Sphingosine 1-phosphate evokes calcium signals in C2C12 myoblasts via Edg3 and Edg5 receptors

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP) is a bioactive lipid that exerts multiple biological effects in a large variety of cell types, acting as either an intracellular messenger or an extracellular ligand coupled to Edg-family receptors (where Edg stands for endothelial differentiation gene). Here we report that in C2C12 myoblasts SPP elicited significant Ca2+ mobilization. Analysis of the process using a confocal laser-scanning microscope showed that the Ca2+ response occurred in a high percentage of cells, despite variations in amplitude and kinetics. Quantitative analysis of SPP-induced Ca2+ transients performed with a spectrophotofluorimeter showed that the rise in Ca2+ was strictly dependent on availability of extracellular Ca2+. Cell treatment with pertussis toxin partially prevented the Ca2+ response induced by SPP, indicating that Gi-coupled-receptors were involved. Indeed, SPP action was shown to be mediated by agonist-specific Edg receptors. In particular, suramin, an antagonist of the SPP-specific receptor Edg3, as well as down-regulation of Edg3 by cell transfection with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODN), significantly reduced agonist-mediated Ca2+ mobilization. Moreover, an antisense ODN designed to inhibit Edg5 expression also decreased the SPP-induced rise in Ca2+, although to a lesser extent than that observed by inhibiting Edg3. On the contrary, the SPP response was unaffected in myoblasts loaded with antisense ODN specific for Edg1. Remarkably, the concomitant inhibition of Edg3 and Edg5 receptors abolished the SPP-induced Ca2+ increase, supporting the notion that Ca2+ mobilization in C2C12 cells induced by SPP is a receptor-mediated process that involves Edg3 and Edg5, but not Edg1.