Effect of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives on the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and its relationship with apoptosis / Efecto de derivados de tetrahidroquinolinas sobre la homeostasis del Ca2+ intracelular en células de cáncer de mama (MCF-7) y su relación con la apoptosis

Abstract Tetrahydroquinoline derivatives are interesting structures exhibiting a wide range of biological activities, including antitumor effects. In this investigation, the effect of the synthesized tetrahydroquinolines JS-56 and JS-92 on apoptosis, intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), and the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity was determined on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Colorimetric assays were used to assess MCF-7 cells viability and SERCA activity. Fura-2 and rhodamine 123 were used to measure the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the mitochondrial electrochemical potential, respec tively. TUNEL assay was used to analyze DNA fragmentation, while caspase activity and NF-κB-dependent gene expression were assessed by luminescence. In silico models were used for molecular docking analysis. These compounds increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration; the main contribution is the Ca2+ entry from the extracellular milieu. Both JS-56 and JS-92 inhibit the activity of SERCA and dissipate the mitochondrial electrochemical potential through processes dependent and independent of the Ca2+ uptake by this organelle. Furthermore, JS-56 and JS-92 generate cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells. The effect of JS-92 is higher than JS-56. Both compounds activate caspases 7 and 9, cause DNA fragmentation, and potentiate the effect of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate on NF-κB-dependent gene expression. Molecular docking analysis suggests that both compounds have a high interaction for SERCA, similar to thapsigargin. Both tetrahydroquinoline derivatives induced cell death through a combination of apoptotic events, increase [Ca2+]i, and inhibit SERCA activity by direct interaction.

Resumen Los derivados de tetrahidroquinolina son estructuras interesantes que exhiben una amplia gama de actividades biológicas, incluyendo efectos antitumorales. Se determinó el efecto de las tetrahidroquinolinas sintetizadas JS-56 y JS-92 sobre la apoptosis, concentración intracelular de Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) y la actividad Ca2+-ATPasa del retículo sarco(endo)plásmico (SERCA) en células de cáncer de mama MCF-7. Se usaron ensayos colorimétricos para evaluar la viabilidad de las células MCF-7 y la actividad SERCA. Se emplearon Fura-2 y rodamina 123 para medir la concentración de Ca2+ intracelular y el potencial electroquímico mitocondrial, respectivamente. El ensayo TUNEL se utilizó para analizar la fragmentación del ADN, mientras que la actividad de caspasas y la expresión génica dependiente de NF-κB se evaluaron mediante luminiscencia. Modelos in silico permitieron el análisis del acoplamiento molecular. Estos compuestos aumentan la concentración de Ca2+ intracelular; la principal contribución es la entrada de Ca2+ desde el medio extracelular. Tanto JS-56 como JS-92 inhiben la actividad de SERCA y disipan el potencial electroquímico mitocondrial a través de procesos dependientes e independientes de la captación de Ca2+ por este orgánulo. Además, JS-56 y JS-92 generan citotoxicidad en células MCF-7. El efecto de JS-92 es mayor que JS-56. Ambos compuestos activan las caspasas 7 y 9, provocan la fragmentación del ADN y potencian el efecto del 12-miristato-13-acetato de forbol en la expresión génica dependiente de NF-κB. El análisis de acoplamiento molecular sugiere que ambos compuestos tienen una alta interacción con SERCA, similar a la tapsigargina. Ambos derivados de tetrahidroquinolina indujeron la muerte celular a través de una combinación de eventos apoptóticos, aumento de [Ca2+]i e inhibición de la actividad SERCA por interacción directa.

Sphingosine inhibits the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity.

The increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) is the key variable for many different processes, ranging from regulation of cell proliferation to apoptosis. In this work we demonstrated that the sphingolipid sphingosine (Sph) increases the [Ca(2+)]i by inhibiting the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), in a similar manner to thapsigargin (Tg), a specific inhibitor of this Ca(2+) pump. The results showed that addition of sphingosine produced a release of Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum followed by a Ca(2+) entrance from the outside mileu. The results presented in this work support that this sphingolipid could control the activity of the SERCA, and hence sphingosine may participate in the regulation of [Ca(2+)]I in mammalian cells.

[Ca2+ and sphingolipids as modulators for apoptosis and cancer]. / El Ca2+ y los esfingolipidos como moduladores de la apoptosis y el cáncer.

Ca2+ is a second messenger which regulates many functions directly related with cancer such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+],) is finely regulated by several mechanisms, among them ionic channels, the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) and the mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. In cancer, the tumour cell proliferates without control since the capacity to recognize apoptotic signals has been lost. The apoptosis is regulated by changes in several proteins, as caspases and the Bcl-2 family members, among others. Additionally, the "reticulum stress", promoted by the accumulation and aggregation of unfolded proteins in the interior of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ussually leads to apoptosis. The "reticulum stress" can be induced by several agents, remarkably with thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of the SERCA, which in turn induces a large increment in [Ca2+],, leading to apoptosis. As a consequence, currently, derivatives of thapsigargin are successfully been assayed as anti-neoplastic agents. Ca2+ is then transferred to the mitochondria, where it is known to constitute a main apoptotic signal. On the other hand, several sphingolipids, such as ceramide and sphingosine, and their phosphorylated derivatives ceramide-1-phosphate and sphingosine-1-phosphate, directly involved in the [Ca2+]1 regulation, are also recognized as signal messengers related with cancer processes. In this review we discuss new evidences on the effect of several sphingolipids in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and its relationship with apoptosis and cancer.

El Ca2+ y los esfingolípidos como moduladores de la apoptosis y el cáncer / Ca2+ and sphingolipids as modulators for apoptosis and cancer

El Ca2+ es un segundo mensajero que regula funciones directamente relacionadas con el cáncer como la proliferación, diferenciación y la apoptosis. La concentración intracelular de Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) está altamente regulada por diversos mecanismos entre los que destacan canales iónicos, la Ca2+-ATPasa del retículo endoplasmático (SERCA) y de la membrana plasmática (PMCA), y el transporte de Ca2+ mitocondrial. En el cáncer, la célula tumoral prolifera sin control tras su incapacidad de reconocer señales apoptóticas. La apoptosis es mediada a través de cambios en la actividad de ciertas proteínas como las caspasas y miembros de la familia Bcl-2. Adicionalmente, el “estrés del retículo”, promovido por la acumulación y agregación de proteínas mal plegadas en el interior del retículo endoplasmático (RE), puede desencadenar la apoptosis. El “estrés del retículo” es inducido por una variedad de agentes, entre los que destaca la tapsigargina, inhibidor específico de la SERCA, la cual promueve un notable aumento en la [Ca2+]i, induciendo además apoptosis. En consecuencia, actualmente se están ensayando exitosamente derivados de la tapsigargina como agentes antineoplásicos. El Ca2+ es transferido a la mitocondria desencadenando señales apoptóticas. Por otra parte, los esfingolípidos, como la ceramida y la esfingosina, y sus derivados fosforilados, la ceramida-1-fosfato y la esfingosina-1-fosfato, los cuales regulan la [Ca2+]i, también están estrechamente vinculados con la señalización intracelular en procesos relacionados con el cáncer. Esta revisión discute nuevas evidencias sobre el efecto de estos esfingolípidos en la homeostasis de Ca+2 intracelular y su conexión con la apoptosis y el cáncer.

Ca2+ is a second messenger which regulates many functions directly related with cancer such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is finely regulated by several mechanisms, among them ionic channels, the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) and the mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. In cancer, the tumour cell proliferates without control since the capacity to recognize apoptotic signals has been lost. The apoptosis is regulated by changes in several proteins, as caspases and the Bcl-2 family members, among others. Additionally, the “reticulum stress”, promoted by the accumulation and aggregation of unfolded proteins in the interior of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ussually leads to apoptosis. The “reticulum stress” can be induced by several agents, remarkably with thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of the SERCA, which in turn induces a large increment in [Ca2+]I, leading to apoptosis. As a consequence, currently, derivatives of thapsigargin are successfully been assayed as anti-neoplastic agents. Ca2+ is then transferred to the mitochondria, where it is known to constitute a main apoptotic signal. On the other hand, several sphingolipids, such as ceramide and sphingosine, and their phosphorylated derivatives ceramide-1-phosphate and sphingosine-1-phosphate, directly involved in the [Ca2+]I regulation, are also recognized as signal messengers related with cancer processes. In this review we discuss new evidences on the effect of several sphingolipids in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and its relationship with apoptosis and cancer.

The marine sponge toxin agelasine B increases the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7).

PURPOSE: In search for new drugs derived from natural products for the possible treatment of cancer, we studied the action of agelasine B, a compound purified from a marine sponge Agelas clathrodes. METHODS: Agelasine B was purified from a marine sponge Agelas clathrodes and assayed for cytotoxicity by MTT on two human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and SKBr3), on a prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and on human fibroblasts. Changes in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations were assessed with FURA 2 and by confocal microscopy. Determination of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was followed by Pi measurements. Changes in the mitochondria electrochemical potential was followed with Rhodamine 123. Apoptosis and DNA fragmentation were determined by TUNEL experiments. RESULTS: Upon agelasine B treatment, cell viability of both human breast cancer cell lines was one order of magnitude lower as compared with fibroblasts (IC(50) for MCF-7 = 2.99 µM; SKBr3: IC(50) = 3.22 µM vs. fibroblasts: IC(50) = 32.91 µM), while the IC(50) for PC-3 IC(50) = 6.86 µM. Agelasine B induced a large increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in MCF-7, SKBr3, and PC-3 cells. By the use of confocal microscopy coupled to a perfusion system, we could observe that this toxin releases Ca(2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We also demonstrated that agelasine B produces a potent inhibition of the ER Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), and that this compound induced the fragmentation of DNA. Accordingly, agelasine B reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and was able to activate caspase 8, without affecting the activity of caspase 7. CONCLUSIONS: Agelasine B in MCF-7 cells induce the activation of apoptosis in response to a sustained increase in the [Ca(2+)]( i ) after blocking the SERCA activity. The reproduction of the effects of agelasine B on cell viability and on the [Ca(2+)]( I ) obtained on SKBr3 and PC-3 cancer cells strongly suggests the generality of the mechanism of action of this toxin.