Inward calcium current through the polycystin-2-dependent channels of renal primary cilia
In 15% of cases, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) arises from defects in polycystin-2 (PC2). PC2 is a member of the TRPP subfamily of cation-conducting channels and is expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum and primary cilium of renal epithelial cells. PC2 opposes a pro-cystogenic influence of the cilium, and it has been proposed that this beneficial effect is mediated in part by a flow of Ca2+ through PC2 channels into the primary cilium. However, previous efforts to determine the permeability of PC2 channels to Ca2+ have yielded widely varying results. Here we report the mean macroscopic Ca2+ influx through native PC2 channels in the primary cilia of mIMCD-3 cells, which are derived from murine inner medullary collecting duct. Under conditions designed to isolate inward Ca2+ currents, a small inward Ca2+ current was detected in cilia with active PC2 channels, but not in cilia lacking those channels. The current was activated by addition of 10 µM internal Ca2+, which is known to activate ciliary PC2 channels. It was blocked by 10 µM isosakuranetin, which blocks the same channels. On average, the current amplitude was −1.8 pA at −190 mV; its conductance from −50 to −200 mV averaged 20 pS. Thus the native PC2 channels of renal primary cilium are able to conduct a small but detectable Ca2+ influx under the conditions tested. The possible consequences of this influx are discussed.