Caveolin-1 regulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ influx in human airway smooth muscle

Caveolae, plasma membrane invaginations with constitutive caveolin proteins, harbour proteins involved in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i ) regulation. In human airway smooth muscle (ASM), store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is a key component of [Ca2+ ]i regulation, and contributes to increased [Ca2+]i in inflammation. SOCE involves proteins Orai1 and stromal interaction molecule (STIM)1. We investigated the link between caveolae, SOCE and inflammation in ASM. [Ca2+]i was measured in human ASM cells using fura-2. Small interference RNA (siRNA) or overexpression vectors were used to alter expression of caveolin-1 (Cav-1), Orai1 or STIM1. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was used as a representative pro-inflammatory cytokine. TNF-α increased SOCE following sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ depletion, and increased wholecell and caveolar Orai1 (but only intracellular STIM1). Cav-1 siRNA decreased caveolar and whole-cell Orai1 (but not STIM1) expression, and blunted SOCE, even in the presence of TNF-α. STIM1 overexpression substantially enhanced SOCE: an effect only partially reversed by Cav-1 siRNA. In contrast, Orai1 siRNA substantially blunted SOCE even in the presence of TNF-α. Cav-1 overexpression significantly increased Orai1 expression and SOCE, especially in the presence of TNF-α. These results demonstrate that caveolar expression and regulation of proteins such as Orai1 are important for [Ca2+]i regulation in human ASM cells and its modulation during inflammation. Copyright