Crosstalk between insulin receptor and G protein-coupled receptor signaling systems leads to Ca2+ oscillations in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells

We examined crosstalk between the insulin receptor and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways in individual human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells. Treatment of cells with insulin (10 ng/ml) for 5 min markedly enhanced the proportion of cells that display an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] induced by picomolar concentrations of the GPCR agonist neurotensin. Interestingly, insulin increased the proportion of a subpopulation of cells that exhibit intracellular [Ca2+] oscillations in response to neurotensin at concentrations as low as 50–200 pM. Insulin enhanced GPCR-induced Ca2+ signaling in a time- and dose-dependent manner; a marked potentiation was obtained after an exposure to a concentration of 10 ng/ml for 5 min. Treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin abrogated the increase in GPCR-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations produced by insulin. Our results identify a novel aspect in the crosstalk between insulin receptor and GPCR signaling systems in pancreatic cancer cells, namely that insulin increases the number of [Ca2+]i oscillating cells induced by physiological concentrations of GPCR agonists through an mTORC1-dependent pathway.

Research highlights
► Crosstalk between insulin receptor and GPCR signaling in pancreatic cancer cells.
► Insulin increased the proportion of PANC-1 cells that responded to neurotensin.
► Insulin enhanced [Ca2+]i oscillations induced by neurotensin as low as 50–200 pM.
► Treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin abrogated insulin-induced effect.
► [Ca2+]i oscillations novel aspect in crosstalk between insulin receptor and GPCR.