title: Calcitonin increases cytosolic free calcium concentration via capacitative calcium influx.
abstract: The calcitonin receptor has been proposed to function as an extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) sensor (Stroop, S. D., Thompson, D. L., Kuestner, R. E., and Moore, E. E. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 19927-19930). To test this hypothesis we studied the LLC-PK1 renal tubular cells and the PC1 cells, a cell line stably transfected with the cloned porcine calcitonin receptor. [Ca2+]i was measured by fura-2 single cell microfluorometry. Addition to the cells equilibrated in 1.25 mM Ca(2+)-containing media of 1-10 mM extracellular Ca2+ did not result in a significant increase of [Ca2+]i. Treatment with 10(-7) M salmon calcitonin (sCT) elicited a rapid, persistent elevation of [Ca2+]i. Addition of 1-10 mM extracellular Ca2+ in the presence of sCT induced a significant [Ca2+]i elevation, about 10-fold that observed in the absence of the hormone. Ca2+ influx was inhibited by lanthanum. The rise of [Ca2+]i at elevated [Ca2+]o was not due to a Ca2+ sensing mechanism with release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, since it was prolonged, and was not abolished by prior depletion of Ca2+ stores with 10(-6)M thapsigargin. On the contrary, this agent potentiated Ca2+ influx after addition of 1-10 mM Ca2+ by 13-fold versus control. Prior stimulation of [Ca2+]i with 10(-7) M arginine-vasopressin had similar effects, enhancing the subsequent Ca2+ influx. Enhancement of Ca2+ influx by sCT was confirmed by increased Mn2+ quenching of fura-2 fluorescence. In conclusion, arginine-vasopressin or calcitonin enhance Ca2+ influx in LLC-PK1 cells via a Ca2+ release-activated conductance, probably dependent upon capacitative Ca2+ entry. Thus, these effects are not unique to the calcitonin receptor and argue against the receptor functioning as a [Ca2+]o sensor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paniccia
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Goldring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D002116:Calcitonin; D002118:Calcium