Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1 (SGK1) is regulated by store-operated Ca2+ entry and mediates cytoprotection against necrotic cell death.

Serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) encodes a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent serine/threonine kinase that is rapidly induced in response to cellular stressors and is an important cell survival signal. Previous studies have suggested that an increase in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]c) is required for increased SGK1 expression, but the subcellular source of Ca(2+) regulating SGK1 transcription remains uncertain. Activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) with thapsigargin (TG) increased SGK1 mRNA and protein expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. Intracellular Ca(2+) imaging revealed that store-operated Ca(2+) entry played a prominent role in SGK1 induction by TG. Neither ERS nor release of Ca(2+) from the ER was sufficient to activate SGK1. Prolonged elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) levels, however, triggered cell death with a much greater proportion of the cells undergoing necrosis rather than apoptosis. A relative increase in the percentage of cells undergoing necrosis was observed in cells expressing a short hairpin RNA targeted to the SGK1 gene. Necrotic cell death evoked by cytoplasmic Ca(2+) overloading was associated with persistent hyperpolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane and a modest increase in calpain activation, but did not involve detectable caspase 3 or caspase 7 activation. The effects of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) overloading on mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly reduced in cells expressing SGK1 compared with SGK1-depleted cells. Our findings indicate that store-operated Ca(2+) entry regulates SGK1 expression in epithelial cells and suggest that SGK1-dependent cytoprotective signaling involves effects on maintaining mitochondrial function.

Simultaneous optical measurements of cytosolic Ca2+ and cAMP in single cells.

Understanding the temporal and spatial integration of the Ca2+ and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways requires concurrent measurements of both second messengers. Here, we describe an optical technique to simultaneously image cAMP and Ca2+ concentration gradients in MIN6 mouse insulinoma cells using Epac1-camps, a Förster (or fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cAMP biosensor, and Fura-2, a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+. This real-time imaging method allows investigation of the dynamic organization and integration of multiple levels of signal processing in single living cells.

Serine 1179 Phosphorylation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Increases Superoxide Generation and Alters Cofactor Regulation.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is responsible for maintaining systemic blood pressure, vascular remodeling and angiogenesis. In addition to producing NO, eNOS can also generate superoxide (O2-.) in the absence of the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Previous studies have shown that bovine eNOS serine 1179 (Serine 1177/human) phosphorylation critically modulates NO synthesis. However, the effect of serine 1179 phosphorylation on eNOS superoxide generation is unknown. Here, we used the phosphomimetic form of eNOS (S1179D) to determine the effect of S1179 phosphorylation on superoxide generating activity, and its sensitivity to regulation by BH4, Ca2+, and calmodulin (CAM). S1179D eNOS exhibited significantly increased superoxide generating activity and NADPH consumption compared to wild-type eNOS (WT eNOS). The superoxide generating activities of S1179D eNOS and WT eNOS did not differ significantly in their sensitivity to regulation by either Ca2+ or CaM. The sensitivity of the superoxide generating activity of S1179D eNOS to inhibition by BH4 was significantly reduced compared to WT eNOS. In eNOS-overexpressing 293 cells, BH4 depletion with 10mM DAHP for 48 hours followed by 50ng/ml VEGF for 30 min to phosphorylate eNOS S1179 increased ROS accumulation compared to DAHP-only treated cells. Meanwhile, MTT assay indicated that overexpression of eNOS in HEK293 cells decreased cellular viability compared to control cells at BH4 depletion condition (P<0.01). VEGF-mediated Serine 1179 phosphorylation further decreased the cellular viability in eNOS-overexpressing 293 cells (P<0.01). Our data demonstrate that eNOS serine 1179 phosphorylation, in addition to enhancing NO production, also profoundly affects superoxide generation: S1179 phosphorylation increases superoxide production while decreasing sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of BH4 on this activity.

MicroRNA regulation of integrins.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small RNAs that are ∼20 nucleotides in length and are nontranslated. To date, more than 700 miRNAs have been identified, and their involvement in many essential cellular processes is now apparent. By binding with target messenger RNAs (mRNA), miRNAs are able to regulate both mRNA stability and mRNA translational efficiency. Integrins are a family of transmembrane proteins that both regulate cell matrix interactions and serve as receptors that mediate intracellular signaling and a variety of cellular processes, including inflammatory responses, immunoresponses, and tumorigenesis. Integrin expression may also be regulated by miRNAs, which can also modulate integrin signaling and function. Integrins are heterodimer adhesion proteins comprised of an α and a ß subunit. Cumulatively, there are 18 α subunits and 8 ß subunits that can combine to form 24 distinct αß receptor complexes. In addition, each integrin can be classified into 1 of 4 groups based on its extracellular binding ligand: collagen, laminin, RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) or leukocyte-specific receptors. Collagen ligand integrins include integrins α1 and α2 subunits, known to be regulated by specific miRNAs. Among the laminin ligand integrins, there are no integrin α subunits known to be regulated by miRNA. As for the RGD ligand integrins, integrin α5 is the only α subunit found to be regulated by miRNAs (miR-31, miR-17-92 cluster, and miR-148 b). Finally, among the α subunits that comprise the leukocyte-specific receptor ligand integrins, integrins αD, αL, αM, and αX have shown regulation by different miRNAs. As for the integrin ß subunits, regulation by miRNAs has been reported for all but ß5 and ß6 to date. However, computational predictions suggest that numerous miRNAs potentially regulate a variety of target integrins. These predictions will undoubtedly guide future investigations of mechanisms underlying integrin expression mechanism and may ultimately yield new therapeutic tools.

Regulation of cAMP dynamics by Ca2+ and G protein-coupled receptors in the pancreatic beta-cell: a computational approach.

In this report we describe a mathematical model for the regulation of cAMP dynamics in pancreatic beta-cells. Incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) increase cAMP and augment insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Imaging experiments performed in MIN6 insulinoma cells expressing a genetically encoded cAMP biosensor and loaded with fura-2, a calcium indicator, showed that cAMP oscillations are differentially regulated by periodic changes in membrane potential and GLP-1. We modeled the interplay of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) and its interaction with calmodulin, G protein-coupled receptor activation, adenylyl cyclases (AC), and phosphodiesterases (PDE). Simulations with the model demonstrate that cAMP oscillations are coupled to cytoplasmic Ca(2+) oscillations in the beta-cell. Slow Ca(2+) oscillations (<1 min(-1)) produce low-frequency cAMP oscillations, and faster Ca(2+) oscillations (>3-4 min(-1)) entrain high-frequency, low-amplitude cAMP oscillations. The model predicts that GLP-1 receptor agonists induce cAMP oscillations in phase with cytoplasmic Ca(2+) oscillations. In contrast, observed antiphasic Ca(2+) and cAMP oscillations can be simulated following combined glucose and tetraethylammonium-induced changes in membrane potential. The model provides additional evidence for a pivotal role for Ca(2+)-dependent AC and PDE activation in coupling of Ca(2+) and cAMP signals. Our results reveal important differences in the effects of glucose/TEA and GLP-1 on cAMP dynamics in MIN6 beta-cells.