Inhibition of EGF-induced gastric mucosal calcium channel phosphorylation by ebrotidine

A gastric mucosal calcium channel-epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor complex was isolated from solubilized epithelial cell membranes by means of a wheat germ agglutinin affinity. The complex, following reconstitution into phosphatidylcholine vesicles, exhibited active 45Ca2+ uptake as evidence by concentration-dependent response to the calcium channel activator BAY K8644, and the calcium channel antagonist PN200-110. The complex on the addition of EGF and ATP showed an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of both a 55 and a 170kDa protein, while the vesicles containing the phosphorylated complex displayed a 48% greater 45Ca2+ uptake. The phosphorylation process was inhibited by an anti-ulcer agent, ebrotidine, which also interfered with the binding of EGF to calcium channel protein. The results suggest that ebrotidine protects the cellular integrity from calcium imbalance by modulating the EGF-stimulated gastric mucosal calcium channel activation.