Functional ryanodine receptor expression is required for NAADP-mediated local Ca2+ signaling in T-lymphocytes

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a potent Ca2+-mobilizing nucleotide involved in T cell Ca2+ signaling ( Berg, I., Potter, B. V. L., Mayr, G. W., and Guse, A. H. (2000) J. Cell Biol. 150, 581-588). The objective of this study was to analyze whether the first subcellular Ca2+ signals obtained upon NAADP stimulation of T-lymphocytes depend on the functional expression of ryanodine receptors. Using combined microinjection and high resolution confocal calcium imaging, we demonstrate here that subcellular Ca2+ signals, characterized by amplitudes between similar to 30 and 100 nM and diameters of similar to 0.5 mu m, preceded global Ca2+ signals. Co-injection of the ryanodine receptor antagonists ruthenium red and ryanodine together with NAADP abolished the effects of NAADP, whereas the D-myo-inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate antagonist heparin and the Ca2+ entry blocker SKF& 96365 were without effect. This pharmacological approach was confirmed by a molecular knock-down approach. Jurkat T cell clones with largely reduced expression of ryanodine receptors did not respond to microinjections of NAADP. Taken together, our data suggest that the Ca2+ release channel sensitive to NAADP in T- lymphocytes is the ryanodine receptor.