title: CACNA2D2-mediated apoptosis in NSCLC cells is associated with alterations of the intracellular calcium signaling and disruption of mitochondria membrane integrity.
abstract: The CACNA2D2 gene, a new subunit of the Ca(2+)-channel complex, was identified in the homozygous deletion region of chromosome 3p21.3 in human lung and breast cancers. Expression deficiency of the CACNA2D2 in cancer cells suggests a possible link of it to Ca(2+) signaling in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and other cancers. We investigated the effects of overexpression of CACNA2D2 on intracellular Ca(2+) contents, mitochondria homeostasis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis by adenoviral vector-mediated wild-type CACNA2D2 gene transfer in 3p21.3-deficient nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines. Exogenous expression of CACNA2D2 significantly inhibited tumor cell growth compared with the controls. Overexpression of CACNA2D2 induced apoptosis in H1299 (12.5%), H358 (13.7%), H460 (22.3%), and A549 (50.1%) cell lines. Levels of intracellular free Ca(2+) were elevated in AdCACNA2D2-transduced cells compared with the controls. Mitochondria membrane depolarization was observed prior to apoptosis in Ad-CACNA2D2 and Adp53-transduced H460 and A549 cells. Release of cyt c into the cytosol, caspase 3 activation, and PARP cleavage were also detected in these cells. Together, these results suggest that one of the pathways in CACNA2D2-induced apoptosis is mediated through disruption of mitochondria membrane integrity, the release of cyt c, and the activation of caspases, a process that is associated with regulation of cytosolic free Ca(2+) contents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Giovanni L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Boning
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Minna
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C425903:CACNA2D1 protein, human; D015220:Calcium Channels; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D017931:DNA Primers; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium