title: Mastoparan-induced apoptosis of cultured cerebellar granule neurons is initiated by calcium release from intracellular stores.
abstract: We have recently reported that mastoparan, a peptide toxin isolated from wasp venom, induces apoptosis in cultured cerebellar granule neurons that can be blocked by cholera toxin, an activator of Gs. Measurements of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) reveal that mastoparan induces a dramatic elevation of [Ca2+]i that is frequently followed by enhanced leakage of fura-2 out of the neurons, suggesting that this rise in [Ca2+]i may be due to a more generalized change in membrane permeability. However, the mastoparan-induced initial elevation of [Ca2+]i is maintained in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that the rise of [Ca2+]i is from intracellular stores. This conclusion is supported by the observation that depletion of [Ca2+]i stores by pretreatment with either caffeine or thapsigargin attenuates both the rise in [Ca2+]i and cell death induced by mastoparan. Phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, neomycin and U73122 block mastoparan-induced increases of [Ca2+]i and protect against neuronal death. Pretreatment with cholera toxin, but not pertussis toxin, reduced the mastoparan-induced rise in [Ca2+]i. Taken together, our data suggest that mastoparan initiates cell death in cerebellar granule neurons by inducing Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, probably via activation of PLC and IP3. A secondary or parallel process results in disruption of plasma membrane integrity and may be ultimately responsible for the death of these neurons by mastoparan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5120, USA.
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010455:Peptides; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C037500:mastoparan; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D002118:Calcium