Cyclic nucleotides inhibit Na+/Ca2+ exchange in cultured human mesangial cells

Na+/Ca2+ exchange contributes to the control of cytosolic free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) in resting and activated cultured human mesangial cells. We have previously shown that activation of phospholipase C by vasoconstrictors enhances Ca2+ influx upon extracellular Na+ withdrawal. This effect is not mediated by concurrent activation of protein kinase (PK) C, since it occurs even after PKC inhibition, and phorbol esters actually blunt both basal and stimulated Na+/Ca2+ exchange. We now studied the effects of PKA and PKG activation by adenylate/guanylate cyclase stimuli or by permeant analogues of cyclic nucleotides in monolayer cultures loaded with the fluorescent Ca(2+)-sensitive probe, fura-2. The exchanger was inhibited by the stable prostaglandin I2 analogue, iloprost, which is transduced by cAMP (peak [Ca2+]i inhibition by 1 microM iloprost 35 +/- 3%). Similarly, non-receptor activation of adenylate cyclase by 10 microM forskolin inhibited basal and agonist-stimulated Na+/Ca2+ exchange by 52 +/- 4 and 66 +/- 4%, respectively. Dibutyryl-cAMP (0.1 mM) also inhibited stimulated Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ influx by 72 +/- 2%. The particulate guanylate cyclase agonist, atriopeptin III, and the soluble guanylate cyclase activator, glyceryltrinitrate, also inhibited both basal and angiotensin II-stimulated Na+Ca2+ exchange (to a maximum of 53 +/- 5 and 62 +/- 3%, respectively). Dibutyryl-cGMP (1 mM) mimicked the effects of cGMP stimuli, reducing stimulated Na+/Ca2+ exchange by 79 +/- 2%. Therefore, similar to PKC, cyclic nucleotide activation of PKA and PKG regulates Na+/Ca2+ exchange, providing a functional link between transmembrane signalling systems for vasoactive agents in cultured human mesangial cells.