@article{PatheNeuschaeferRubeNeuschaeferRubePueschel2021,
  author    = {Pathe-Neusch{\"a}fer-Rube, Andrea and Neusch{\"a}fer-Rube, Frank and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul},
  title     = {Cell-based reporter release assay to determine the activity of calcium-dependent neurotoxins and neuroactive pharmaceuticals},
  series = {Toxins / Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Toxins / Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2072-6651},
  doi       = {10.3390/toxins13040247},
  pages     = {13},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The suitability of a newly developed cell-based functional assay was tested for the detection of the activity of a range of neurotoxins and neuroactive pharmaceuticals which act by stimulation or inhibition of calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release. In this functional assay, a reporter enzyme is released concomitantly with the neurotransmitter from neurosecretory vesicles. The current study showed that the release of a luciferase from a differentiated human neuroblastoma-based reporter cell line (SIMA-hPOMC1-26-GLuc cells) can be stimulated by a carbachol-mediated activation of the Gq-coupled muscarinic-acetylcholine receptor and by the Ca2+-channel forming spider toxin α-latrotoxin. Carbachol-stimulated luciferase release was completely inhibited by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist atropine and α-latrotoxin-mediated release by the Ca2+-chelator EGTA, demonstrating the specificity of luciferase-release stimulation. SIMA-hPOMC1-26-GLuc cells express mainly L- and N-type and to a lesser extent T-type VGCC on the mRNA and protein level. In accordance with the expression profile a depolarization-stimulated luciferase release by a high K+-buffer was effectively and dose-dependently inhibited by L-type VGCC inhibitors and to a lesser extent by N-type and T-type inhibitors. P/Q- and R-type inhibitors did not affect the K+-stimulated luciferase release. In summary, the newly established cell-based assay may represent a versatile tool to analyze the biological efficiency of a range of neurotoxins and neuroactive pharmaceuticals which mediate their activity by the modulation of calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release.},
  language  = {en}
}