Targeting gut T cell Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels inhibits T cell cytokine production and T-box transcription factor T-bet in inflammatory bowel disease

A Di Sabatino, L Rovedatti, R Kaur… - The Journal of …, 2009 - journals.aai.org
A Di Sabatino, L Rovedatti, R Kaur, JP Spencer, JT Brown, VD Morisset, P Biancheri…
The Journal of Immunology, 2009journals.aai.org
Abstract Prolonged Ca 2+ entry through Ca 2+ release-activated Ca 2+(CRAC) channels is
crucial in activating the Ca 2+-sensitive transcription factor NFAT, which is responsible for
directing T cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression. To establish whether targeting
CRAC might counteract intestinal inflammation, we evaluated the in vitro effect of a selective
CRAC inhibitor on T cell cytokine production and T-bet expression by lamina propria
mononuclear cells (LPMC) and biopsy specimens from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) …
Abstract
Prolonged Ca 2+ entry through Ca 2+ release-activated Ca 2+(CRAC) channels is crucial in activating the Ca 2+-sensitive transcription factor NFAT, which is responsible for directing T cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression. To establish whether targeting CRAC might counteract intestinal inflammation, we evaluated the in vitro effect of a selective CRAC inhibitor on T cell cytokine production and T-bet expression by lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) and biopsy specimens from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The inhibitory activity of the CRAC blocker was investigated through patch-clamp experiments on rat basophilic leukemia cells and fluorometric imaging plate reader intracellular Ca 2+ assays using thapsigargin-stimulated Jurkat T cells and its detailed selectivity profile defined using a range of in vitro radioligand binding and functional assays. Anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated LPMC and biopsy specimens from 51 patients with IBD were cultured with a range of CRAC inhibitor concentrations (0.01–10 μM). IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-8, and IL-17 were analyzed by ELISA. T-bet was determined by immunoblotting. We found that the CRAC blocker concentration-dependently inhibited CRAC current in rat basophilic leukemia cells and thapsigargin-induced Ca 2+ influx in Jurkat T cells. A concentration-dependent reduction in T-bet expression and production of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, but not IL-8, was observed in IBD LPMC and biopsy specimens treated with the CRAC inhibitor. In conclusion, we provide evidence that the suppression of CRAC channel function may dampen the increased T cell response in the inflamed gut, thus suggesting a promising role for CRAC inhibitor drugs in the therapeutic management of patients with IBD.
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