The lysosomal compartment as intracellular calcium store in MDCK cells: A possible involvement in InsP(3)-mediated Ca2+ release

To test for a possible role of lysosomes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, the effects of glycyl-L-phenylalanine-beta-naphthylamide (GPN), known to permeabilize these organelles by osmotic swelling, were studied in single MDCK cells. Fluorescence of acridine orange, rhodol green dextran, lysotracker green and FITC-dextran indicated that GPN (0.2 mmol/l) elicited a reversible permeabilization of lysosomes. Cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+](i)) as determined by Fura-2 fluorescence increased from 60 +/- 11 to 534 +/- 66 nmol/l (n = 41) in the presence of GPN. Whereas only a single intracellular Ca2+ release could be induced by GPN in a Ca2+-free perfusate, repetitive release could be evoked in Ca2+ containing solutions suggesting reuptake of Ca2+ into lysosomal stores. GPN-induced Ca2+ release was blunted after pretreatment with thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase, or repeated applications of ATP inducing Ca2+ release from inositol trisphosphate (InsP(3)) sensitive Ca2+ stores. The effect of ATP on Ca2+ release was, however, not abolished by preceding GPN treatment. GPN-induced Ca2+ release from lysosomes was independent of InsP(3) formation or Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release, since it was unaffected by the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73,122 or by caffeine and ruthenium red. These results suggest that Ca2+ largely accumulates in lysosomal vesicles. Moreover, these organelles seem to be part or functionally coupled with InsP(3)-sensitive Ca2+ stores.