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Single-cell screening of cytosolic [Ca2+] reveals cell-selective action by the Alzheimer’s Aβ peptide ion channel

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Cell Stress and Chaperones Aims and scope

Abstract

Interaction of the Alzheimer’s Aβ peptides with the plasma membrane of cells in culture results in chronic increases in cytosolic [Ca2+]. Such increases can cause a variety of secondary effects leading to impaired cell growth or cell degeneration. In this investigation, we made a comprehensive study of the changes in cytosolic [Ca2+] in single PC12 cells and human neurons stressed by continuous exposure to a medium containing Aβ42 for several days. The differential timing and magnitude of the Aβ42-induced increase in [Ca2+] reveal subpopulations of cells with differential sensitivity to Aβ42. These results suggest that the effect produced by Aβ on the level of cytosolic [Ca2+] depends on the type of cell being monitored. Moreover, the results obtained of using potent inhibitors of Aβ cation channels such as Zn2+ and the small peptide NA7 add further proof to the suggestion that the long-term increases in cytosolic [Ca2+] in cells stressed by continuous exposure to Aβ is the result of Aβ ion channel activity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The Alzheimer’s Association of America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, and Institute for Molecular Medicine, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, USUHS, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Hopi Lin & Nelson J. Arispe

  2. Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd., Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Nelson J. Arispe

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  1. Hopi Lin
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  2. Nelson J. Arispe
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Correspondence to Nelson J. Arispe.

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Lin, H., Arispe, N.J. Single-cell screening of cytosolic [Ca2+] reveals cell-selective action by the Alzheimer’s Aβ peptide ion channel. Cell Stress and Chaperones 20, 333–342 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-014-0551-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-014-0551-2

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