Altered voltage dependent calcium currents in a neuronal cell line derived from the cerebral cortex of a trisomy 16 fetal mouse, an animal model of Down syndrome.
Human Down syndrome (DS) is determined by the trisomy of autosome 21 and is expressed by multiple abnormalities, being mental retardation the most striking feature. The condition results in altered electrical membrane properties (EMPs) of fetal neurons, which are qualitatively identical to those of trisomy 16 fetal mice (Ts16), an animal model of the human condition. Ts16 hippocampal cultured neurons reportedly exhibit increased voltage-dependent calcium currents (I                         (Ca)) amplitude. Since Ts16 animals are unviable, we have established immortalized cell lines from the cerebral cortex of Ts16 (named CTb) and normal littermates (named CNh). Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we have now studied I                         (Ca) in CTb and CNh cells. Current activation occurs at -40 mV in both cell lines (V                         (holding) = -80 mV). Trisomic cells exhibited a 2.4 fold increase in the maximal Ca(2+) current density compared to normal cells (CNh = -6.3 ± 0.77 pA/pF, n = 18; CTb = -16.4 ± 2.423 pA/pF; P < 0.01, n = 13). Time dependent kinetics for activation and inactivation did not differ between the two cell types. However, steady state inactivation studies revealed a 15 mV shift toward more depolarized potentials in the trisomic condition, suggesting that altered voltage dependence of inactivation may underlie the increased current density. Further, the total charge movement across the membrane is increased in CTb cells, in agreement with that expected by the potential sensitivity shift. These results indicate that CTb cells present altered Ca(2+) currents, similar to those of Ts16 primary cultured central neurons. The CTb cell line represents a model for studying DS-related impairments of EMPs.
Program of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Clasificador 7, Independencia 1027, 8389100, Independencia, Santiago, Chile.
Mario A
MA
Acuña
Ramón
R
Pérez-Nuñez
Jorge
J
Noriega
Ana María
AM
Cárdenas
Juan
J
Bacigalupo
Ricardo
R
Delgado
Christian
C
Arriagada
Juan
J
Segura-Aguilar
Raúl
R
Caviedes
Pablo
P
Caviedes
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D014314:Trisomy
D002118:Calcium