Expression of anoctamins in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)
PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Schreiber, Rainer; Kunzelmann, Karl
Abstract
The anoctamin (ANO, TMEM16) family of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels consists of ten members with different cellular functions (ANO1-10). ANO1 is a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel in secretory epithelial cells of exocrine pancreas, salivary glands, or enterocytes. Expression of ANO1 also promotes cell proliferation and migration of tumor cells. ANO6 is essential for Ca2+-dependent scrambling of membrane phospholipids in platelets, red blood cells, and lymphocytes. ANO10 modulates Ca2+ signals in macrophages and has a role in cerebellar ataxia and other neurological disorders. All three anoctamins have been proposed to control intracellular Ca2+ signals. Anoctamins may also form the basolateral Ca2+-activated Cl- channel in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We show that native human, bovine, porcine, and mouse RPEs express ANO1, ANO6, and ANO10. Growth arrested and confluent RPR cells expressed ANO1 in the plasma membrane, whereas ANO6 and ANO10 were found in the primary cilium. Ussing chamber experiments showed that the application of ATP to the apical (retinal) side of porcine RPE induced a Ca2+-activated Cl- secretion. Activation was inhibited by basolateral (choroidal) administration of the ANO inhibitors AO1, niflumic acid (NFA), and 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS). The results suggest that ANO1 is responsible for basolateral Ca2+-dependent Cl-secretion in RPE, whereas ANO6 and ANO10 may have different functions, such as modulating Ca2+ signals.
Anoctamin 6 differs from VRAC and VSOAC but is involved in apoptosis and supports volume regulation in the presence of Ca2+
PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Juul, C. A.; Grubb, S.; Poulsen, K. A.; Kyed, T.; Hashem, N.; Lambert, I. H.; Larsen, E. H.; Hoffmann, E. K.
Abstract
Anoctamin 6 (ANO6), also known as TMEM16F, has been shown to be a calcium-activated anion channel with delayed calcium activation. The cellular function of ANO6 is under debate, and different groups have come to different conclusions about ANO6's physiological role. Although it is now quite well established that ANO6 is distinct from the volume-regulated anion channel, it is still unclear whether ANO6 or other anoctamins can be activated by cell swelling. In this study, we suggest that ANO1, ANO6, and ANO10 do not contribute to the volume-activated current in ANO-overexpressing HEK293 cells. Furthermore, knock-down of ANO6 in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) and Ehrlich-Lettre ascites (ELA) did not decrease but instead significantly increased swelling-activated membrane currents. Knock-down of ANO6 in EATC did not reduce regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in the absence of extracellular calcium, whereas it significantly reduced RVD in the presence of calcium. Interestingly, we found that knock-down of ANO6 in ELA cells resulted in a decrease in cisplatin-induced caspase-3 activity, confirming earlier findings that ANO6 is involved in apoptosis. Finally, knock-down of ANO1 and ANO6 did not affect the volume-sensitive release of taurine in ELA cells. Thus, our data provide evidence that ANO6 cannot be activated directly by cell swelling unless Ca2+ is present. We also conclude that ANO6 carries a current during RVD, provided extracellular calcium is present. Thus, swelling activation of ANO6 requires the presence of free calcium.