CD38/cADPR-mediated calcium signaling in a human myometrial smooth muscle cell line, PHM1

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) has emerged as a calcium-regulating second messenger in smooth muscle cells. CD38 protein possesses ADP-ribosyl cyclase and cADPR hydrolase activities and mediates cADPR synthesis and degradation. We have previously shown that CD38 expression is regulated by estrogen and progesterone in the myometrium. Considering hormonal regulation in gestation, the objective of the present study was to determine the role of CD38/cADPR signaling in the regulation of intracellular calcium upon contractile agonist stimulation using immortalized pregnant human myometrial (PHM1) cells. Western blot, immunofluorescence, and biochemical studies confirmed CD38 expression and the presence of ADP-ribosyl cyclase (2.6 ± 0.1 pmol/mg) and cADPR hydrolase (26.8 ± 6.8 nmoles/mg/h) activities on the PHM1 cell membrane. Oxytocin, PGF_2α, and ET-1 elicited [Ca²⁺]_i responses, and 8-Br-cADPR, a cADPR antagonist significantly attenuated agonist-induced [Ca²⁺]_i responses between 20% and 46% in average. The findings suggest that uterine contractile agonists mediate their effects in part through CD38/cADPR signaling to increase [Ca²⁺]_i and presumably uterine contraction. As studies in humans are limited by the availability of myometrium from healthy donors, PHM1 cells form an in vitro model to study human myometrium.