Role of TRPM2 in cell proliferation and susceptibility to oxidative stress

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2013 Mar;304(6):C548-60. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00069.2012. Epub 2013 Jan 9.

Abstract

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel TRPM2 is an ion channel that modulates cell survival. We report here that full-length (TRPM2-L) and short (TRPM2-S) isoform expression was significantly increased in human neuroblastoma compared with adrenal gland. To differentiate the roles of TRPM2-L and TRPM2-S in cell proliferation and survival, we established neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines stably expressing either TRPM2 isoform or empty vector. Cells expressing TRPM2-S showed significantly enhanced proliferation, downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and increased protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation and cell surface glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) compared with cells expressing TRPM2-L or empty vector. ERK phosphorylation was increased, and forkhead box O 3a (FOXO3a) levels were decreased. Inhibitor studies demonstrated that enhanced proliferation was dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, ERK, and NADPH oxidase activation. On the other hand, TRPM2-S-expressing cells were significantly more susceptible to cell death induced by low H2O2 concentrations (50-100 μM), whereas TRPM2-L-expressing cells were protected. This was associated with a significant increase in FOXO3a, MnSOD (SOD2), and membrane Glut1 in TRPM2-L-expressing cells compared with TRPM2-S expressing cells. We conclude that TRPM2 channels occupy a key role in cell proliferation and survival following oxidative stress in neuroblastoma. Our results suggest that overexpression of TRPM2-S results in increased proliferation through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and ERK pathways, while overexpression of TRPM2-L confers protection against oxidative stress-induced cell death through FOXO3a and SOD. TRPM2 channels may represent a novel future therapeutic target in diseases involving oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / metabolism*
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Survival
  • Down-Regulation
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / biosynthesis
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / biosynthesis
  • TRPM Cation Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • FOXO3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Protein Isoforms
  • SLC2A1 protein, human
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • TRPM2 protein, human
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • superoxide dismutase 2
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • PTEN protein, human