Regulation of hormone-sensitive calcium influx by the adenylyl cyclase system in renal epithelial cells

Abstract

To study signaling pathways regulated by alpha s and alpha i1 in renal epithelial cells, we expressed mutant, activated forms of alpha s and alpha i1 in a continuous proximal tubule cell line (MCT cells). alpha sQ227L increased cAMP production, and alpha ilQ204L reduced forskolin-sensitive cAMP production. alpha ilQ204L increased and alpha sQ227L decreased bradykinin-induced Ca influx across the cell membrane, but neither mutant affected bradykinin-stimulated intracellular Ca release or basal Ca influx. Bradykinin-stimulated Ca influx was reduced by dibutyryl cAMP, isoproterenol, and forskolin. Expression of a mutant regulatory type I subunit for cAMP-dependent protein kinase with reduced affinity for cAMP and treatment with KT-5720, a specific cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, enhanced Ca influx to a degree similar to that in cells expressing alpha ilQ204L. Bradykinin-stimulated c-fos mRNA expression is partially dependent on extracellular Ca. alpha sQ227L reduced and alpha ilQ204L enhanced bradykinin-stimulated c-fos expression. Consequently, in bradykinin-stimulated cells, the adenylyl cyclase system regulates Ca influx through cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but not intracellular Ca release. Furthermore, the Ca influx mechanism acts as an integrator of two signaling pathways such that Ca-dependent signals are damped by activators of adenylyl cyclase and enhanced by inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase.