Echinacea-induced cytosolic Ca2+ elevation in HEK293

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-10-72

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010; 10: 72.

Published online 2010 November 23. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-10-72

PMCID: PMC3002894

Echinacea-induced cytosolic Ca²⁺elevation in HEK293

Lankun Wu,^1,² Eric W Rowe,³ Ksenija Jeftinija,³ Srdija Jeftinija,³ Ludmila Rizshsky,^2,⁴ Basil J Nikolau,^2,⁴ Jodi McKay,⁵ Marian Kohut,^2,⁶ and Eve Syrkin Wurtele^1,²

¹Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

²Center for Research on Dietary Botanical Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

³Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

⁴Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

⁵Department of Biology and Chemistry, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA 51106, USA

⁶Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

Corresponding author.

Lankun Wu: lkwu/at/iastate.edu; Eric W Rowe: erowe/at/iastate.edu; Ksenija Jeftinija: ksenijaj/at/iastate.edu; Srdija Jeftinija: sjeftini/at/iastate.edu; Ludmila Rizshsky: ludmilar/at/iastate.edu; Basil J Nikolau: dimmas/at/iastate.edu; Jodi McKay: mckay/at/morningside.edu; Marian Kohut: mkohut/at/iastate.edu; Eve Syrkin Wurtele: mash/at/iastate.edu

Received August 23, 2010; Accepted November 23, 2010.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

With a traditional medical use for treatment of various ailments, herbal preparations of Echinacea are now popularly used to improve immune responses. One likely mode of action is that alkamides from Echinacea bind to cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptors and induce a transient increase in intracellular Ca²⁺. Here, we show that unidentified compounds from Echinacea purpurea induce cytosolic Ca²⁺elevation in non-immune-related cells, which lack CB2 receptors and that the Ca²⁺elevation is not influenced by alkamides.

Methods

A non-immune human cell line, HEK293, was chosen to evaluate E. purpurea root extracts and constituents as potential regulators of intracellular Ca²⁺levels. Changes in cytosolic Ca²⁺levels were monitored and visualized by intracellular calcium imaging. U73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor, and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an antagonist of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptor, were tested to determine the mechanism of this Ca²⁺signaling pathway. E. purpurea root ethanol extracts were fractionated by preparative HPLC, screened for bioactivity on HEK293 cells and by GC-MS for potential constituent(s) responsible for this bioactivity.

Results

A rapid transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺levels occurs when E. purpurea extracts are applied to HEK293 cells. These stimulatory effects are phospholipase C and IP₃receptor dependent. Echinacea-evoked responses could not be blocked by SR 144528, a specific CB2 receptor antagonist, indicating that CB2 is not involved. Ca²⁺elevation is sustained after the Echinacea-induced Ca²⁺release from intracellular Ca²⁺stores; this longer-term effect is abolished by 2-APB, indicating a possible store operated calcium entry involvement. Of 28 HPLC fractions from E. purpurea root extracts, six induce cytosolic Ca²⁺increase. Interestingly, GC-MS analysis of these fractions, as well as treatment of HEK293 cells with known individual and combined chemicals, indicates the components thought to be responsible for the major immunomodulatory bioactivity of Echinacea do not explain the observed Ca²⁺response. Rather, lipophilic constituents of unknown structures are associated with this bioactivity.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that as yet unidentified constituents from Echinacea stimulate an IP₃receptor and phospholipase C mediation of cytosolic Ca²⁺levels in non-immune mammalian cells. This pathway is distinct from that induced in immune associated cells via the CB2 receptor.

Background

Well known for its characteristic fiery and pungent taste, Echinacea produces local anesthesia of the mucous membranes; thus, it has been used medicinally since ancient times [1]. Echinacea was used by Native Americans as a remedy to treat a number of ailments; principally in relation to the alleviation of pain and the promotion of healing, in cases of snake bites, burns, cough, sore throats, and toothache [1]. Echinacea products are currently promoted as general enhancers of the immune system, and are among the top-selling herbal preparations in the U.S.A [2]. Despite the popularity of Echinacea as an herbal supplement, and many pharmacological and clinical studies, the molecular mechanisms of action for Echinacea are not well understood. Among the phytochemicals that accumulate in Echinacea [2,3], four major classes, polyunsaturated alkamides/ketones, caffeic acid derivatives, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides, exhibit biological effects in vitro and in vivo. These include anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and immunostimulatory activities [1,4,5]. However, it is uncertain which specific compound(s) are primarily responsible for these bioactivities, or whether they are efficacious in humans [4]. Furthermore, the early molecular events associated with cellular exposure to Echinacea are unknown.

Recently, a possible mode of action for Echinacea was proposed based on indications that some alkamides bind to cannabinoid (CB) receptors in vitro [6,7]; the concentrations of alkamides required for binding to the CB2 receptor, as reported by different groups, have differed by as much as 30-fold (60 nM, [6]; 2-20 μM, [7]). More recently, these alkamides, as well as crude E. purpurea extracts, were reported to transiently induce intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) levels in HL60 cells via CB2 receptor activation [8].

Because of Ca²⁺'s central role as a key intracellular second messenger mediating diverse range of cellular processes [9], and because so little is understood about the early events associated with Echinacea-induced bioactivity, we postulate that metabolic components from this genus may induce intracellular Ca²⁺increase, which could mediate a series of physiological process involved in this bioactivity.

To evaluate the possibility that Echinacea components impact Ca²⁺homeostasis, the effects of applying Echinacea extracts and HPLC-purified fractions from these extracts were studied in HEK293 cells using intracellular calcium imaging. The HEK293 line was chosen because of its nature as a human non-immune cell line, its well-characterized transcriptome and the apparent absence of CB receptors [10].

Methods

Plant Material and Extraction and Preparative HPLC Fractionation

Plant materials were provided by the USDA North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS, Ames, IA). E. purpurea (accession PI631307) was used in all experiments. Further information about this accession can be found on the Germplasm Resources Information Network database at http://www.ars grin.gov/npgs/acc/acc_queries.html.

Echinacea extracts were prepared from roots of 2-year-old field grown plants, soxhlet ethanol extraction and preparative HPLC fractionation of the extracts were performed as previously described [11]. All extracts and fractions were dried and re-dissolved in 100% DMSO and diluted 1000 times with HEPES buffer (final concentration of DMSO is 0.1%) before applied to the cells.

GC-MS Analysis

GC-MS analysis was used to determine concentrations of known alkamides present in E. purpurea fractions through the use of synthetic standards as previously described [11].

Chemicals

Fura-2 AM, pluronic F-127, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's Medium, penicillin-streptomycin, L-glutamine, and trypsin were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA); thapsigargin, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), 1-[6-[((17β)-3-Methoxyestra-1,3,5[10]-trien-17-yl)amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U-73122) and 1-[6-[((17β)-3-Methoxyestra-1,3,5[10]-trien-17-yl)amino]hexyl]-2,5-pyrrolidinedione (U-73343) were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA). SR 144528 was generously provided by NIDA Drug Supply System (Baltimore, MD, USA). Alkamide and ketone standards were synthesized as previously described [11].

Cell Culture

HEK293 cells were obtained from ATCC (Manassas, VA, USA) and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's Medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 50 U/ml penicillin, 50 μg/ml streptomycin, and 2 mM glutamine. Cells were grown in an incubator at 37°C with humidified 5% CO₂and 95% air.

Intracellular Calcium Imaging

Intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_i) were measured by ratiometric imaging techniques using a perfusion system as previously described [12]. Cells were plated onto 22-mm microscope coverslips 36 hr before the experiment. Cells were loaded with Fura 2-AM for 60 min at room temperature. The loading solution contained 1 μl of 25% (w/w) Pluronic F-127 and 4 nM of Fura 2-AM diluted in 1 ml of HEPES buffer. The loading solution was removed and the cells were washed twice with HEPES buffer before the coverslips were placed onto a perfusion chamber and connected to a micro pump. The test chemicals were placed in syringes on a five-valve manifold and added into the perfusion chamber using a micro pump with a flow rate of 200 μl per min. The application lengths of Echinacea extracts, fractions and chemicals were indicated by the bars on the graph as well as in the figure legends. As a result of the physical distance between the syringe and the cell chamber, there was a 2 min delay between adding the test or control samples and the exposure of the cells to the samples. Initial analysis of calcium imaging data was conducted using MetaFluor^®software. Maximum increase in [Ca²⁺]_i(Δ[Ca²⁺]_iMax) was determined as the difference from the resting value to the maximum response. The time-to-peak value was measured and defined as the time it took for the signal to reach from the resting value to the maximum response. The response length was defined as the time interval from the time the signal reaches the maximum response to the time it took to return to the resting value. The dose-response curve was generated using PRISM 4.02 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, US). The half-maximum concentration of Echinacea extract that induces a response (EC₅₀) was calculated from the fitted sigmoidal curves using PRISM 4.02.

Statistical Analysis

The cytosolic [Ca²⁺] increase data (Δ[Ca²⁺]_i) were represented as mean ± SEM, n = 3; data were compiled from cell traces from three biological replicates (three independent cell cultures), measuring at least 20 cell traces/replicate; each value is the mean of ≤ 20 cells from one replicate. Means of Δ[Ca²⁺]_iMaxwere analyzed by t-test to determine statistical significance compared to the control. One-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test was also carried out to compare means between different treatments. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software version 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC).

Results

E. purpurea extracts induce transient cytosolic [Ca²⁺] increase in HEK293 cells

Roots of E. purpurea are among those most widely used medicinally [4], thus we focused on this species, using a well-characterized accession (PI631307) grown and processed under defined conditions [3].

E. purpurea root ethanol extracts evoke a transient [Ca²⁺]_iincrease in HEK293 cells (Figure (Figure1A).1A). This Echinacea-evoked calcium response returns to baseline rapidly after removal of the Echinacea extract (Figure (Figure1A),1A), indicating that the activation is reversible. At a dose of 100 μg extract/ml, the increase of [Ca²⁺]_iwas 71 ± 4 nM, and the time-to-peak of this response was 32 ± 2 s. A second application of extract induces a second transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_iof somewhat less intensity than the first. Similar attenuation of the response to second application of the ligands has been previously demonstrated and was determined to be due to receptor desensitization [13] Similarly prepared ethanol extracts of an non-Echinacea species, spinach, were tested as a control, no [Ca²⁺]_iincrease was observed (Figure (Figure1B).1B). To investigate the concentration-dependence of this Echinacea response, seven concentrations of extracts, ranging from 25 to 300 μg/ml, were evaluated (Figure (Figure2).2). At concentrations as low as 50 μg/ml, E. purpurea extract evokes a transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_i; the response saturates at about 200 μg/ml, with an EC₅₀of 98 ± 7 μg/ml (n = 3). Transient [Ca²⁺]_iincreases were also induced with similarly prepared extracts from E. pallida, E. angustifolia and E. tennesseensis (data not shown).

Figure 1

E. purpurea root ethanol extracts induce a transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺concentrations in HEK293 cells. (A) Left: Real-time monitoring of the change in cytosolic Ca²⁺concentrations in HEK293 cells in response to repeated application of E. purpurea (more ...)

Figure 2

Dose-response curve of the transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺concentration in HEK293 cells evoked by E. purpurea root ethanol extracts. Results are expressed as percentages of maximum responses. Each data point represents mean ± SEM, n = 3 (more ...)

Evaluation of potential constituents that induce the [Ca²⁺]_iresponse

To begin identifying the constituent(s) responsible for inducing this transient increase of cytosolic [Ca²⁺]_i, E. purpurea extracts were fractionated using preparative HPLC. Twenty-eight fractions were collected and tested for bioactivity. Aliquots of the HPLC fractions were applied to HEK293 cells at levels proportional to their concentrations in the initial ethanol extract. In this HPLC protocol, phenolics such as cichoric acid and cholorogenic acid elute in the more polar fractions (retention times of about 2-40 min), whereas Bauer alkamides 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and Chen alkamide elute in the later less polar fractions (retention times of 49-94 min) [3]. Six of the E. purpurea fractions (fractions #68, #72, #75, #80, #83 and #94) are active in evoking [Ca²⁺]_ielevation in HEK293; the other 22 fractions have no detectable bioactivity (Figure (Figure3).3). Both the duration and intensity of the transient [Ca²⁺]_iincrease are unique to each bioactive fraction (Figure (Figure4).4). Among the six active fractions, fraction #72 has the highest activity based on the peak height of intracellular calcium concentration (Figure (Figure33).

Figure 3

Fractionation by preparative HPLC of the Ca²⁺-inducing activity in E. purpurea root ethanol extracts. HPLC-separated fractions from 95% ethanol extract of E. purpurea root induce significantly different levels of Ca²⁺response. Fraction numbers refer (more ...)

Figure 4

Different HPLC-separated fractions of E. purpurea root ethanol extract produce different effects on transient increase in the concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺in HEK293 cells. Three example traces are shown. (Statistical analysis of data from all fractions (more ...)

The constituents of each HPLC fraction were fingerprinted by GC-MS; three of these are shown in Figure Figure4.4. In addition to numerous non-alkamide constituents, fraction #68 contains Bauer alkamides 1, 2, 4, 6 and Chen alkamide; fraction #72 contains Bauer alkamides 4, 8/9, 10 and Chen alkamide; fraction #75 contains Bauer alkamides 8/9 and 10; fractions #80 and #94 contain Bauer alkamides 8/9, 10 and 11 and fraction #83 contains Bauer alkamides 8/9 and 11 (Table (Table11).

Table 1

GC-MS analysis of identified compounds in the 6 bioactive fractions of E. purpurea root extract ^a.

Synthesized standards of Bauer alkamides 8, 10, 11, and Bauer ketone 23 were tested for bioactivity in the intracellular Ca²⁺assay. Bauer alkamide 11 was of particular interest because it has been reported by Raduner et al. [6] to bind to the cannabinoid receptor, CB2. None of these pure compounds display detectable bioactivity on HEK293 when applied individually, and even when applied at concentrations up to 8-fold higher than their concentrations found in the E. purpurea extracts (data not shown). Taken together, these results indicate that lipophilic constituents of yet unidentified structures are associated with the induction of [Ca²⁺]_iincrease in HEK293 cells by Echinacea. These responsible bioactive constituent(s) could be novel or alternately they might be identified in other plant species but not yet found in E. purpurea; for example, in E. pallida non-polar ketones such as pentadeca-(8 Z,13 Z)-dien-11-yn-2-one have been recently identified in E. pallida [14].

Echinacea-induced [Ca²⁺]_iincreases in HEK293 cells appear to be associated with release of Ca²⁺from IP₃-sensitive intracellular stores, and this process may involve PLC activation

Two principal sources of Ca²⁺affect the concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺: internal Ca²⁺stores, primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and extracellular Ca²⁺. To examine whether the observed Echinacea-induced transient [Ca²⁺]_iincrease depends on external calcium, HEK293 cells were perfused either with HEPES solution supplemented with normal concentrations of calcium (2 mM) or with EDTA-chelated calcium-free HEPES buffer for 10 min, before treatment with E. purpurea extracts. In both of these sets of experiments the Echinacea-induced transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_iwas observed (Figure (Figure5A).5A). Therefore, the source of the transient [Ca²⁺]_iincrease in the Echinacea-treated HEK293 cells appears to be from intracellular stores, as indicated by the stimulatory effect that occurs despite the cells being in calcium-free media.

Figure 5

Transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺concentration in HEK293 cells induced by E. purpurea root ethanol extracts is associated with Ca²⁺release from the IP₃-sensitive intracellular store and the PLC pathway. (A) Kinetic changes of [Ca²⁺]_iin HEK cells (more ...)

Release of Ca²⁺from internal ER-stores typically occurs via an inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptor, however, other mechanisms exist as well [15]. We tested for the possible involvement of the IP₃receptor in the Echinacea-induction of intracellular Ca²⁺release by evaluating the effect of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an IP₃receptor antagonist, on Echinacea-induced cytosolic Ca²⁺increase. If Echinacea-extracts induce intracellular Ca²⁺via an IP₃receptor, blocking this receptor should eliminate the Echinacea-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. 2-APB (100 μM) completely abolishes the transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_ievoked by the Echinacea-extract (Figure (Figure5B),5B), consistent with the role of the IP₃receptor in mediating bioactivity.

To test whether phospholipase C (PLC) activation is required for the Echinacea-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, the effects of U-73122, a specific PLC inhibitor, and its inactive analog U-73343 were evaluated. In these studies, the HEK293 cell cultures were treated with Echinacea extracts first, to show that the cultures were indeed able to respond to Echinacea. The PLC antagonist, or its inactive analog, was then applied for 10 min and the Echinacea extract was reapplied to test whether there are any blocking effects of the antagonist. Application of U-73122 completely abolishes the increase in [Ca²⁺]_ithat is evoked by the Echinacea-extract (Figure (Figure5C),5C), whereas U-73343 has no such effect (Figure (Figure5D),5D), consistent with an involvement of the PLC pathway.

Thapsigargin and 2-ABP inhibition experiments indicate that Echinacea extract may induce Ca²⁺influx by activating SOCE following depletion of Ca²⁺from intracellular stores

To experimentally evaluate whether store operated calcium entry (SOCE) plays a role in calcium homeostasis in the HEK293 cell response to Echinacea-extracts, external Ca²⁺was removed and internal Ca²⁺stores were depleted using the sarcoplasmic/ER Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) pump inhibitor, thapsigargin. Restoration of external Ca²⁺following thapsigargin-treatment indicates the function of SOCE, which can be observed as an increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺[16]. Here, the effect of thapsigargin is compared to the effect of Echinacea extract. The Ca²⁺responses evoked by Echinacea and thapsigargin are similar (Figure (Figure6).6). In the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, both agents evoke a transient intracellular Ca²⁺elevation, interpreted as being due to Ca²⁺release from internal stores. After Ca²⁺-containing medium is introduced, a sustained increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺is observed for both treatments (Figure (Figure6A,6A, ,6B).6B). This pattern is consistent with SOCE-mediated changes in the concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺[16].

Figure 6

Echinacea -evoked depletion of Ca²⁺from intracellular stores induced Ca²⁺influx via SOCE in HEK293 cells. This response is pharmacologically similar to the Ca²⁺influx evoked by thapsigargin. (A) Top: After depletion of Ca²⁺stores by treating cells (more ...)

To examine whether thapsigargin- and Echinacea-induced Ca²⁺entry pathways are pharmacologically similar in the HEK model, 2-APB was applied in the continued presence of external Ca²⁺. 2-APB is considered the most potent and consistent compound in blocking SOCE, acting as a potent SOCE inhibitor independent of, and in addition to, its ability to inhibit the IP₃receptor [17]. 2-APB has no effect on voltage-operated Ca²⁺channels [18] or on non-voltage-activated Ca²⁺entry pathways [19]. Therefore, despite its dual effects, 2-APB provides a critical reagent for investigating SOCE activation and for discriminating between different forms of Ca²⁺entry [17]. 100 μM 2-APB completely blocks SOCE induced by both thapsigargin and Echinacea extracts (Figure (Figure6C,6C, ,6D).6D). This result is consistent with the involvement of an SOCE pathway in the Ca²⁺elevation associated with Echinacea-induced depletion of Ca²⁺from intracellular stores.

CB2 is not involved in Echinacea-induced [Ca²⁺]_iincrease in HEK293 cells

CB2 was not detected in HEK293 cells in multiple microarray studies of HEK293 [10]; over 200 public microarray data in ArrayExpress at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/microarray-as/ae/]. Due to a mounting interest in CB as a potential target for Echinacea action [6-8], we also tested the ability of SR 144528, a specific CB2 receptor antagonist, to effect the Echinacea-induced [Ca²⁺]_Iincrease. In these studies, SR 144528 (100 μM) was applied for 10 min and then the Echinacea extract (100 μg/ml) was applied to test whether there are any blocking effects of the antagonist. Our results showed that SR 144528 was not able to abolish the Echinacea response (Figure (Figure7).7). This confirmed that CB2 was indeed not responsible for the Echinacea-induced [Ca²⁺]_ielevation observed in HEK293 cells.

Figure 7

Transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺concentration evoked by Echinacea extracts is not mediated by CB2 receptor activation. Echinacea extract (100 μg/ml)-evoked cytosolic Ca²⁺transients in HEK293 cells (exposure time was 2 mins) cannot be abolished (more ...)

Discussion

Despite numerous reports on physiological and cellular consequences of treatments with Echinacea [4,11,19], little is known about the early molecular mechanisms that might mediate these events. One possibility is that Echinacea acts in part via Ca²⁺, a central intracellular messenger that participates in the regulation and co-regulation of inflammation [20] and pain [21]. A recent report describes an increase in Ca²⁺in HL60 cells that is induced by alkamides of Echinacea, and mediated via the CB2 receptor [8]. Here, we describe an effect of Echinacea components in a non-immune-related cell type that lacks CB2 receptors. Based on these data, we reveal an Echinacea-induced stimulation of an increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺that is not-CB2-dependent, and is not associated with the major alkamides of E. purpurea.

This Echinacea-induced Ca²⁺influx of HEK293 cells is likely associated with an IP₃mediated signaling pathway (Figure (Figure8).8). Ca²⁺influx is rapid, does not require external Ca²⁺and is eliminated by the IP₃receptor antagonist, 2-APB. Furthermore, the PLC pathway may play a role in this release, as suggested by the observation that the Echinacea-evoked increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺is blocked by the PLC antagonist U-73122, but not by its inactive analog (U-73343).

Figure 8

Proposed metabotropic mechanism for Ca²⁺signaling in HEK293 cells underlying the modulation of some of the cellular responses induced by Echinacea extracts. Green arrows indicate steps proposed from data in this paper. Purple lines indicate inhibitors (more ...)

A PLC-dependent signal might be mediated in several ways. For example, constituents of Echinacea might bind to a surface membrane receptor that is coupled to PLC, such as chemokine [22], glutamate [23], or purinergic receptors [24]. Microarray data indicate these receptors are present in HEK293 cells [10]. The observation that active fractions of the E. purpurea extract have differential kinetic properties and potency on HEK293 cells (e.g., bioactive HPLC-fractions #80 and #83) is consistent with more than one receptor being stimulated by Echinacea extracts. A second possibility is that bioactive constituent(s) enter the cell and act directly or via an intracellular moiety on PLC. These possibilities are not mutually exclusive. Because a portion of the Ca²⁺response that is induced by Echinacea extracts is associated with lipophilic constituent(s), logical candidates for being permeable across cell membranes [25], we can not exclude this possibility.

Calcium stored in the ER is released through Ca²⁺channels in the ER membrane, usually via the IP₃receptor or ryanodine receptor families [15]. Ca²⁺pumps located in the ER membranes then return cytosolic Ca²⁺into the lumen, thus contributing to Ca²⁺homeostasis between the cytoplasm and ER. The intracellular Ca²⁺stores are refilled from the extracellular reservoir, mostly through SOCE [16]. SOCE has been reported in multiple cell types, e.g., smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, hippocampal cells, and regulates physiological processes such as inflammation, cardiac contraction, and neurotransmission [26].

Our data indicate that the source of the initial transient increase in cytosolic calcium levels that are induced by Echinacea-extracts is from internal stores, indicative of a metabotropic response. In this metabotropic model, PLC activation would lead to the production of IP₃, which in turn would activate the IP₃receptor causing release of Ca²⁺from the ER [15]. The participation of the IP₃receptor in the Echinacea-induced calcium release is suggested by treatment of HEK293 cells with the specific membrane-permeable IP₃receptor antagonist, 2-APB [17]. 2-APB is able to completely abolish the Echinacea-induced calcium release from internal stores. 2-APB has been reported to enhance leakage of Ca²⁺from the ER and inhibit SERCA activity, resulting in enhancement of Ca²⁺signaling [27]. This complex action of 2-APB is consistent with the small initial intracellular calcium increase we observed in HEK293 cells after 2-APB application.

This model predicts that the Echinacea-induced release of Ca²from internal stores may be coupled to a subsequent activation of the SOCE process. In many cell types, depletion of intracellular Ca²⁺stores results in the opening of SOCE in the plasma membrane [16]. SOCE, thought to mediate aspects of cell secretion and motility, cell proliferation and gene expression by altering cellular Ca²⁺[16], is considered a promising target for therapeutic treatment in inflammatory diseases [28]. The nature of SOCE, and the mechanism linking Ca²⁺-store content to the opening of this Ca²⁺channel, remains unclear. Two proteins have been implicated in SOCE function: Orai1, a pore-forming subunit of the SOCE, and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), thought to be an ER-based Ca²⁺sensor that activates SOCE by an as yet undefined mechanism [16]. Therefore we propose that the resultant decrease of Ca²⁺in ER after Echinacea treatment would in turn activate the plasma membrane SOCE through a mechanism that involves STIM1. Taken together, this model predicts that in HEK293 cells, the level of cytosolic Ca²⁺associated with Echinacea treatment increases through two mechanisms: initially the release of Ca²⁺from ER Ca²⁺stores, and subsequently Ca²⁺influx via SOCE.

The physiological events downstream of a cytosolic Ca²⁺increase, whether Echinacea-induced or otherwise, are complex and highly dependent on the cell type and context in which they occur. Longer range effects of changes in cytosolic levels of Ca²⁺regulate a wide variety of cellular processes [20]. In T-cells, for example, elevated intracellular Ca²⁺activate Ca²⁺-dependent enzymes, such as calcineurin, and thereby transcription factors, such as nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). These transcription factors modulate the activation of T-cells and generation of cytokines, which in turn regulate the expression of many target genes in inflammation and pain transmission [20].

Studies using animal and human models indicate that Echinacea extracts enhance the cyclooxygenase 2 and cytokine signaling activities of various immune cells, both of which are involved in many steps of immunomodulatory responses and mediation of pain transmission [4,11,19]. Consistent with this concept, microarray analyses indicate that Echinacea preparations modulate the levels of varied cytokine transcripts in human acute monocytic leukemia cells, bronchial epithelial cells and dendritic cells [29-31]. The overall transcript profiles in these microarray experiments are diverse, although it is not clear as to whether this variation is associated with the use of different cell models or different Echinacea preparations. Taken together, these studies and our own convey the important message that Echinacea may induce many responses in various cell types involving more than one signaling pathway, and that it is a combination of these responses that likely lead to the overall physiological effect on the organism.

This report highlights the effect of lipophilic, non-alkamide Echinacea components in a non-immune-related cell type that lacks CB2 receptors. Our use of a human non-immune cell line as an experimental system to evaluate Echinacea-induced response emphasizes the complex effects of herbal medicines, and sheds more light on potential molecular early signaling mechanisms for this important medicinal plant. Thus the non-CB-related intracellular calcium signaling induced by non-alkamide components of Echinacea extracts revealed in this study, in conjunction with the activation of CB-mediated signaling by Echinacea extracts by specific alkamides [6-8], provides an intriguing example of how the chemical complexity of a single medicinal species can affect diverse signaling receptors and pathways in a cell-type dependent manner.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we show that extracts from Echinacea induce transient increases of cytosolic Ca²⁺levels when applied to HEK293 cells, and that this increase can be attributed to a subset of lipohilic Echinacea constituents. HPLC fractionation reveals six distinct lipophilic fractions that induce this transient increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺. This bioactivity does not appear to be attributable to any known bioactive components of Echinacea, including the alkamides. Furthermore, it is not associated with the CB receptors. Based on studies with a range of inhibitors, activators and experimental conditions, we propose that Echinacea extract contains compounds other than its known alkamides that induce cytosolic Ca²⁺release, in combination with an ER-depletion-associated activation of the SOCE pathway in HEK293 cells.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

LW carried out the study design, experimental work on cell culture and calcium imaging data and conducted statistical analyses, literature search and drafted the manuscript. EWR participated in design and coordination of the study and provided assistance in data interpretation. KJ helped with the calcium imaging work. SJ provided assistance in data interpretation. LR did the GC-MS analysis of the plant extract and fractions. BJN evaluated the data and corrected the manuscript for publication. JM helped with the cell culture. MK provided assistance in data interpretation and edited the manuscript. ESW conceived the study, supervised the experimental work and co-wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Pre-publication history

The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/10/72/prepub

Acknowledgements

This publication was made possible by grant P01 ES012020 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and grant 9P50AT004155-06 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and ODS, NIH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIEHS, NCCAM, or NIH. We are grateful to Dr. Mark P. Widrlechner for providing Echinacea plant materials, Cathy Hauck and Dr. Patricia Murphy for providing Echinacea extracts and fractions, and Drs. Jaehoon Bae and George Kraus for providing chemically synthesized alkamide and ketone standards.

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