In the present study, the effects on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+](i)) oscillations of the blockade of ether-a-gogo-related gene (ERG) K+ channels and of Ca2+ influx through store-operated channels (SOC) activated by [Ca2+](i) store depletion have been studied in GH(3) cells by means of a combination of single-cell fura-2 microfluorimetry and whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. Nanomolar concentrations (1-30 nM) of the piperidinic second-generation antihistamines terfenadine and astemizole and of the class III antiarrhythmic methanesulfonanilide dofetilide, by blocking ERG K+ channels, increased the frequency and the amplitude of [Ca2+](i) oscillations in resting oscillating GH(3) cells. These compounds also induced the appearance of an oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) in a subpopulation of nonoscillating GH(3) cells. The effects of ERG K+ channel blockade on [Ca2+](i) oscillations appeared to be due to the activation of L-type Ca2+ channels, because they were prevented by 300 nM nimodipine. By contrast, the piperazinic second-generation antihistamine cetirizine (0.01-30 mu M), which served as a negative control, failed to affect ERG K+ channels and did not interfere with [Ca2+](i) oscillations in GH(3) cells. Interestingly, micromolar concentrations of terfenadine and astemizole (0.3-30 mu M), but not of dofetilide (10-100 mu M), produced an inhibition of the spontaneous oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) changes. This effect was possibly related to an inhibition of SOC, because these compounds inhibited the increase of [Ca2+](i) achieved by extracellular calcium reintroduction after intracellular calcium store depletion with the sarcoplasmic or endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase pump inhibitor thapsigargin (10 mu M) in an extracellular calcium-free medium. The same inhibitory effect on [Ca2+](i) oscillations and SOC was observed with the first-generation antihistamine hydroxyzine (1-30 mu M), the more hydrophobic metabolic precursor of cetirizine. Collectively, the results of the present study obtained with compounds that interfere in a different concentration range with ERG K+ channels or SOC suggest that 1) ERG K+ channels play a relevant role in controlling the oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) in resting GH(3) cells and 2) the inhibition of SOC might induce an opposite effect, i.e., an inhibition of [Ca2+](i) oscillations.

Pharmacological blockade of ERG K+ channels and Ca2+ influx through store-operated channels exerts opposite effects on intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in pituitary GH(3) cells

TAGLIALATELA, Maurizio;
2000-01-01

Abstract

In the present study, the effects on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+](i)) oscillations of the blockade of ether-a-gogo-related gene (ERG) K+ channels and of Ca2+ influx through store-operated channels (SOC) activated by [Ca2+](i) store depletion have been studied in GH(3) cells by means of a combination of single-cell fura-2 microfluorimetry and whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. Nanomolar concentrations (1-30 nM) of the piperidinic second-generation antihistamines terfenadine and astemizole and of the class III antiarrhythmic methanesulfonanilide dofetilide, by blocking ERG K+ channels, increased the frequency and the amplitude of [Ca2+](i) oscillations in resting oscillating GH(3) cells. These compounds also induced the appearance of an oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) in a subpopulation of nonoscillating GH(3) cells. The effects of ERG K+ channel blockade on [Ca2+](i) oscillations appeared to be due to the activation of L-type Ca2+ channels, because they were prevented by 300 nM nimodipine. By contrast, the piperazinic second-generation antihistamine cetirizine (0.01-30 mu M), which served as a negative control, failed to affect ERG K+ channels and did not interfere with [Ca2+](i) oscillations in GH(3) cells. Interestingly, micromolar concentrations of terfenadine and astemizole (0.3-30 mu M), but not of dofetilide (10-100 mu M), produced an inhibition of the spontaneous oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) changes. This effect was possibly related to an inhibition of SOC, because these compounds inhibited the increase of [Ca2+](i) achieved by extracellular calcium reintroduction after intracellular calcium store depletion with the sarcoplasmic or endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase pump inhibitor thapsigargin (10 mu M) in an extracellular calcium-free medium. The same inhibitory effect on [Ca2+](i) oscillations and SOC was observed with the first-generation antihistamine hydroxyzine (1-30 mu M), the more hydrophobic metabolic precursor of cetirizine. Collectively, the results of the present study obtained with compounds that interfere in a different concentration range with ERG K+ channels or SOC suggest that 1) ERG K+ channels play a relevant role in controlling the oscillatory pattern of [Ca2+](i) in resting GH(3) cells and 2) the inhibition of SOC might induce an opposite effect, i.e., an inhibition of [Ca2+](i) oscillations.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11695/371
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