title: T-type Ca2+ channel expression in human esophageal carcinomas: a functional role in proliferation.
abstract: In the present study the role of T-type Ca(2+) channels in cancer cell proliferation was examined. Seventeen human esophageal cancer cell lines were screened for T-type channels using RT-PCR and voltage-clamp recordings. mRNAs for all three T-type channel alpha(1)-subunits (alpha(1G), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I)) were detected in all 17 cell lines: either alpha(1H) alone, alpha(1H) and alpha(1G), or all three T-type alpha(1)-subunits. Eleven cell lines were further subjected to voltage-clamp recordings: one, i.e. the TE8 cell line, was found to exhibit a typical T-type current while others exhibited a minimal or no T-type current. Cell proliferation assays were performed in the presence or absence of T-type channel blocker mibefradil in KYSE150, KYSE180 and TE1 cells expressing mRNA for T-type channel alpha(1)-subunits but lacking T-type current, and TE8 cells exhibiting T-type current. Only TE8 cell proliferation was reduced by mibefradil. Silencing the alpha(1G)-gene that encodes functional T-type Ca(2+) channels in TE8 cells with type-specific shRNA transduction also significantly decreased TE8 cell proliferation. The reduction of cell proliferation in TE8 cells was found to be associated with an up-regulation of p21(CIP1). Moreover, p53 silencing nearly abolished the up-regulation of p21(CIP1) resulting from mibefradil T-type channel blockade. Together, these findings suggest a functional role of T-type channels in certain esophageal carcinomas, and that inhibition of T-type channels reduces cell proliferation via a p53-dependent p21(CIP1) pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Fengmin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hairu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mingzhou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Songwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53