The unliganded long isoform of estrogen receptor beta stimulates brain ryanodine receptor single channel activity alongside with cytosolic Ca²⁺

Abstract

Ca²⁺ release from intracellular stores mediated by endoplasmic reticulum membrane ryanodine receptors (RyR) plays a key role in activating and synchronizing downstream Ca²⁺-dependent mechanisms, in different cells varying from apoptosis to nuclear transcription and development of defensive responses. Recently discovered, atypical “nongenomic” effects mediated by estrogen receptors (ER) include rapid Ca²⁺ release upon estrogen exposure in conditions implicitly suggesting involvement of RyRs. In the present study, we report various levels of colocalization between RyR type 2 (RyR2) and ER type β (ERβ) in the neuronal cell line HT-22, indicating a possible functional interaction. Electrophysiological analyses revealed a significant increase in single-channel ionic currents generated by mouse brain RyRs after application of the soluble monomer of the long form ERβ (ERβ 1). The effect was due to a strong increase in open probability of RyR higher open channel sublevels at cytosolic [Ca²⁺] concentrations of 100 nM, suggesting a synergistic action of ERβ1 and Ca²⁺ in RyR activation, and a potential contribution to Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release rather than to basal intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration level at rest. This RyR/ERβ interaction has potential effects on cellular physiology, including roles of shorter ERβ isoforms and modulation of the RyR/ERβ complexes by exogenous estrogens.

Keywords::

• 17β-estradiol
• neuron
• intracellular calcium stores
• electrophysiology
• endocrinology
• nervous system

Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by grants EY014227 from NIH/NEI, RR022570 from NIH/NCRR and AG010485, AG022550, and AG027956 from NIH/NIA as well as by The Garvey Texas Foundation (P.K.). We thank Margaret, Richard, and Sara Koulen for their generous support and encouragement.

Declaration of interest: All authors declare no conflict of interest.