2+] in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of intact HeLa cells using an ER-targeted low-Ca2+-affinity aequorin. The steady-state [Ca2+] in the ER was around 600 microM. Histamine induced a concentration-dependent decrease in lumenal [Ca2+], whose rate increased near one order of magnitude and became "quantal" when cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) was clamped with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA. This effect was not due to decreased Ca2+ pumping because simultaneous addition of a SERCA inhibitor produced only additive effects. Given that inhibition by [Ca2+]c of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-gated channels requires a [Ca2+]c much higher than that observed in the bulk cytosol after histamine addition, we conclude that local [Ca2+]c microdomains at the site of release strongly inhibit agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization in intact cells. This effect should play a key role in the mechanism controlling cytosolic [Ca2+] oscillations and waves, and therefore in the generation of spatio-temporal Ca2+ patterns.

Direct monitoring of the free Ca2+ concentration in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important but still unsolved experimental problem. We have shown that a Ca(2+)-sensitive photoprotein, aequorin, can be addressed to defined subcellular compartments by adding the appropriate targeting sequences. By engineering a new aequorin chimera with reduced Ca2+ affinity, retained in the ER lumen via interaction of its N-terminus with the endogenous resident protein BiP, we show here that, after emptying the ER, Ca2+ is rapidly re-accumulated up to concentrations of > 100 microM, thus consuming most of the reporter photoprotein. An estimate of the steady-state Ca2+ concentration was obtained using Sr2+, a well-known Ca2+ surrogate which elicits a significantly slower rate of aequorin consumption. Under conditions in which the rate and extent of Sr2+ accumulation in the ER closely mimick those of Ca2+, the steady-state mean lumenal Sr2+ concentration ([Sr2+]er) was approximately 2 mM. Receptor stimulation causes, in a few seconds, a 3-fold decrease of the [Sr2+]er, whereas specific inhibition of the ER Ca2+ ATPase leads to an approximately 10-fold drop in a few minutes.

ATP and UTP cause mobilization of Ca2+ from the intracellular stores with similar potency in several cell types including both undifferentiated and differentiated HL60 cells. We show here that, in HL60 cells with Ca2+ stores that had been fully and irreversibly emptied using the endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, both nucleotides produced a biphasic effect on Ca2+ entry, first rapid inhibition and then delayed (about 15 s) activation. ATP was more effective at producing the initial inhibition of Ca2+ entry, whereas UTP was more effective at activating the delayed Ca2+ entry. Previous incubation with UTP desensitized the Ca2+ mobilization and the delayed activation of Ca2+ entry induced by ATP but not the inhibition of Ca2+ entry. The ATP analogue 2-methylthioATP (2-MeSATP) barely mobilized stored Ca2+ but inhibited Ca2+ entry. These results could be explained by the presence of two receptors: (i) a P2u receptor sensitive to ATP and UTP, responsible for activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ mobilization, early inhibition of Ca2+ entry and delayed activation of Ca2+ entry and (ii) a P2y-like receptor sensitive to ATP and 2-MeSATP which produces only inhibition of Ca2+ entry. The inhibition of Ca2+ entry by nucleotides increased greatly during differentiation. Given that Ca2+ mobilization by nucleotides is not modified by differentiation, this suggests that a component of the mechanism of inhibition of Ca2+ entry is gradually expressed during differentiation of HL60 cells.

Insoluble immune complexes (IIC) stimulate human neutrophils by binding to their FcR. It is known that they are able to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores but they induce little Ca2+ entry from the extracellular medium, a dissociation that cannot be explained within the framework of the capacitative model for Ca2+ entry, which is well established for these cells. We show here that IIC induce a strong and long-lasting inhibition of the Ca2+ pathway activated by emptying the Ca2+ stores (capacitative Ca2+ entry), which develops simultaneously with the activation of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. This inhibition strongly resembles that previously described effected by FMLP and by phorbol dibutyrate, which seems to be mediated by phosphorylation. Inhibition by IIC, however, differs from that induced by FMLP and phorboldibutyrate in its lack of sensitivity to cytosolic-free calcium concentration and in its different sensitivity to the protein kinase inhibitors staurosporin and chelerythrine. It was also insensitive to the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A. We also show that IIC inhibit Ca2+ mobilization induced by other agonists and that this inhibition is potentiated by the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A. Our results therefore suggest that binding of IIC to the FcR activates a protein phosphorylation mechanism leading to a long-lasting inhibition of both capacitative Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ mobilization induced by other agonists such as FMLP, platelet-activating factor, or leukotriene B4.

When human neutrophils were incubated in the presence of the protein phosphatase inhibitors calyculin A or okadaic acid, the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) produced a sustained (> 5 min) inhibition of the Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) or by leukotriene B4 (LTB4). No effect on Ca2+ mobilization by PAF or LTB4 was observed 2 min after the addition of fMLP alone or only in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors, but a similar inhibition was produced by high (> 50 nM) concentrations of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB). However, inhibition by PDB was sensitive to the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporin and Ro 31-8220, while inhibition by fMLP and calyculin A was not. These results suggest that fMLP induces a transient phosphorylation not mediated by PKC which interferes at some point with the transduction pathway leading from the plasma membrane receptors for PAF and LTB4 to the release of Ca2+ from the stores. Protein phosphatases 1 and/or 2A revert the inhibition effected by fMLP within less than 2 min. PAF and LTB4 were also able to activate this mechanism to a smaller extent. Phosphatase inhibitors also delayed by 1-2 s the start of agonist-induced rises in [Ca2+]i, and this delay was further increased by previous addition of any other agonist. Finally, given that both phosphatase inhibitors and low concentrations of PDB (2-10 nM) strongly inhibit Ca2+ entry, we conclude that phosphorylation down-regulates both agonist-induced Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ mobilization, but with different potency.

We have reported previously that the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) inhibits transiently Ca2+ entry through the plasma membrane Ca2+ pathway activated by emptying the intracellular Ca2+ stores (Montero, M., García-Sancho, J., and Alvarez, J. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 13055-13061). We show here that calyculin A and okadaic acid, inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, prevent the spontaneous reversion of the fMLP-induced inhibition of the entry of Ca2+ and Mn2+ (used as a Ca2+ surrogate), leading to a permanently inhibited Ca2+ entry pathway. At high concentrations or long incubation times the phosphatase inhibitors were even able to inhibit the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway (SOCP) in the absence of fMLP. Inhibition of SOCP by phorbol dibutyrate, which is not reversible, was not modified by phosphatase inhibitors. These results provide additional support for the view that fMLP inhibits SOCP through phosphorylation of either the SOCP protein or a regulatory protein and indicate that dephosphorylation mediated by protein phosphatases 1 and/or 2A restores the activity of SOCP after inhibition by fMLP. The time course of the inhibition of SOCP by fMLP was similar to the one reported previously for the transient fMLP-induced phosphorylation of a 47-kDa protein involved in the generation of respiratory burst, which was similarly affected by the phosphatase inhibitors.

N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) inhibited transiently the entry of Ca2+ and Mn2+ induced by emptying with thapsigargin the Ca2+ stores of HL60 cells differentiated toward granulocytes. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) produced a permanent inhibition of this store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway (SOCP), suggesting that inhibition was due to protein phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase C (PKC). Inhibition by PDB was prevented by the PKC inhibitors staurosporin and chelerythrine. Inhibition by fMLP was prevented by chelerythrine but only partially by staurosporin. The characteristics of the inhibition were similar to those reported in human neutrophils (Montero, M., Alvarez, J., and García-Sancho, J. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 13055-13061). Neither fMLP nor PDB inhibited significantly SOCP in undifferentiated HL60 cells. Single-cell [Ca2+]i measurements at different stages of differentiation showed that inhibition by fMLP and PDB developed independently, suggesting different inhibitory mechanisms. The simplest explanation would be that inhibition by fMLP takes place through activation of a protein kinase distinct from PKC and that the PDB-activated PKC isoform necessary to phosphorylate and inhibit SOCP is expressed only along differentiation. Additionally, inhibition by both fMLP and PDB developed gradually. At intermediate stages of differentiation, PDB was able to produce a partial and maintained inhibition and fMLP a partial and short-lived inhibition of SOCP.

The production of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and the release of [3H]arachidonate were studied in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. Concentrations of thapsigargin as low as 10-25 nM primed PMN for both PAF production and [3H]arachidonate release in response to the chemotactic peptide (fMLP), whereas concentrations in the range 25-200 nM induced a time- and dose-dependent production of PAF, which occurred in the absence of both [3H]arachidonate release and [3H]phosphatidylethanol formation. Studies in fura-2/AM-loaded cells showed that concentrations of thapsigargin that elicited PAF production induced a protracted and long lasting elevation of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) between 200 and 700 nM. The lower concentrations primed the cells for a late [Ca2+]i elevation in response to fMLP similar to that elicited by cytochalasin B or ionomycin. PAF production showed a good correlation with the increase of [Ca2+]i (r = 0.91) irrespective of the procedure used to grade [Ca2+]i. In contrast, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate failed to induce both PAF production and elevation of [Ca2+]i, but it was a very effective stimulator of [3H]arachidonate release and [3H]phosphatidylethanol production. These data indicate that PAF production and [3H]arachidonate release in PMN differ in both biochemical pathway and modulatory mechanisms. Whereas PAF production seems extremely sensitive to changes in [Ca2+]i, which seems to exert its modulatory effect at the lyso-PAF:acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase step, [3H]arachidonate release seems tightly modulated by protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms and is coincidental with activation of phospholipase D.

The pathway for refilling the intracellular Ca2+ stores of HL60 and U937 human leukaemia cells loaded with fura-2 has been investigated. On addition of external Ca2+ to cells with empty stores there was an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) which preceded the refilling of the stores. The increase in [Ca2+]i was faster than the refilling, by 3- to 15-fold, depending on the cell type. In measurements in single HL60 cells we found that the refilling of the stores correlated with the extent of the [Ca2+]i increase on addition of external Ca2+. The cells showing no [Ca2+]i increase were unable to refill their stores. The addition of Ni2+ to the extracellular medium prevented both the [Ca2+]i increase and the refilling of the stores. These results indicate that the limiting step for store refilling is the entry of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium to the cytosol. Hence, we conclude that extracellular Ca2+ cannot gain access directly to the intracellular Ca2+ stores in these cells, but must first enter the cytosol and be taken up from there into the stores.

Emptying the intracellular calcium stores of fura-2-loaded human neutrophils by treatment with the endomembrane ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin leads to a maintained increase of [Ca2+]i by Ca2+ entry through a store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway. Under these conditions, [Ca2+]i was reduced transiently by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and permanently by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) had no effect. The fMLP- and PDB-induced [Ca2+]i decreases were not due to stimulated Ca2+ efflux but to inhibition of store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway. PDB and fMLP, but not PAF, inhibited the entry of Ca2+, Mn2+, and Ba2+ in thapsigargin-treated cells. This inhibition was dependent on [Ca2+]i, barely detectable at [Ca2+]i of 50 nM and increasingly strong and fast to appear at 170 and 630 nM. Inhibition of entry by fMLP was complete within 5-10s, disappeared within 2-3 min, and was partially prevented by staurosporin (100 nM). Inhibition by PDB was equally fast, but no recovery was detected within 5 min, and it was fully prevented by staurosporin. The inhibitory effect of fMLP had similar characteristics when PAF was used instead of thapsigargin to induce the entry of Ca2+ or Mn2+. We conclude that fMLP, but not PAF, is able to produce a transient inhibition of store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway, probably mediated by protein kinase C. This action could be part of a general homeostatic mechanism designed to moderate [Ca2+]i increases induced by some agonists.

The effects of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors of different chemical structures, including several imidazole antimycotics, SKF525A, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), gossypol and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), were tested on the entry of Ca2+ and Mn2+ induced either by emptying the intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin or by stimulation with platelet activating factor (PAF). Most of the drugs inhibited thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ and Mn2+ entry with the same affinity, with the striking exceptions of econazole and miconazole, which were 5- and 2-fold more potent to inhibit the thapsigargin-induced Mn2+ entry than to inhibit Ca2+ entry, respectively. Additionally, high doses of every drug (3-10-times the Ki) activated a pathway permeable to Mn2+ and Ni2+ but not to Ca2+. These findings indicate that Mn2+ entry data should be interpreted with caution and always be cross-checked with Ca2+ uptake measurements. Most of the drugs inhibited PAF-induced Mn2+ uptake with an affinity similar to that found for thapsigargin-induced Mn2+ uptake. PAF- and thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ uptake were also inhibited similarly by NDGA, SKF525A and gossypol, but PAF-induced Ca(2+)-uptake was inhibited about 5-fold more strongly by econazole and ETYA and two-fold more strongly by miconazole and clotrimazole. These findings suggest that the Ca2+/Mn2+ entry pathway opened by agonists in human neutrophils is the same that activates on emptying the Ca2+ stores and that cytochrome P-450 activity may be involved en the activation of the channels.

The chemotactic peptide fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) induced the production of platelet-activating factor (PAF) by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) incubated with cytochalasin B (CB). CoA-independent transacylase showed similar activity in both resting and stimulated PMN, and PAF production only occurred when lyso-PAF:acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase had been converted into the high activity form. PAF formation was coincidental with an increase of the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and with an enhanced formation of 1-O-[3H]alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerol. Both fMLP-induced PAF production and the activation of lyso-PAF:acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase were diminished by propranolol. Since several molecular species of phosphatidic acid (PA) produced an inhibition of both PAF production and acetyltransferase activation on intact cells, a portion of the inhibitory effect of propranolol was related to the accumulation of PA. Furthermore, whereas CB increased both the extent and the duration of the fMLP-induced [Ca2+]i transient, propranolol was found to inhibit the CB-induced increase of the [Ca2+]i transient. These data indicate that both the attenuation of [Ca2+]i transient and the accumulation of PA may operate as termination signals for PAF production by actin on lyso-PAF:acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase.

Differentiation of HL60 cells by treatment with dimethyl sulphoxide induces the expression of membrane receptors for N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and for platelet-activating factor (PAF). In these cells both agonists produced an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by release of Ca2+ from the intracellular stores, followed shortly by an acceleration of the entry of Ca2+ or Mn2+, used here as a Ca2+ surrogate for Ca2+ channels. Cytochrome P-450 inhibitors blocked the agonist-induced entry of Ca2+ or Mn2+ with no modification of Ca2+ release from the stores. Emptying the intracellular Ca2+ stores either by treatments inducing no inositol phosphate production, such as prolonged incubation in Ca(2+)-free medium or treatment with the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, increased the plasma-membrane permeability to Ca2+ and Mn2+. This Ca(2+)-store-regulated Mn2+ entry was inhibited by Ni2+ and by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors. Refilling of the Ca2+ stores by incubation in Ca(2+)-containing medium restored low Mn2+ permeability. The same mechanism is present and functional in non-differentiated cells, before expression of membrane receptors for fMLP and PAF. These results suggest that agonist-induced Ca2+ (Mn2+) entry is secondary to the emptying of the intracellular Ca2+ stores, which in turn activates plasma-membrane channels by a mechanism involving cytochrome P-450.