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Publications (3)8.35 Total impact

  • Article: Activation of TRPV4 channels reduces migration of immortalized neuroendocrine cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Calcium is a universal signal, and its capacity to encode intracellular messages via spatial, temporal and amplitude characteristics allows it to participate in most cellular events. In a specific context, calcium plays a pivotal role in migration, although its role has not been elucidated fully. By using immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone-secreting neurons (GN11), we have now investigated the role of TRPV4, a member of the vanilloid family of Ca(2+) channels, in neuronal migration. Our results show that TRPV4 channels are present and functional in GN11 cells and their localization is polarized and enriched in lamellipodial structures. TRPV4 activation leads to a retraction of the lamellipodia and to a decrease in migratory behaviour; moreover cells migrate slower and in a more random manner. We therefore provide evidence for a new regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and a new role for calcium at the leading edge of migratory cells.
    Journal of Neurochemistry 02/2011; 116(4):606-15. · 4.06 Impact Factor
  • Article: Calcium signals activated by ghrelin and D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 ghrelin antagonist in developing dorsal root ganglion glial cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Ghrelin is a hormone regulating energy homeostasis via interaction with its receptor, GHSR-1a. Ghrelin activities in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells are unknown. Herein we show that ghrelin induces a change of cytosolic calcium concentration in both glia and neurons of embryonic chick DRG. Both RT-PCR and binding studies performed with fluorescent ghrelin in the presence of either unlabeled ghrelin or GHSR-1a antagonist D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6, indicate that DRG cells express GHSR-1a. In glial cells the response is characterized by a rapid transient rise in [Ca(2+)](i) followed by a long lasting rise. The calcium elevation is dependent on calcium release from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores and on activation of two distinct Ca(2+) entry pathways, a receptor activated calcium entry and a store operated calcium entry. Surprisingly, D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 exerts several activities in the absence of exogenous ghrelin: (i) it activates calcium release from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores and calcium entry via voltage-operated channels in non-neuronal cells; (ii) it inhibits calcium oscillations in non-neuronal cells exhibiting spontaneous Ca(2+) activity and iii) it promotes apoptosis of DRG cells, both neurons and glia. In summary, we provide the first evidence for ghrelin activity in DRG, and we also demonstrate that the widely used D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 ghrelin antagonist features ghrelin independent activities.
    Cell calcium 09/2009; 46(3):197-208. · 4.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Calcium signals activated by ghrelin and D-Lys3-GHRP-6 ghrelin antagonist in developing dorsal root ganglion glial cells
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Ghrelin is a hormone regulating energy homeostasis via interaction with its receptor, GHSR-1a. Ghrelin activities in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells are unknown. Herein we show that ghrelin induces a change of cytosolic calcium concentration in both glia and neurons of embryonic chick DRG. Both RT-PCR and binding studies performed with fluorescent ghrelin in the presence of either unlabeled ghrelin or GHSR-1a antagonist D-Lys3-GHRP-6, indicate that DRG cells express GHSR-1a. In glial cells the response is characterized by a rapid transient rise in [Ca2+]i followed by a long lasting rise. The calcium elevation is dependent on calcium release from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores and on activation of two distinct Ca2+ entry pathways, a receptor activated calcium entry and a store operated calcium entry. Surprisingly, D-Lys3-GHRP-6 exerts several activities in the absence of exogenous ghrelin: (i) it activates calcium release from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular stores and calcium entry via voltage-operated channels in non-neuronal cells; (ii) it inhibits calcium oscillations in non-neuronal cells exhibiting spontaneous Ca2+ activity and iii) it promotes apoptosis of DRG cells, both neurons and glia. In summary, we provide the first evidence for ghrelin activity in DRG, and we also demonstrate that the widely used D-Lys3-GHRP-6 ghrelin antagonist features ghrelin independent activities.
    Cell Calcium.