Airway smooth muscle STIM1 and Orai1 are upregulated in asthmatic mice and mediate PDGF-activated SOCE, CRAC currents, proliferation, and migration

Airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) remodeling contributes to the structural changes in the airways that are central to the clinical manifestations of asthma. Ca²⁺ signals play an important role in ASMC remodeling through control of ASMC migration and hypertrophy/proliferation. Upregulation of STIM1 and Orai1 proteins, the molecular components of the store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) pathway, has recently emerged as an important mediator of vascular remodeling. However, the potential upregulation of STIM1 and Orai1 in asthmatic airways remains unknown. An important smooth muscle migratory agonist with major contributions to ASMC remodeling is the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Nevertheless, the Ca²⁺ entry route activated by PDGF in ASMCremains elusive. Here, we show that STIM1 and Orai1 protein levels are greatly upregulated in ASMC isolated from ovalbumin-challenged asthmatic mice, compared to control mice. Furthermore, we show that PDGF activates a Ca²⁺ entry pathway in rat primary ASMC that is pharmacologically reminiscent of SOCE. Molecular knockdown of STIM1 and Orai1 proteins inhibited PDGF-activated Ca²⁺ entry in these cells. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings revealed the activation of Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) current by PDGF in ASMC. These CRAC currents were abrogated upon either STIM1 or Orai1 knockdown. We show that either STIM1 or Orai1 knockdown significantly inhibited ASMC proliferation and chemotactic migration in response to PDGF. These results implicate STIM1 and Orai1 in PDGF-induced ASMC proliferation and migration and suggest the potential use of STIM1 and Orai1 as targets for ASMC remodeling during asthma.