Calcium oscillation induced by bradykinin in polyoma middle T antigen-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts: evidence for

Y Okano1, T Fu, Y Nozawa

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.

Insights

Bradykinin induces calcium oscillations in transformed cells, dependent on extracellular calcium entry and protein kinase C. Spontaneous oscillations also occur, unaffected by protein kinase C modulation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Calcium Signaling

Background:

  • Bradykinin (BK) is a peptide that elicits various cellular responses.
  • Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) plays a critical role in cell signaling pathways.
  • Transformed cell lines can exhibit altered signaling compared to their parental counterparts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of bradykinin in inducing intracellular calcium oscillations in polyoma middle T-transformed MT3 cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying BK-induced calcium oscillations, including calcium source and involvement of protein kinase C (PKC).
  • To characterize spontaneous calcium oscillations in MT3 cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized calcium imaging techniques to monitor intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels.
  • Applied bradykinin as a stimulus in polyoma middle T-transformed MT3 cells and parental NIH3T3 cells.
  • Employed calcium channel blockers (SK&F 96365, CdCl2), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and a PKC inhibitor (H-7) to investigate signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Bradykinin triggered long-lasting intracellular calcium oscillations in MT3 cells, but not in NIH3T3 cells.
  • BK-induced oscillations were dependent on extracellular calcium and inhibited by calcium channel blockers, suggesting receptor-operated calcium entry.
  • Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) abolished BK-induced oscillations, an effect reversed by a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (H-7), indicating PKC involvement.
  • Spontaneous calcium oscillations were observed in some MT3 cells, were extracellular calcium-dependent, but were not affected by PMA or H-7.

Conclusions:

  • Bradykinin-induced calcium oscillations in MT3 cells are mediated by extracellular calcium influx through a receptor-operated channel and involve protein kinase C.
  • Spontaneous calcium oscillations in MT3 cells represent a distinct pathway, independent of PKC and agonist stimulation.
  • These findings highlight differential calcium signaling mechanisms in transformed cells.

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