Degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells: regulation by calmodulin pathway

Involvement of the calmodulin pathway in Ca2+-induced degranulation was evaluated in RBL-2H3 mast cells. Pretreatment of RBL-2H3 cells with a calmodulin antagonist, W-13, blocked ionomycin-dependent release of beta-hexosaminidase into the supernatant, although W-13 treatment alone slightly but significantly increased the release. Ca2+/calmodulin activates various protein kinases and phosphatases including myosin-light chain kinase (MLCK), calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs), and calcineurin. When RBL-2H3 cells were pretreated with a MLCK inhibitor, ML-7, or a CaMKs inhibitor, KN-93, the ionomycin-dependent release of beta-hexosaminidase into the supernatant was inhibited. In addition, pretreatment with calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporin A and FR901725, resulted in blockage of the ionomycin-dependent release of beta-hexosaminidase into the supernatant. Our results indicate that Ca2+/calmodulin, activated calmodulin, is indispensable for Ca2+-induced degranulation, and that within the calmodulin pathways, at least MLCK, CaMKs and calcineurin positively regulate the release of granules initiated by increasing cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in RBL-2H3 cells.