• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.363-372
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• 2020

Gardenia jasminoides (GJ) is a widely used herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on the ORAI1 channel, which is important in generating intracellular calcium signaling for T cell activation, remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether 70% ethanolic GJ extract (GJ_EtOH) and its subsequent fractions inhibit ORAI1 and determined which constituents contributed to this effect. Whole-cell patch clamp analysis revealed that GJ_EtOH (64.7% ± 3.83% inhibition at 0.1 mg/ml) and all its fractions showed inhibitory effects on the ORAI1 channel. Among the GJ fractions, the hexane fraction (GJ_HEX, 66.8% ± 9.95% at 0.1 mg/ml) had the most potent inhibitory effects in hORAI1-hSTIM1 co-transfected HEK293T cells. Chemical constituent analysis revealed that the strong ORAI1 inhibitory effect of GJ_HEX was due to linoleic acid, and in other fractions, we found that genipin inhibited ORAI1. Genipin significantly inhibited I_ORAI1 and interleukin-2 production in CD3/CD28-stimulated Jurkat T lymphocytes by 35.9% ± 3.02% and 54.7% ± 1.32% at 30 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the same genipin concentration inhibited the proliferation of human primary CD4⁺ T lymphocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 antibodies by 54.9% ± 8.22%, as evaluated by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester assay. Our findings suggest that genipin may be one of the active components of GJ responsible for T cell suppression, which is partially mediated by activation of the ORAI1 channel. This study helps us understand the mechanisms of GJ in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2022

Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) represents one of the major Ca²⁺ entry routes in non-excitable cells. It is involved in a variety of fundamental biological processes and the maintenance of Ca²⁺ homeostasis. The Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) channel consists of stromal interaction molecule and Orai; however, the role and action of Homer proteins as an adaptor protein to SOCE-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling through the activation of CRAC channels in non-excitable cells still remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in the process of Ca²⁺ signaling induced by the interaction between CRACs and Homer2 proteins in non-excitable cells. The response to Ca²⁺ entry by thapsigargin-mediated Ca²⁺ store depletion remarkably decreased in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice, as compared to wild-type cells. It also showed critical differences in regulated patterns by the specific blockers of SOCE in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice. The response to Ca²⁺ entry by the depletion in Ca²⁺ store markedly increased in the cellular overexpression of Orai1 and STIM1 as compared to the overexpression of Homer2 in cells; however, this response was remarkably inhibited by the overexpression of Orai1, STIM1, and Homer2. These results suggest that Homer2 has a critical role in the regulatory action of SOCE activity and the interactions between CRAC channels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2021

Skin photoaging occurs due to chronic exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UV), the main factor contributing to extrinsic skin aging. Clinical signs of photoaging include the formation of deep, coarse skin wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Although melanogenesis and skin wrinkling occur in different skin cells and have different underlying mechanisms, their initiation involves intracellular calcium signaling via calcium ion channels. The ORAI1 channel initiates melanogenesis in melanocytes, and the TRPV1 channel initiates MMP-1 production in keratinocytes in response to UV stimulation. We aimed to develop a drug that may simultaneously inhibit ORAI1 and TRPV1 activity to help prevent photoaging. We synthesized nootkatol, a chemical derivative of valencene. TRPV1 and ORAI1 activities were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i was measured using calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye (Fura-2 AM). UV-induced melanin formation and MMP-1 production were quantified in B16F10 melanoma cells and HaCaT cells, respectively. Our results indicate that nootkatol (90 μM) reduced TRPV1 current by 94% ± 2% at -60 mV and ORAI1 current by 97% ± 1% at -120 mV. Intracellular calcium signaling was significantly inhibited by nootkatol in response to ORAI1 activation in human primary melanocytes (51.6% ± 0.98% at 100 μM). Additionally, UV-induced melanin synthesis was reduced by 76.38% ± 5.90% in B16F10 melanoma cells, and UV-induced MMP-1 production was reduced by 59.33% ± 1.49% in HaCaT cells. In conclusion, nootkatol inhibits both TRPV1 and ORAI1 to prevent photoaging, and targeting ion channels may be a promising strategy for preventing photoaging.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2019

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is mediated by disturbance of $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis. The store-operated calcium (SOC) channel is the primary $Ca^{2+}$ channel in non-excitable cells, but its participation in agent-induced ER stress is not clear. In this study, the effects of tunicamycin on $Ca^{2+}$ influx in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were observed with the fluorescent probe Fluo-4 AM. The effect of tunicamycin on the expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR)-related proteins BiP and CHOP was assayed by western blotting with or without inhibition of Orai1. Tunicamycin induced endothelial dysfunction by activating ER stress. Orai1 expression and the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in HUVECs were both upregulated during ER stress. The SOC channel inhibitor SKF96365 reversed tunicamycin-induced endothelial cell dysfunction by inhibiting ER stress. Regulation of tunicamycin-induced ER stress by Orai1 indicates that modification of Orai1 activity may have therapeutic value for conditions with ER stress-induced endothelial dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2018

Recent human genetic studies have shown that $G{\beta}5$ is related to various clinical symptoms, such as sinus bradycardia, cognitive disability, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although the calcium signaling cascade is closely associated with a heterotrimeric G-protein, the function of $G{\beta}5$ in calcium signaling and its relevance to clinical symptoms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the in vitro changes of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) with exogenous expression of $G{\beta}5$. The cells expressing $G{\beta}5$ had enhanced SOCE after depletion of calcium ion inside the endoplasmic reticulum. $G{\beta}5$ also augmented Stim1- and Orai1-dependent SOCE. An ORAI1 loss-of-function mutant did not show inhibition of $G{\beta}5$-induced SOCE, and a STIM1-ERM truncation mutant showed no enhancement of SOCE. These results suggested a novel role of GNB5 and Stim1, and provided insight into the regulatory mechanism of SOCE.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.755-765
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• 2023

Background: Caveolin-1, the scaffolding protein of cholesterol-rich invaginations, plays an important role in store-operated Ca²⁺ influx and its phosphorylation at Tyr14 (p-caveolin-1) is vital to mobilize protection against myocardial ischemia (MI) injury. SOCE, comprising STIM1, ORAI1 and TRPC1, contributes to intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) accumulation in cardiomyocytes. The purified extract of steamed Panax ginseng (EPG) attenuated [Ca²⁺]_i overload against MI injury. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of EPG affecting p-caveolin-1 to further mediate SOCE/[Ca²⁺]_i against MI injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and a rat model. Methods: PP2, an inhibitor of p-caveolin-1, was used. Cell viability, [Ca²⁺]_i concentration were analyzed in cardiomyocytes. In rats, myocardial infarct size, pathological damages, apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis were evaluated, p-caveolin-1 and STIM1 were detected by immunofluorescence, and the levels of caveolin-1, STIM1, ORAI1 and TRPC1 were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. And, release of LDH, cTnI and BNP was measured. Results: EPG, ginsenosides accounting for 57.96%, suppressed release of LDH, cTnI and BNP, and protected cardiomyocytes by inhibiting Ca²⁺ influx. And, EPG significantly relieved myocardial infarct size, cardiac apoptosis, fibrosis, and ultrastructure abnormality. Moreover, EPG negatively regulated SOCE via increasing p-caveolin-1 protein, decreasing ORAI1 mRNA and protein levels of ORAI1, TRPC1 and STIM1. More importantly, inhibition of the p-caveolin-1 significantly suppressed all of the above cardioprotection of EPG. Conclusions: Caveolin-1 phosphorylation is involved in the protective effects of EPG against MI injury via increasing p-caveolin-1 to negatively regulate SOCE/[Ca²⁺]_i.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2024

Satellite glial cells (SGCs), a major type of glial cell in the autonomic ganglia, closely envelop the cell body and even the synaptic regions of a single neuron with a very narrow gap. This structurally unique organization suggests that autonomic neurons and SGCs may communicate reciprocally. Glial Ca²⁺ signaling is critical for controlling neural activity. Here, for the first time we identified the machinery of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) which is critical for cellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis in rat sympathetic ganglia under normal and pathological states. Quantitative realtime PCR and immunostaining analyses showed that Orai1 and stromal interaction molecules 1 (STIM1) proteins are the primary components of SOCE machinery in the sympathetic ganglia. When the internal Ca²⁺ stores were depleted in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, the number of plasmalemmal Orai1 puncta was increased in neurons and SGCs, suggesting activation of the Ca²⁺ entry channels. Intracellular Ca²⁺ imaging revealed that SOCE was present in SGCs and neurons; however, the magnitude of SOCE was much larger in the SGCs than in the neurons. The SOCE was significantly suppressed by GSK7975A, a selective Orai1 blocker, and Pyr6, a SOCE blocker. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulated the glial fibrillary acidic protein and Toll-like receptor 4 in the sympathetic ganglia. Importantly, LPS attenuated SOCE via downregulating Orai1 and STIM1 expression. In conclusion, sympathetic SGCs functionally express the SOCE machinery, which is indispensable for intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling. The SOCE is highly susceptible to inflammation, which may affect sympathetic neuronal activity and thereby autonomic output.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2021

Under physiological conditions, calcium (Ca²⁺) regulates essential functions of polarized secretory cells by the stimulation of specific Ca²⁺ signaling mechanisms, such as increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) via the store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) and the receptor-operated Ca²⁺ entry (ROCE). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that interact with G protein-coupled receptors, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) receptors, Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1, and transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels. However, their role in the Ca²⁺ signaling in exocrine cells remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in the Ca²⁺ signaling and regulatory channels to mediate SOCE and ROCE in pancreatic acinar cells. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2^-/-) markedly increased the expression of TRPC3, TRPC6, and Orai1 in pancreatic acinar cells, whereas these expressions showed no difference in whole brains of wild-type and Homer2^-/- mice. Furthermore, the response of Ca²⁺ entry by carbachol also showed significant changes to the patterns regulated by specific blockers of SOCE and ROCE in pancreatic acinar cells of Homer2^-/- mice. Thus, these results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in the regulatory action of the [Ca²⁺]_i via SOCE and ROCE in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.378-387
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• 2018

Skeletal muscle contracts or relaxes to maintain the body position and locomotion. For the contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle, $Ca^{2+}$ in the cytosol of skeletal muscle fibers acts as a switch to turn on and off a series of contractile proteins. The cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level in skeletal muscle fibers is governed mainly by movements of $Ca^{2+}$ between the cytosol and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry (SOCE), a $Ca^{2+}$ entryway from the extracellular space to the cytosol, has gained a significant amount of attention from muscle physiologists. Orai1 and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) are the main protein identities of SOCE. This mini-review focuses on the roles of STIM proteins and SOCE in the physiological and pathophysiological functions of skeletal muscle and in their correlations with recently identified proteins, as well as historical proteins that are known to mediate skeletal muscle function.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.58-63
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• 2020

The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a role in the maintenance of a healthy oral environment. Under physiological conditions, saliva secretion within the acinar cells of the gland is regulated by stimulation of specific calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling mechanisms such as increases in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) via storeoperated Ca²⁺ entry, which involves components such as Orai1, transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical 1, stromal interaction molecules, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP₃) receptors (IP₃Rs). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, IP₃Rs, ryanodine receptors, and TRP channels. However, their exact role in Ca²⁺ signaling in the salivary glands remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in Ca²⁺ signaling and saliva secretion in parotid gland acinar cells under physiological conditions. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2^-/-) markedly decreased the amplitude of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations via the stimulation of carbachol, which is physiologically concentrated in parotid acinar cells, whereas the frequency of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations showed no difference between wild-type and Homer2^-/- mice. Homer2^-/- mice also showed a significant decrease in amylase release by carbachol in the parotid gland in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in maintaining [Ca²⁺]_i concentration and secretion of saliva in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.