Activation of Calcium-Sensing Receptor increases intracellular calcium and decreases cAMP and mTOR in PKD1 deficient cells

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 9;8(1):5704. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23732-5.

Abstract

Clinical and fundamental research suggest that altered calcium and cAMP signaling might be the most proximal events in ADPKD pathogenesis. Cells from ADPKD cysts have a reduced resting cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i and increased cAMP levels. CaSR plays an essential role in regulating calcium homeostasis. Its activation is associated with [Ca2+]i increase and cAMP decrease, making CaSR a possible therapeutic target. Human conditionally immortalized Proximal Tubular Epithelial cells (ciPTEC) with stable knockdown of PKD1 (ciPTEC-PC1KD) and ciPTEC generated from an ADPKD1 patient (ciPTEC-PC1Pt) were used as experimental tools. CaSR functional expression was confirmed by studies showing that the calcimimetic NPS-R568 induced a significant increase in [Ca2+]i in ciPTEC-PC1KD and ciPTEC-PC1Pt. Resting [Ca2+]i were significantly lower in ciPTEC-PC1KD with respect to ciPTECwt, confirming calcium dysregulation. As in native cyst cells, significantly higher cAMP levels and mTOR activity were found in ciPTEC-PC1KD compared to ciPTECwt. Of note, NPS-R568 treatment significantly reduced intracellular cAMP and mTOR activity in ciPTEC-PC1KD and ciPTEC-PC1Pt. To conclude, we demonstrated that selective CaSR activation in human ciPTEC carrying PKD1 mutation increases [Ca2+]i, reduces intracellular cAMP and mTOR activity, reversing the principal dysregulations considered the most proximal events in ADPKD pathogenesis, making CaSR a possible candidate as therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / cytology
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Phenethylamines / pharmacology
  • Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant / metabolism*
  • Propylamines / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / metabolism*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • TRPP Cation Channels / genetics*

Substances

  • CASR protein, human
  • N-(2-chlorophenylpropyl)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethylamine
  • Phenethylamines
  • Propylamines
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing
  • TRPP Cation Channels
  • polycystic kidney disease 1 protein
  • Cyclic AMP
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Calcium