Calcineurin phosphatase activity: activation by glucocorticoids and role of intracellular calcium1

Abstract
Background. Glucocorticoids stimulate release of intracellular calcium in peripheral lymphocytes, but their effects on calcineurin phosphatase activity are unknown. Methods. Calcineurin phosphatase activity was measured in permeabilized Jurkat T cells using a specific orthophosphate substrate. Changes in intracellular calcium were measured by FURA-2 fluorescence. Inositol triphosphate levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Transfection with luciferase reporter plasmids linked to glucocorticoid response elements were used to evaluate glucocorticoid receptor function in Jurkat T cells. Results. Dexamethasone significantly (P P 3) and intracellular calcium within 15 sec. Cells incubated with U-73122 (a nonspecific phospholipase C [PLC] antagonist) completely blocked dexamethasone-induced activation of calcineurin, whereas U-73343 failed to block enzyme activation. Dexamethasone-induced activation of calcineurin activity stimulates dephosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein BAD and augments apoptosis through a calcineurin-dependent pathway. Conclusion. Dexamethasone rapidly increases calcineurin activity through a transcription-independent mechanism involving activation of phospholipase C and the release of IP3-dependent calcium stores.

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