Type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors mediate UTP-induced cation currents, Ca2+ signals, and vasoconstriction in cerebral arteries

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) regulate diverse physiological functions, including contraction and proliferation. There are three IP3R isoforms, but their functional significance in arterial smooth muscle cells is unclear. Here, we investigated relative expression and physiological functions of IP3R isoforms in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. We show that 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate and xestospongin C, membrane-permeant IP3R blockers, reduced Ca2+ wave activation and global intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) elevation stimulated by UTP, a phospholipase C-coupled purinergic receptor agonist. Quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence indicated that all three IP3R isoforms were expressed in acutely isolated cerebral artery smooth muscle cells, with IP3R1 being the most abundant isoform at 82% of total IP3R message. IP3R1 knockdown with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) did not alter baseline Ca2+ wave frequency and global [Ca2+]i but abolished UTP-induced Ca2+ wave activation and reduced the UTP-induced global [Ca2+]i elevation by ∼61%. Antibodies targeting IP3R1 and IP3R1 knockdown reduced UTP-induced nonselective cation current (Icat) activation. IP3R1 knockdown also reduced UTP-induced vasoconstriction in pressurized arteries with both intact and depleted sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ by ∼45%. These data indicate that IP3R1 is the predominant IP3R isoform expressed in rat cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. IP3R1 stimulation contributes to UTP-induced Icat activation, Ca2+ wave generation, global [Ca2+]i elevation, and vasoconstriction. In addition, IP3R1 activation constricts cerebral arteries in the absence of SR Ca2+ release by stimulating plasma membrane Icat

Alternative splicing of Cav1.2 channel exons in smooth muscle cells of resistance-size arteries generates currents with unique electrophysiological properties

Voltage-dependent calcium (Ca2+, CaV1.2) channels are the primary Ca2+ entry pathway in smooth muscle cells of resistance-size (myogenic) arteries, but their molecular identity remains unclear. Here we identified and quantified CaV1.2 α1-subunit splice variation in myocytes of rat resistance-size (100–200 μm diameter) cerebral arteries. Full-length clones containing either exon 1b or the recently identified exon 1c exhibited additional primary splice variation at exons 9*, 21/22, 31/32, and ± 33. Real-time PCR confirmed the findings from full-length clones and indicated that the major CaV1.2 variant contained exons 1c, 8, 21, and 32+33, with ∼57% containing 9*. Exon 9* was more prevalent in clones containing 1c (72%) than in those containing 1b (33%), suggesting exon-selective combinatorial splicing. To examine the functional significance of this splicing profile, membrane currents produced by each of the four exon 1b/c/ ± 9* variants were characterized following transfection in HEK293 cells. Exon 1c and 9* caused similar hyperpolarizing shifts in both current-voltage relationships and voltage-dependent activation of currents. Furthermore, exon 9* induced a hyperpolarizing shift only in the voltage-dependent activation of channels containing exon 1b, but not in those containing exon 1c. In contrast, exon 1b, 1c, or +9* did not alter voltage-dependent inactivation. In summary, we have identified the CaV1.2 α1-subunit splice variant population that is expressed in myocytes of resistance-size arteries and the unique electrophysiological properties of recombinant channels formed by exon 1 and 9* variation. The predominance of exon 1c and 9* in smooth muscle cell CaV1.2 channels causes a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage sensitivity of currents toward the physiological arterial voltage range