Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is inhibited by a concerted action of p38 MAPK and protein kinase D

Angiotensin II elicits cytosolic Ca2+ signal that is transferred into the mitochondria. Previously we found in H295R cells that this signal transfer is enhanced by both the inhibition of p38 MAPK and a novel isoform of PKC [G. Szanda, P. Koncz, A. Rajki, A. Spät, Participation of p38 MAPK and a novel-type protein kinase C in the control of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, Cell Calcium 43 (2008) 250–259]. Now we report that simultaneous activation of these protein kinases (by TNFα and PMA + an inhibitor of the conventional PKC isoforms, respectively) attenuates the transfer of cytosolic Ca2+ signal, elicited by depolarisation or store-operated Ca2+ influx, into the mitochondria. The Ca2+ uptake enhancing effect of the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 is due to the inhibition of p38 MAPK and not to a direct mitochondrial action. Protein kinases reduce mitochondrial [Ca2+] by inhibiting the uptake mechanism. The threshold of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake may depend on the activity of p38 MAPK. The silencing of protein kinase D (PKD) also results in enhanced transfer of Ca2+ signal from the cytosol into the mitochondria. Our data indicate that Ca2+ mobilising agonists, through the simultaneous activation of p38 MAPK, a novel PKC isoform and PKD, exert a negative feed-forward action on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, thus reducing the risk of Ca2+ overload.