Sphingosine-1-phosphate-activated TRPC1 channel controls chemotaxis of glioblastoma cells

TRP channels are involved in the control of a broad range of cellular functions such as cell proliferation and motility. We investigated the gating mechanism of TRPC1 channel and its role in U251 glioblastoma cells migration in response to chemotaxis by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF induced an influx of Ca2+ that was partially inhibited after pretreatment of the cells with SKI-II, a specific inhibitor of sphingosine kinase producing sphingosine-l-P (S1P). SIP by itself also induced an entry of Ca2+. Interestingly, PDGF- and SIP-induced entries of Ca2+ were lost in siRNA-TRPC1 treated cells. PDGF-induced chemotaxis of U251 cells was dramatically inhibited in cells treated with SKI-II. This effect was almost completely rescued by addition of synthetic SIP. Chemotaxis was also completely lost in siRNA-TRPC1 treated cells and interestingly, the rescue of migration of cells treated with SKI-II by SIP was dependent on the expression of TRPC1. Immunocytochemistry revealed that, in response to PDGF, TRPC1 translocated from inside of the cell to the front of migration (lamellipodes). This effect seemed PI3K dependent as it was inhibited by cell pre-treatment with LY294002, a PI3-kinase inhibitor. Our results thus identify SIP as a potential activator of TRPC1, a channel involved in cell orientation during chemotaxis by PDGF. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.