(-)-Englerin A-evoked Cytotoxicity Is Mediated by Na+ Influx and Counteracted by Na+/K+-ATPase

Abstract

(-)-Englerin A ((-)-EA) has a rapid and potent cytotoxic effect on several types of cancer cell that is mediated by plasma membrane ion channels containing transient receptor potential canonical 4 (TRPC4) protein. Because these channels are Ca²⁺-permeable, it was initially thought that the cytotoxicity arose as a consequence of Ca²⁺ overload. Here we show that this is not the case and that the effect of (-)-EA is mediated by a heteromer of TRPC4 and TRPC1 proteins. Both TRPC4 and TRPC1 were required for (-)-EA cytotoxicity; however, although TRPC4 was necessary for the (-)-EA-evoked Ca²⁺ elevation, TRPC1 was not. TRPC1 either had no role or was a negative regulator of Ca²⁺ entry. By contrast, both TRPC4 and TRPC1 were necessary for monovalent cation entry evoked by (-)-EA, and (-)-EA-evoked cell death was dependent upon entry of the monovalent cation Na⁺ We therefore hypothesized that Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase might act protectively by counteracting the Na⁺ load resulting from sustained Na⁺ entry. Indeed, inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase by ouabain potently and strongly increased (-)-EA-evoked cytotoxicity. The data suggest that (-)-EA achieves cancer cell cytotoxicity by inducing sustained Na⁺ entry through heteromeric TRPC1/TRPC4 channels and that the cytotoxic effect of (-)-EA can be potentiated by Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibition.

Keywords: Na+/K+-ATPase; calcium; cancer; cell death; ouabain; sodium; transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels).