Interleukin-13 enhanced Ca2+ oscillations in airway smooth muscle cells

Physiological mechanisms associated with interleukin-13 (IL-13), a key cytokine in asthma, in intracellular Ca2+ signaling in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess effects of IL-13 on Ca2+ oscillations in response to leukotriene D4 (LTD4) in human cultured ASMCs.LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations in ASMCs pretreated with IL-13 were imaged by confocal microscopy. mRNA expressions of cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptors (CysLT1R), CD38, involved with the ryanodine receptors (RyR) system, and transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC), involved with store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), were determined by real-time PCR. In IL-13-pretreated ASMCs, frequency of LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations and number of oscillating cells were significantly increased compared with untreated ASMCs. Both xestospongin C, a specific inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3R), and ryanodine or ruthenium red, inhibitors of RyR, partially blocked LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations. Ca2+ oscillations were almost completely inhibited by 50 μM of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), which dominantly blocks SOCE but not IP3R at this concentration. Pretreatment with IL-13 increased the mRNA expressions of CysLT1R and CD38, but not of TRPC1 and TRPC3.We conclude that IL-13 enhances frequency of LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations in human ASMCs, which may be cooperatively modulated by IP3R, RyR systems and possibly by SOCE.

► Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) induces Ca2+ oscillations in human airway smooth muscle cells. ► Pretreatment with IL-13 increases frequencies of LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations. ► IL-13 up-regulates expressions of cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor (R) and CD38. ► Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate R and ryanodine R are involved in Ca2+ oscillations. ► Store-operated Ca2+ entry may also be involved in LTD4-induced Ca2+ oscillations.