title: The effect of sarcolemmal cholesterol content on intracellular calcium ion concentration in cultured cardiomyocytes.
abstract: In this study the relationship between sarcolemmal free cholesterol content and intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) was explored. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes the cellular free cholesterol content was modulated by treatment with liposomes. Using cholesterol-rich or cholesterol-free liposomes, sarcolemmal free cholesterol content was raised or diminished, respectively. An increased sarcolemmal free cholesterol content resulted in a decreased sarcolemmal fluidity, whereas cholesterol depletion resulted in an increase in sarcolemmal fluidity. Cholesterol enrichment was associated with an increased [Ca2+]i, while cholesterol depletion resulted in a decreased [Ca2+]i. The membrane mobilizing agent 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl 8-(cis-2-c-octylcyclopropyl)-octanoate (A2C) caused an increase in sarcolemmal fluidity, and an increased [Ca2+]i. Thus, although sarcolemmal cholesterol depletion as well as A2C treatment increased sarcolemmal fluidity, their effects on [Ca2+]i are opposite. These results indicate that the effect of sarcolemmal free cholesterol content on [Ca2+]i is not mediated by sarcolemmal fluidity. The mechanisms responsible for the observed results are: (i) activated Ca2+ channels when the sarcolemma is enriched with cholesterol, (ii) most likely a stimulated Ca(2+)-ATPase activity when the sarcolemma is depleted of cholesterol, and (iii) inhibited Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity when A2C is incorporated in the sarcolemma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bastiaanse
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Atsma
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van der Laarse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000502:physiology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D008081:Liposomes; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000502:physiology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol; D014700:Verapamil; D002118:Calcium