Magnesium deprivation inhibits a MEK–ERK cascade and cell proliferation in renal epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

AimsLoss of magnesium (Mg2+) inhibits cell proliferation and augments nephrotoxicant-induced renal injury, but the role of Mg2+ has not been clarified in detail. We examined the effect of extracellular Mg2+ deprivation on a MEK–ERK cascade and cell proliferation using a renal epithelial cell line, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells.Main methodsMDCK cells were cultured in Mg2+-containing or Mg2+-free media. A HA-tagged constitutively active (CA)-MEK1 and a dominant negative (DN)-MEK1 were transfected into MDCK cells. The level of protein was examined by Western blotting. The intracellular free Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]i) was measured using a fluorescent dye, mag-fura 2. Cell proliferation was determined by WST-1 assay. Dead cells were identified by staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide.Key findingsIn the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS), Mg2+ deprivation decreased phosphorylated-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) levels and [Mg2+]i. Re-addition of Mg2+ increased p-ERK1/2 levels, which were inhibited by U0126, a specific inhibitor of a MEK–ERK cascade. Glutathione-S-transferase pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that CA-MEK1 and DN-MEK1 binds with ERK1/2 in the presence of Mg2+. In contrast, neither CA-MEK1 nor DN-MEK1 bound to ERK1/2 in the absence of Mg2+. These results indicate that the MEK–ERK cascade is regulated by [Mg2+]i. Cell proliferation was increased by the treatment with FCS or the expression of CA-MEK1 in the presence of Mg2+, but was inhibited by Mg2+ deprivation. Mg2+ deprivation did not increase the number of dead cells.SignificanceMg2+ is involved in the regulation of the MEK–ERK cascade and cell proliferation in MDCK cells.