The Ca 2 influx controlled by intracellular Ca 2 stores, called store-operated Ca 2 entry (SOC), occurs in various eukaryotic cells, but whether CNS neurons are endowed with SOC capability and how they may operate have been contentious issues. Using Ca 2 imaging, we present evidence for the presence of SOC in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Depletion of internal Ca 2 stores by thapsigar...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE SKF96365 (SKF), originally identified as a blocker of receptor-mediated calcium entry, is widely used diagnostically, as a blocker of transient receptor potential canonical type (TRPC) channels. While SKF has been used as a tool to define the functional roles of TRPC channels in various cell and tissue types, there are notable overlapping physiological and pathophysiologi...

Thymol is a phenolic compound that affects physiology in different cell models. However, whether thymol affects Ca²⁺ homeostasis in prostate cancer cells is unknown. The action of this compound on cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]i) and viability in PC3 human prostate cancer cells was explored. The results show that thymol at concentrations of 100-1500 μM caused [Ca²⁺]i rises in a concentra...

Background: Among anti-hypertension drugs, calcium (Ca) antagonists cause gingival overgrowth as a side effect. We previously discovered that this side effect was due to elevation of the calcium concentration in the cytosol ([Ca]i). Ca entry through non-selective cation channels (NSCCs) and Ca release from intracellular Ca stores are involved in this [Ca]i elevation. Furthermore, we discovered ...

In platelets, STIM1 has been recognized as the key regulatory protein in store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) with Orai1 as principal Ca(2+) entry channel. Both proteins contribute to collagen-dependent arterial thrombosis in mice in vivo. It is unclear whether STIM2 is involved. A key platelet response relying on Ca(2+) entry is the surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), which accomplishes...

TRPC5, a protein of the canonical transient receptor potential ion channel family, is primarily found in the mammalian central nervous system. Heterologous expression of TRPC5 indicates that it forms a non-selective cation channel functioning downstream of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) activation, with substantial sensitivity to intracellular calcium. TRPC5 can form a related heteromeric ch...

This study explored the effect of deltamethrin, a pesticide, on intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Deltamethrin at concentrations between 5 μM and 20 μM evoked [Ca²⁺]i rises in a concentration-dependent manner. This Ca²⁺ signal was inhibited by 22% by removal of extracellular Ca²⁺. Nifedipine, econazole, and SKF96365 also inhibited the Ca²⁺ signa...

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) sensor that triggers the store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE). The clinical relevance of STIM1 has been highlighted in breast and cervical cancer, but the molecular mechanism by which STIM1 promotes cancer progression remains unclear. This study explores the regulatory mechanisms by which STIM1-dependent Ca(2+) signali...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is well known as a survival factor during brain development as well as a regulator of adult synaptic plasticity. One potential mechanism to initiate BDNF actions is through its modulation of quantal presynaptic transmitter release. In response to local BDNF application to CA1 pyramidal neurons, the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents ...