Pregnancy‐adapted uterine artery endothelial cell Ca2+ signaling and its relationship with membrane potential

Abstract

Pregnancy‐derived uterine artery endothelial cells (P‐UAEC) express P2Y2 receptors and at high cell density show sustained and synchronous [Ca2+]i burst responses in response to ATP. Bursts in turn require coupling of transient receptor potential canonical type3 channel (TRPC3) and inositol 1,4,5‐triphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2), which is upregulated in P‐UAEC in a manner dependent on connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junctions. While there is no known direct interaction of TRPC3 with Cx43, early descriptions of TRPC3 function showed it may also be influenced by altered membrane potential (V m). Herein, we ask if enhanced TRPC3 Ca2+ bursting due to enhanced Cx43 coupling may be coupled via dynamic alterations in V m in P‐UAEC, as reported in some (HUVEC) but not all endothelial cells. Following basic electrical characterization of UAEC, we employed a high sensitivity cell imaging system to simultaneously monitor cell V m and [Ca2+]i in real time in continuous monolayers of UAEC. Our findings show that while acute and sustained phase [Ca2+]i bursting occur dose‐dependently in response to ATP, V m is not coregulated with any periodicity related to [Ca2+]i bursting. Only a small but significant progressive change in V m is seen, and this is more closely related to overall mobilization of Ca2+. Surprisingly, this is also most apparent in NP‐UAEC > P‐UAEC. In contrast [Ca2+]i bursting is more synchronous in P‐UAEC and even achieves [Ca2+]i waves passing through the P‐UAEC monolayer. The relevance of these findings to mechanisms of pregnancy adaptation and its failure in hypertensive pregnancy are discussed.

Plasticity of the Maternal Vasculature During Pregnancy

“…UAECs from pregnant animals produced more sustained Ca 2+ bursts in response to ATP (115) and, as a result, likely increased the release of NO, EDHF, and PGI 2 (116). The augmentation of Ca 2+ bursts required coupling of transient receptor potential canonical type 3 (TRPC3) channels and the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2), both of which were upregulated in UAECs from pregnant animals in a manner dependent on Cx43 gap junctions (117). Cx43 is also located in caveolae and colocalizes with eNOS (118).…”