Voltage-induced calcium release in Caenorhabditis elegans body muscles.

Type 1 voltage-activated calcium channels (CaV1) in the plasma membrane trigger calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by two mechanisms. In voltage-induced calcium release (VICR), CaV1 voltage sensing domains are directly coupled to ryanodine receptors (RYRs), an SR calcium channel. In calcium-induced calcium release (CICR), calcium ions flowing through activated CaV1 channels bind and activate RYR channels. VICR is thought to occur exclusively in vertebrate skeletal muscle while CICR occurs in all other muscles (including all invertebrate muscles). Here, we use calcium-activated SLO-2 potassium channels to analyze CaV1-SR coupling in Caenorhabditis elegans body muscles. SLO-2 channels were activated by both VICR and external calcium. VICR-mediated SLO-2 activation requires two SR calcium channels (RYRs and IP3 Receptors), JPH-1/Junctophilin, a PDZ (PSD95, Dlg1, ZO-1 domain) binding domain (PBD) at EGL-19/CaV1's carboxy-terminus, and SHN-1/Shank (a scaffolding protein that binds EGL-19's PBD). Thus, VICR occurs in invertebrate muscles.

Two zebrafish cacna1s loss-of-function variants provide models of mild and severe CACNA1S-related myopathy.

CACNA1S-related myopathy, due to pathogenic variants in the CACNA1S gene, is a recently described congenital muscle disease. Disease associated variants result in loss of gene expression and/or reduction of Cav1.1 protein stability. There is an incomplete understanding of the underlying disease pathomechanisms and no effective therapies are currently available. A barrier to the study of this myopathy is the lack of a suitable animal model that phenocopies key aspects of the disease. To address this barrier, we generated knockouts of the two zebrafish CACNA1S paralogs, cacna1sa and cacna1sb. Double knockout fish exhibit severe weakness and early death, and are characterized by the absence of Cav1.1 α1 subunit expression, abnormal triad structure, and impaired excitation-contraction coupling, thus mirroring the severe form of human CACNA1S-related myopathy. A double mutant (cacna1sa homozygous, cacna1sb heterozygote) exhibits normal development, but displays reduced body size, abnormal facial structure, and cores on muscle pathologic examination, thus phenocopying the mild form of human CACNA1S-related myopathy. In summary, we generated and characterized the first cacna1s zebrafish loss-of-function mutants, and show them to be faithful models of severe and mild forms of human CACNA1S-related myopathy suitable for future mechanistic studies and therapy development.

RIM and RIM-Binding Protein Localize Synaptic CaV2 Channels to Differentially Regulate Transmission in Neuronal Circuits.

At chemical synapses, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) translate electrical signals into a trigger for synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion. VGCCs and the Ca2+ microdomains they elicit must be located precisely to primed SVs to evoke rapid transmitter release. Localization is mediated by Rab3-interacting molecule (RIM) and RIM-binding proteins, which interact and bind to the C terminus of the CaV2 VGCC α-subunit. We studied this machinery at the mixed cholinergic/GABAergic neuromuscular junction of Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites. rimb-1 mutants had mild synaptic defects, through loosening the anchoring of UNC-2/CaV2 and delaying the onset of SV fusion. UNC-10/RIM deletion much more severely affected transmission. Although postsynaptic depolarization was reduced, rimb-1 mutants had increased cholinergic (but reduced GABAergic) transmission, to compensate for the delayed release. This did not occur when the excitation-inhibition (E-I) balance was altered by removing GABA transmission. Further analyses of GABA defective mutants and GABAA or GABAB receptor deletions, as well as cholinergic rescue of RIMB-1, emphasized that GABA neurons may be more affected than cholinergic neurons. Thus, RIMB-1 function differentially affects excitation-inhibition balance in the different motor neurons, and RIMB-1 thus may differentially regulate transmission within circuits. Untethering the UNC-2/CaV2 channel by removing its C-terminal PDZ ligand exacerbated the rimb-1 defects, and similar phenotypes resulted from acute degradation of the CaV2 ß-subunit CCB-1. Therefore, untethering of the CaV2 complex is as severe as its elimination, yet it does not abolish transmission, likely due to compensation by CaV1. Thus, robustness and flexibility of synaptic transmission emerge from VGCC regulation.

Aberrant splicing of CaV1.2 calcium channel induced by decreased Rbfox1 enhances arterial constriction during diabetic hyperglycemia.

Diabetic hyperglycemia induces dysfunctions of arterial smooth muscle, leading to diabetic vascular complications. The CaV1.2 calcium channel is one primary pathway for Ca2+ influx, which initiates vasoconstriction. However, the long-term regulation mechanism(s) for vascular CaV1.2 functions under hyperglycemic condition remains unknown. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats fed with high-fat diet in combination with low dose streptozotocin and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were used as diabetic models. Isolated mesenteric arteries (MAs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from rat models were used to assess K+-induced arterial constriction and CaV1.2 channel functions using vascular myograph and whole-cell patch clamp, respectively. K+-induced vasoconstriction is persistently enhanced in the MAs from diabetic rats, and CaV1.2 alternative spliced exon 9* is increased, while exon 33 is decreased in rat diabetic arteries. Furthermore, CaV1.2 channels exhibit hyperpolarized current-voltage and activation curve in VSMCs from diabetic rats, which facilitates the channel function. Unexpectedly, the application of glycated serum (GS), mimicking advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), but not glucose, downregulates the expression of the splicing factor Rbfox1 in VSMCs. Moreover, GS application or Rbfox1 knockdown dynamically regulates alternative exons 9* and 33, leading to facilitated functions of CaV1.2 channels in VSMCs and MAs. Notably, GS increases K+-induced intracellular calcium concentration of VSMCs and the vasoconstriction of MAs. These results reveal that AGEs, not glucose, long-termly regulates CaV1.2 alternative splicing events by decreasing Rbfox1 expression, thereby enhancing channel functions and increasing vasoconstriction under diabetic hyperglycemia. This study identifies the specific molecular mechanism for enhanced vasoconstriction under hyperglycemia, providing a potential target for managing diabetic vascular complications.

Loss of CaV1.3 RNA editing enhances mouse hippocampal plasticity, learning, and memory.

L-type CaV1.3 calcium channels are expressed on the dendrites and soma of neurons, and there is a paucity of information about its role in hippocampal plasticity. Here, by genetic targeting to ablate CaV1.3 RNA editing, we demonstrate that unedited CaV1.3ΔECS mice exhibited improved learning and enhanced long-term memory, supporting a functional role of RNA editing in behavior. Significantly, the editing paradox that functional recoding of CaV1.3 RNA editing sites slows Ca2+-dependent inactivation to increase Ca2+ influx but reduces channel open probability to decrease Ca2+ influx was resolved. Mechanistically, using hippocampal slice recordings, we provide evidence that unedited CaV1.3 channels permitted larger Ca2+ influx into the hippocampal pyramidal neurons to bolster neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, late long-term potentiation, and increased dendritic arborization. Of note, RNA editing of the CaV1.3 IQ-domain was found to be evolutionarily conserved in mammals, which lends support to the importance of the functional recoding of the CaV1.3 channel in brain function.

Convergent regulation of CaV1.2 channels by direct phosphorylation and by the small GTPase RAD in the cardiac fight-or-flight response.

The L-type calcium currents conducted by the cardiac CaV1.2 calcium channel initiate excitation-contraction coupling and serve as a key regulator of heart rate, rhythm, and force of contraction. CaV1.2 is regulated by ß-adrenergic/protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated protein phosphorylation, proteolytic processing, and autoinhibition by its carboxyl-terminal domain (CT). The small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RAD (Ras associated with diabetes) has emerged as a potent inhibitor of CaV1.2, and accumulating evidence suggests a key role for RAD in mediating ß-adrenergic/PKA upregulation of channel activity. However, the relative roles of direct phosphorylation of CaV1.2 channels and phosphorylation of RAD in channel regulation remain uncertain. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that these two mechanisms converge to regulate CaV1.2 channels. Both RAD and the proteolytically processed distal CT (dCT) strongly reduced CaV1.2 activity. PKA phosphorylation of RAD and phosphorylation of Ser-1700 in the proximal CT (pCT) synergistically reversed this inhibition and increased CaV1.2 currents. Our findings reveal that the proteolytically processed form of CaV1.2 undergoes convergent regulation by direct phosphorylation of the CT and by phosphorylation of RAD. These parallel regulatory pathways provide a flexible mechanism for upregulation of the activity of CaV1.2 channels in the fight-or-flight response.

Cav-1 regulates the bile salt export pump on the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes by PKCα-associated signalling under cholesterol stimulation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The secretion of bile salts transported by the bile salt export pump (BSEP) is the primary driving force for the generation of bile flow; thus, it is closely related to the formation of cholesterol stones. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), an essential player in cell signalling and endocytosis, is known to co-localize with cholesterol-rich membrane domains. This study illustrates the role of Cav-1 and BSEP in cholesterol stone formation. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were used as an animal model. HepG2 cells were cultured under different cholesterol concentrations and BSEP, Cav-1, p-PKCα and Hax-1 expression levels were determined via Western blotting. Expression levels of BSEP and Cav-1 mRNA were detected using real-time PCR. Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation assays were performed to study BSEP and Hax-1 distribution. Finally, an ATPase activity assay was performed to detect BSEP transport activity under different cholesterol concentrations in cells. RESULTS: Under low-concentration stimulation with cholesterol, Cav-1 and BSEP protein and mRNA expression levels significantly increased, PKCα phosphorylation significantly decreased, BSEP binding capacity to Hax-1 weakened, and BSEP function increased. Under high-concentration stimulation with cholesterol, Cav-1 and BSEP protein and mRNA expression levels decreased, PKCα phosphorylation increased, BSEP binding capacity to Hax-1 rose, and BSEP function decreased. CONCLUSION: Cav-1 regulates the bile salt export pump on the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes via PKCα-associated signalling under cholesterol stimulation.

CaM-dependent modulation of human CaV1.3 whole-cell and single-channel currents by C-terminal CaMKII phosphorylation site S1475.

Phosphorylation enables rapid modulation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. How phosphorylation modulates human CaV1.3 VGCC, however, is largely unexplored. We characterized modulation of CaV1.3 gating via S1475, the human equivalent of a phosphorylation site identified in the rat. S1475 is highly conserved in CaV1.3 but absent from all other high-voltage activating calcium channel types co-expressed with CaV1.3 in similar tissues. Further, it is located in the C-terminal EF-hand motif, which binds calmodulin (CaM). This is involved in calcium-dependent channel inactivation (CDI). We used amino acid exchanges that mimic either sustained phosphorylation (S1475D) or phosphorylation resistance (S1475A). Whole-cell and single-channel recordings of phosphorylation state imitating CaV1.3 variants in transiently transfected HEK-293 cells revealed functional relevance of S1475 in human CaV1.3. We obtained three main findings: (1) CaV1.3_S1475D, imitating sustained phosphorylation, displayed decreased current density, reduced CDI and (in-) activation kinetics shifted to more depolarized voltages compared with both wildtype CaV1.3 and the phosphorylation-resistant CaV1.3_S1475A variant. Corresponding to the decreased current density, we find a reduced open probability of CaV1.3_S1475D at the single-channel level. (2) Using CaM overexpression or depletion, we find that CaM is necessary for modulating CaV1.3 through S1475. (3) CaMKII activation led to CaV1.3_WT-current properties similar to those of CaV1.3_S1475D, but did not affect CaV1.3_S1475A, confirming that CaMKII modulates human CaV1.3 via S1475. Given the physiological and pathophysiological importance of CaV1.3, our findings on the S1475-mediated interplay of phosphorylation, CaM interaction and CDI provide hints for approaches on specific CaV1.3 modulation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. KEY POINTS: Phosphorylation modulates activity of voltage-gated L-type calcium channels for specific cellular needs but is largely unexplored for human CaV1.3 channels. Here we report that S1475, a CaMKII phosphorylation site identified in rats, is functionally relevant in human CaV1.3. Imitating phosphorylation states at S1475 alters current density and inactivation in a calmodulin-dependent manner. In wildtype CaV1.3 but not in the phosphorylation-resistant variant S1475A, CaMKII activation elicits effects similar to constitutively mimicking phosphorylation at S1475. Our findings provide novel insights on the interplay of modulatory mechanisms of human CaV1.3 channels, and present a possible target for CaV1.3-specific gating modulation in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Pharmacologic Approach to Sinoatrial Node Dysfunction.

The spontaneous activity of the sinoatrial node initiates the heartbeat. Sino-atrial node dysfunction (SND) and sick sinoatrial (sick sinus) syndrome are caused by the heart's inability to generate a normal sinoatrial node action potential. In clinical practice, SND is generally considered an age-related pathology, secondary to degenerative fibrosis of the heart pacemaker tissue. However, other forms of SND exist, including idiopathic primary SND, which is genetic, and forms that are secondary to cardiovascular or systemic disease. The incidence of SND in the general population is expected to increase over the next half century, boosting the need to implant electronic pacemakers. During the last two decades, our knowledge of sino-atrial node physiology and of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying SND has advanced considerably. This review summarizes the current knowledge about SND mechanisms and discusses the possibility of introducing new pharmacologic therapies for treating SND.

Increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 induces tendon hypertrophy with increased collagen fibrillogenesis and biomechanical properties.

Tendons are tension-bearing tissues transmitting force from muscle to bone for body movement. This mechanical loading is essential for tendon development, homeostasis, and healing after injury. While Ca2+ signaling has been studied extensively for its roles in mechanotransduction, regulating muscle, bone, and cartilage development and homeostasis, knowledge about Ca2+ signaling and the source of Ca2+ signals in tendon fibroblast biology are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the function of Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 voltage-gated Ca2+ channel in tendon formation. Using a reporter mouse, we found that CaV 1.2 is highly expressed in tendon during development and downregulated in adult homeostasis. To assess its function, we generated ScxCre;CaV 1.2TS mice that express a gain-of-function mutant CaV 1.2 in tendon. We found that mutant tendons were hypertrophic, with more tendon fibroblasts but decreased cell density. TEM analyses demonstrated increased collagen fibrillogenesis in the hypertrophic tendons. Biomechanical testing revealed that the hypertrophic tendons display higher peak load and stiffness, with no changes in peak stress and elastic modulus. Proteomic analysis showed no significant difference in the abundance of type I and III collagens, but mutant tendons had about two-fold increase in other ECM proteins such as tenascin C, tenomodulin, periostin, type XIV and type VIII collagens, around 11-fold increase in the growth factor myostatin, and significant elevation of matrix remodeling proteins including Mmp14, Mmp2, and cathepsin K. Taken together, these data highlight roles for increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV 1.2 on regulating expression of myostatin growth factor and ECM proteins for tendon collagen fibrillogenesis during tendon formation.

Tetrodotoxin-resistant mechanosensitivity and L-type calcium channel-mediated spontaneous calcium activity in enteric neurons.

Gut motility undergoes a switch from myogenic to neurogenic control in late embryonic development. Here, we report on the electrical events that underlie this transition in the enteric nervous system, using the GCaMP6f reporter in neural crest cell derivatives. We found that spontaneous calcium activity is tetrodotoxin (TTX) resistant at stage E11.5, but not at E18.5. Motility at E18.5 was characterized by periodic, alternating high- and low-frequency contractions of the circular smooth muscle; this frequency modulation was inhibited by TTX. Calcium imaging at the neurogenic-motility stages E18.5-P3 showed that CaV1.2-positive neurons exhibited spontaneous calcium activity, which was inhibited by nicardipine and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB). Our protocol locally prevented muscle tone relaxation, arguing for a direct effect of nicardipine on enteric neurons, rather than indirectly by its relaxing effect on muscle. We demonstrated that the ENS was mechanosensitive from early stages on (E14.5) and that this behaviour was TTX and 2-APB resistant. We extended our results on L-type channel-dependent spontaneous activity and TTX-resistant mechanosensitivity to the adult colon. Our results shed light on the critical transition from myogenic to neurogenic motility in the developing gut, as well as on the intriguing pathways mediating electro-mechanical sensitivity in the enteric nervous system. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? What are the first neural electric events underlying the transition from myogenic to neurogenic motility in the developing gut, what channels do they depend on, and does the enteric nervous system already exhibit mechanosensitivity? What is the main finding and its importance? ENS calcium activity is sensitive to tetrodotoxin at stage E18.5 but not E11.5. Spontaneous electric activity at fetal and adult stages is crucially dependent on L-type calcium channels and IP3R receptors, and the enteric nervous system exhibits a tetrodotoxin-resistant mechanosensitive response. Abstract figure legend Tetrodotoxin-resistant Ca2+ rise induced by mechanical stimulation in the E18.5 mouse duodenum.

Allosteric inhibitor of SHP2 enhances macrophage endocytosis and bacteria elimination by increasing caveolae activation and protects against bacterial sepsis.

The uncontrolled bacterial infection-induced cytokine storm and sequential immunosuppression are commonly observed in septic patients, which indicates that the activation of phagocytic cells and the efficient and timely elimination of bacteria are crucial for combating bacterial infections. However, the role of dysregulated immune cells and their disrupted function in sepsis remains unclear. Here, we found that macrophages exhibited the impaired endocytosis capabilities in sepsis by Single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing. Caveolae protein Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) of macrophages was inactivated by SHP2 rapidly during Escherichia coli (E.coli) infection. Allosteric inhibitor of SHP2 effectively maintains Cav-1 phosphorylation to enhance macrophage to endocytose and eliminate bacteria. Additionally, TLR4 endocytosis of macrophage was also enhanced upon E.coli infection by SHP099, inducing an increased and rapidly resolved inflammatory response. In vivo, pretreatment or posttreatment with inhibitor of SHP2 significantly reduced the bacterial burden in organs and mortality of mice subjected E.coli infection or CLP-induced sepsis. The cotreatment of inhibitor of SHP2 with an antibiotic conferred complete protection against mortality in mice. Our findings suggest that Cav-1-mediated endocytosis and bacterial elimination may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of sepsis, highlighting inhibitor of SHP2 as a potential therapeutic agent for sepsis.

Disintegration of Cav-1/ß-catenin complex attenuates neuronal death after ischemia-reperfusion injury by promoting ß-catenin nuclear translocation.

BACKGROUND: The roles of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury are well established. The translocation of ß-catenin into the nucleus is critical for regulating neuronal apoptosis, repair, and neurogenesis within the ischemic brain. It has been reported that the scaffold domain of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) (residues 95-98) interacts with ß-catenin (residues 330-337). However, the specific contribution of the Cav-1/ß-catenin complex to I/R injury remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the mechanism underlying the involvement of the Cav-1/ß-catenin complex in the subcellular translocation of ß-catenin and its subsequent effects on cerebral I/R injury, we treated ischemic brains with ASON (Cav-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides) or FTVT (a competitive peptide antagonist of the Cav-1 and ß-catenin interaction). Our study demonstrated that the binding of Cav-1 to ß-catenin following I/R injury prevented the nuclear accumulation of ß-catenin. Treatment with ASON or FTVT after I/R injury significantly increased the levels of nuclear ß-catenin. Furthermore, ASON reduced the phosphorylation of ß-catenin at Ser33, Ser37, and Thr41, which contributes to its proteasomal degradation, while FTVT increased phosphorylation at Tyr333, which is associated with its nuclear translocation. CONCLUSIONS: The above results indicate that the formation of the Cav-1/ß-catenin complex anchors ß-catenin in the cytoplasm following I/R injury. Additionally, both ASON and FTVT treatments attenuated neuronal death in ischemic brains. Our study suggests that targeting the interaction between Cav-1 and ß-catenin serve as a novel therapeutic strategy to protect against neuronal damage during cerebral injury.

Clinical value of echocardiography combined with serum Cav-1, NFATc1, and PAI-1 in the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease complicated with coronary artery lesions.

To analyze the clinical value of echocardiography combined with serum lacuna protein-1 (Cav-1), activated T cell nuclear factor C1 (NFATc1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) complicated with coronary artery lesions (CAL). A total of 200 children with KD treated in our hospital from January 2019 to October 2021 were grouped as the KD alone group (n = 56) and the KD complicated with CAL group (n = 144) according to the results of coronary angiography. The levels of Cav-1, NFATc1, and PAI-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Echocardiography was performed and the internal diameters of left and right coronary arteries were compared between the two groups. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of echocardiography combined with serum Cav-1, NFATc1, and PAI-1 in the diagnosis of KD complicated with CAL were analyzed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Coronary angiography, as the gold standard, showed that the sensitivity of echocardiography in diagnosing KD with CAL was 88.19% (127/144), the specificity was 66.07% (37/56), and the accuracy was 82.00% (164/200). ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC of KD complicated with CAL diagnosed by echocardiography, Cav-1, NFATc1, and PAI-1 was 0.819, 0.715, 0.688, and 0.663, respectively, and the AUC of combined diagnosis of the four was 0.896. The combination of echocardiography, Cav-1, NFATc1, and PAI-1 has high value in diagnosing KD complicated with CAL, which can be widely used in clinical practice.

A Review of the Role of Caveolin-1 in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen (APAP) is commonly used as an antipyretic and analgesic agent. Excessive APAP can induce liver toxicity, known as APAP-induced liver injury (ALI). The metabolism and pathogenesis of APAP have been extensively studied in recent years, and many cellular processes such as autophagy, mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and liver regeneration have been identified to be involved in the pathogenesis of ALI. Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) as a scaffold protein has also been shown to be involved in the development of various diseases, especially liver disease and tumorigenesis. The role of CAV-1 in the development of liver disease and the association between them remains a challenging and uncharted territory. SUMMARY: In this review, we briefly explore the potential therapeutic effects of CAV-1 on ALI through autophagy, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Further research to better understand the mechanisms by which CAV-1 regulates liver injury will not only enhance our understanding of this important cellular process, but also help develop new therapies for human disease by targeting CAV-1 targets. KEY MESSAGES: This review briefly summarizes the potential protective mechanisms of CAV-1 against liver injury caused by APAP.

Voltage sensor movements of CaV1.1 during an action potential in skeletal muscle fibers.

The skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ channel (CaV1.1) works primarily as a voltage sensor for skeletal muscle action potential (AP)-evoked Ca2+ release. CaV1.1 contains four distinct voltage-sensing domains (VSDs), yet the contribution of each VSD to AP-evoked Ca2+ release remains unknown. To investigate the role of VSDs in excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), we encoded cysteine substitutions on each S4 voltage-sensing segment of CaV1.1, expressed each construct via in vivo gene transfer electroporation, and used in cellulo AP fluorometry to track the movement of each CaV1.1 VSD in skeletal muscle fibers. We first provide electrical measurements of CaV1.1 voltage sensor charge movement in response to an AP waveform. Then we characterize the fluorescently labeled channels' VSD fluorescence signal responses to an AP and compare them with the waveforms of the electrically measured charge movement, the optically measured free myoplasmic Ca2+, and the calculated rate of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum for an AP, the physiological signal for skeletal muscle fiber activation. A considerable fraction of the fluorescence signal for each VSD occurred after the time of peak Ca2+ release, and even more occurred after the earlier peak of electrically measured charge movement during an AP, and thus could not directly reflect activation of Ca2+ release or charge movement, respectively. However, a sizable fraction of the fluorometric signals for VSDs I, II, and IV, but not VSDIII, overlap the rising phase of charge moved, and even more for Ca2+ release, and thus could be involved in voltage sensor rearrangements or Ca2+ release activation.

Dysregulated SYVN1 promotes CAV1 protein ubiquitination and accentuates ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of death and severe disability, and there remains a substantial need for the development of therapeutic agents for neuroprotection in acute ischemic stroke (IS) to protect the brain against damage before and during recanalization. Caveolin-1 (CAV1), an integrated protein that is located at the caveolar membrane, has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects during IS. Nevertheless, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we explored the upstream modifiers of CAV1 in IS. METHODS: E3 ubiquitin ligases of CAV1 that are differentially expressed in IS were screened using multiple databases. The transcription factor responsible for the dysregulation of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase synoviolin (SYVN1) in IS was predicted and verified. Genetic manipulations by lentiviral vectors were applied to investigate the effects of double-strand-break repair protein rad21 homolog (RAD21), SYVN1, and CAV1 in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model and mouse HT22 hippocampal neurons induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). RESULTS: SYVN1 was highly expressed in mice with MCAO, and knockdown of SYVN1 alleviated IS injury in mice, as evidenced by limited infarction volume, the lower water content in the brain, and repressed apoptosis and inflammatory response. RAD21 inhibited the transcription of SYVN1, thereby reducing the ubiquitination modification of CAV1. Overexpression of RAD21 elicited a neuroprotective role as well in mice with MCAO and HT22 induced with OGD, which was overturned by SYVN1. CONCLUSION: Transcriptional repression of SYVN1 by RAD21 alleviates IS in mice by reducing ubiquitination modification of CAV1.

Aland Island Eye Disease with Retinoschisis in the Clinical Spectrum of CACNA1F-Associated Retinopathy-A Case Report.

Aland island eye disease (AIED), an incomplete form of X-linked congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB2A), and X-linked cone-rod dystrophy type 3 (CORDX3) display many overlapping clinical findings. They result from mutations in the CACNA1F gene encoding the α1F subunit of the Cav1.4 channel, which plays a key role in neurotransmission from rod and cone photoreceptors to bipolar cells. Case report: A 57-year-old Caucasian man who had suffered since his early childhood from nystagmus, nyctalopia, low visual acuity and high myopia in both eyes (OU) presented to expand the diagnostic process, because similar symptoms had occurred in his 2-month-old grandson. Additionally, the patient was diagnosed with protanomalous color vision deficiency, diffuse thinning, and moderate hypopigmentation of the retina. Optical coherence tomography of the macula revealed retinoschisis in the right eye and foveal hypoplasia in the left eye. Dark-adapted (DA) 3.0 flash full-field electroretinography (ffERG) amplitudes of a-waves were attenuated, and the amplitudes of b-waves were abolished, which resulted in a negative pattern of the ERG. Moreover, the light-adapted 3.0 and 3.0 flicker ffERG as well as the DA 0.01 ffERG were consistent with severely reduced responses OU. Genetic testing revealed a hemizygous form of a stop-gained mutation (c.4051C>T) in exon 35 of the CACNA1F gene. This pathogenic variant has so far been described in combination with a phenotype corresponding to CSNB2A and CORDX3. This report contributes to expanding the knowledge of the clinical spectrum of CACNA1F-related disease. Wide variability and the overlapping clinical manifestations observed within AIED and its allelic disorders may not be explained solely by the consequences of different mutations on proteins. The lack of distinct genotype-phenotype correlations indicates the presence of additional, not yet identified, disease-modifying factors.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid Rescues Cav1.2-L-Type Ca2+ Channel Decline Caused by Saturated Fatty Acids via Both Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4-Dependent and -Independent Pathways in Cardiomyocytes.

Dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) exerts antiarrhythmic effects, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the possible beneficial actions of EPA on saturated fatty acid-induced changes in the L-type Ca2+ channel in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes were cultured with an oleic acid/palmitic acid mixture (OAPA) in the presence or absence of EPA. Beating rate reduction in cardiomyocytes caused by OAPA were reversed by EPA. EPA also retrieved a reduction in Cav1.2 L-type Ca2+ current, mRNA, and protein caused by OAPA. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed a distinct downregulation of the Cav1.2 channel caused by OAPA with a concomitant decrease in the phosphorylated component of a transcription factor adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) in the nucleus, which were rescued by EPA. A free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4) agonist TUG-891 reversed expression of Cav1.2 and CREB mRNA caused by OAPA, whereas an FFAR4 antagonist AH-7614 abolished the effects of EPA. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation caused by OAPA decreased Cav1.2 and CREB mRNA expressions, which was reversed by an ROS scavenger. Our data suggest that EPA rescues cellular Cav1.2-Ca2+ channel decline caused by OAPA lipotoxicity and oxidative stresses via both free fatty acid receptor 4-dependent and -independent pathways.

[Effect of Erchen Decoction on liver mitochondrial function by inhibiting mTORC1/SREBP1/CAV1 pathway in mice with high-fat diet].

This study aims to investigate the effect of Erchen Decoction(ECD) on liver mitochondrial function in mice with a high-fat diet and its possible mechanism. A total of sixty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group, high-fat group, ECD group, mTORC1 activator(MHY) group, ECD+MHY group, and polyene phosphatidyl choline(PPC) group, with 10 rats in each group. The normal group was given a normal diet, and the other groups were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. At the 17th week, the ECD group and ECD+MHY group were given ECD(8.7 g·kg~(-1)) daily, and the PPC group was given PPC(0.18 g·kg~(-1)) daily, while the remaining groups were given normal saline(0.01 mL·g~(-1)) daily for four weeks. In the 19th week, the MHY group and ECD+MHY group were injected intraperitoneally with MHY(5 mg·kg~(-1)) every other day for two weeks. During the experiment, the general conditions of the mice were observed. The contents of triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) in serum were measured. Morphological changes in liver tissue were examined through HE and oil red O staining. The content of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) was determined using chemiluminescence, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using a fluorescence probe(JC-1). Western blot was performed to detect the expression of rapamycin target protein complex 1(mTOR1), ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1(S6K), sterol regulatory element binding protein 1(SREBP1), and caveolin 1(CAV1). RESULTS:: revealed that compared with the normal group, the mice in the high-fat group exhibited significant increases in body weight and abdominal circumference(P<0.01). Additionally, there were significant increases in TG and TC levels(P<0.01). HE and oil red O staining showed that the boundaries of hepatic lobules were unclear; hepatocytes were enlarged, round, and irregularly arranged, with obvious lipid droplet deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration. The liver ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential decreased significantly(P<0.01). The expression of p-mTOR, p-S6K, and n-SREBP1 increased significantly(P<0.01), while the expression of CAV1 decreased significantly(P<0.01). Compared with the high-fat group, the body weight and TG content of mice in the ECD group and PPC group decreased significantly(P<0.05). Improvements were observed in hepatocyte morphology, lipid deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, there were significant increases in ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of p-mTOR, p-S6K, and n-SREBP1 decreased significantly in the ECD group(P<0.01), while CAV1 expression increased significantly(P<0.01). However, the indices mentioned above did not show improvement in the MHY group. When the ECD+MHY group was compared with the MHY group, there were significant reductions in body weight and TG contents(P<0.05). The morphological changes of hepatocytes, lipid deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration were recovered. Moreover, there were significant increases in liver ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential(P<0.05 or P<0.05). The expression of p-mTOR, p-S6K, and n-SREBP1 decreased significantly(P<0.01), while CAV1 expression increased significantly(P<0.01). In conclusion, ECD can improve mitochondrial function by regulating the mTORC1/SREBP1/CAV1 pathway. This mechanism may be involved in the resolution of phlegm syndrome and the regulation of lipid metabolism.