Expression of a Ryanodine Receptor-Ca 2+ Channel that is Regulated by TGF-β

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Abstract
Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are intracellular channels that release calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in response to either plasma membrane depolarization (in skeletal muscle) or increases in the concentration of intracellular free Ca 2+ (in the heart). A gene (β4) encoding a ryanodine receptor (similar to, but distinct from, the muscle RyRs) was identified. The β4 gene was expressed in all tissues investigated, with the exception of heart. Treatment of mink lung epithelial cells (Mv1Lu) with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) induced expression of the β4 gene together with the release of Ca 2+ in response to ryanodine (but not in response to caffeine, the other drug active on muscle RyRs). This ryanodine receptor may be important in the regulation of intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis.