No abstract

Noradrenaline and adrenaline are secreted by adrenal medulla chromaffin cells via exocytosis. Exocytosis of catecholamines occurs after cell stimulation with various endogenous activators such as nicotine or after depolarization of the plasma membrane and is regulated by calcium ions. Cytosolic [Ca(2+)] increases in response to cell excitation and triggers a signal-initiated secretion. Annexins are known to participate in the regulation of membrane dynamics and are also considered to be involved in vesicular trafficking. Some experimental evidence suggests that annexins may participate in Ca(2+)-regulated catecholamine secretion. In this report the effect of annexin A6 (AnxA6) isoforms 1 and 2 on catecholamine secretion has been described. Overexpression of AnxA6 isoforms and AnxA6 knock-down in PC12 cells were accompanied by almost complete inhibition or a 20% enhancement of dopamine secretion, respectively. AnxA6-1 and AnxA6-2 overexpression reduced Delta[Ca(2+)](c) upon depolarization by 32% and 58%, respectively, while AnxA6 knock-down increased Delta[Ca(2+)](c) by 44%. The mechanism of AnxA6 action on Ca(2+) signalling is not well understood. Experimental evidence suggests that two AnxA6 isoforms interact with different targets engaged in regulation of calcium homeostasis in PC12 cells.

Background and aimMigraine is the most common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 12 % of the adult population worldwide, caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Three causative genes have been identified in familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) families: CACNA1A, ATP1A2, and SCNA1A. Recently, several mutations in KCNK18 have also been found as causative factors in migraine development. The aim of our study was to identify the genetic background of migraine in the Polish population.Material and methodsSixty patients with migraine without aura (MO) or with different types of migraine with aura (MA), including sporadic hemiplegic, familial hemiplegic, and probable familial hemiplegic, were screened for mutations in the four genes previously linked with different types of migraine (ATP1A2, CACNA1A, SCN1A, and KCNK18).ResultsTwo missense mutations were found. One novel mutation in SCN1A, encoding α subunit of sodium channel, causing amino acid change M1500V localized to a region encoding inactivation loop between transmembrane domains III and IV of the channel, was detected in a female FHM patient. The M1500V mutation was absent in a group of 62 controls, as well as in the ExAC database. The second, already known missense mutation S231P in KCNK18 was found in a female MA patient. Additionally, a novel intronic polymorphism possibly affecting alternative splicing of SCN1A, at chr2:16685249, g.77659T>C, and c.4581+32A>G, located between exons 24 and 25, in a region encoding the inactivation loop of the sodium channel was found in a female MO patient. No mutations in ATP1A2 or CACNA1A were found in the study group.ConclusionsThe presence of SCN1A mutations and absence of mutations in ATP1A2 or CACNA1A suggest that the Polish patients represent FHM type 3. On the other hand, the presence of KCNK18 mutation indicated another FHM subtype. It could be speculated that contrary to other European populations, the genetic basis of migraine in the Polish population involves mutations in genes not included in the study. Next-generation sequencing methods should be implemented to identify other migraine-associated variants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40246-015-0057-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundPlasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases (PMCA) extrude Ca2+ ions out of the cell and contribute to generation of calcium oscillations. Calcium signaling is crucial for transcriptional regulation of dopamine secretion by neuroendocrine PC12 cells. Low resting [Ca2+]c in PC12 cells is maintained mainly by two Ca2+-ATPases, PMCA2 and PMCA3. Recently, we found that Ca2+ dependent phosphatase calcineurin was excessively activated under conditions of experimental downregulation of PMCA2 or PMCA3. Thus, the aim of this study was to explain if, via modulation of the Ca2+/calcineurin-dependent nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway, PMCA2 and PMCA3 affect intracellular signaling in pheochromocytoma/neuronal cells/PC12 cells. Secondly, we tested whether this might influence dopamine secretion by PC12 cells.ResultsPMCA2- and PMCA3-deficient cells displayed profound decrease in dopamine secretion accompanied by a permanent increase in [Ca2+]c. Reduction in secretion might result from changes in NFAT signaling, following altered PMCA pattern. Consequently, activation of NFAT1 and NFAT3 transcription factors was observed in PMCA2- or PMCA3-deficient cells. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that NFATs could be involved in repression of Vamp genes encoding vesicle associated membrane proteins (VAMP).ConclusionsPMCA2 and PMCA3 are crucial for dopamine secretion in PC12 cells. Reduction in PMCA2 or PMCA3 led to calcium-dependent activation of calcineurin/NFAT signaling and, in consequence, to repression of the Vamp gene and deterioration of the SNARE complex formation in PC12 cells.