Calcium receptor is functionally expressed in rat neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes

Jacob Tfelt-Hansen*, Jakob Lerche Hansen, Sanela Smajilovic, Ernest F. Terwilliger, Stig Haunso, Soren P. Sheikh

*Corresponding author for this work
79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Both intra- and extracellular calcium play multiple roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiomyocytes, especially in stimulus-contraction coupling. The intracellular calcium level is closely controlled through the concerted actions of calcium channels, exchangers, and pumps; however, the expression and function(s) of the so-called calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) in the heart remain less well characterized. The CaR is a seven-transmembrane receptor, which, in response to noncovalent binding of extracellular calcium, activates intracellular effectors, including G proteins and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). We have shown that cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes express the CaR messenger RNA and the CaR protein. Furthermore, increasing concentrations of extracellular calcium and a type II CaR activator "calcimimetic" caused inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation, downregulated tritiated thymidine incorporation, and supported ERK1/2 phosphorylation, suggesting that the CaR protein is functionally active. Interestingly, the calcimimetic induced a more rapid ERK1/2 phosphorylation than calcium and left-shifted the IP concentrationresponse curve for extracellular calcium, supporting the hypothesis that CaR is functionally expressed in cardiac myocytes. This notion was underscored by studies using a virus containing a dominant-negative CaR construct, because this protein blunted the calciuminduced IP response. In conclusion, we have shown that the CaR is functionally expressed in neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes and that the receptor activates second messenger pathways, including IP and ERK, and decreases DNA synthesis. A specific calcium-sensing receptor on cardiac myocytes could play a role in regulating cardiac development, function, and homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume290
Issue number3
ISSN0363-6135
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Calcium-sensing receptor
  • DNA synthesis
  • Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2
  • G protein-coupled receptor
  • Inositol phosphate
  • Seven-transmembrane receptor

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