Characterization of the calcium signaling system in the submandibular cell line SMG-C6

Establishment of salivary cell lines retaining normal morphological and physiological characteristics is important in the investigation of salivary cell function. A submandibular gland cell line, SMG-C6, has recently been established. In the present study, we characterized the phosphoinositide (PI)-Ca2+ signaling system in this cell line. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate(1,4,5-IP3) formation, as well as Ca2+ storage, release, and influx in response to muscarinic, alpha1-adrenergic, P2Y-nucleotide, and cytokine receptor agonists were determined. Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was strongly stimulated by acetylcholine (ACh) and ATP, but not by norepinephrine (NA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Consistently, 1, 4,5-IP3 formation was dramatically stimulated by ACh and ATP. ACh-stimulated cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i increase was inhibited by ryanodine, suggesting that the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release mechanism is involved in the ACh-elicited Ca2+ release process. Furthermore, ACh and ATP partially discharged the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ store, and a subsequent exposure to thapsigargin (TG) induced further [Ca2+]i increase. However, exposure to TG depleted the store and a subsequent stimulation with ACh or ATP did not induce further [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that ACh and ATP discharge the same storage site sensitive to TG. As in freshly isolated submandibular acinar cells, exposure to ionomycin and monensin following ACh or TG induced further [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that IP3-insensitive stores exist in SMG-C6 cells. Ca2+ influx was activated by ACh, ATP, or TG, and was significantly inhibited by La3+, suggesting the involvement of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) pathway. These results indicate that in SMG-C6 cells: (i) Ca2+ release is triggered by muscarinic and P2Y-nucleotide receptor agonists through formation of IP3; (ii) both the IP3-sensitive and -insensitive Ca2+ stores are present; and (iii) Ca2+ influx is mediated by the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway. We conclude that Ca2+ regulation in SMG-C6 cells is similar to that in freshly isolated SMG acinar cells; therefore, this cell line represents an excellent SMG cell model in terms of intracellular Ca2+ signaling.