Involvement of store-operated Ca2+ entry in activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and stimulation of glucose uptake by M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in human neuroblastoma cells

G(q/11)-coupled muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) belonging to M-1, M-3 and M-5 subtypes have been shown to activate the metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta (CaMKK beta)-mediated phosphorylation at Thr172. However, the source of Ca2+ required for this response has not been yet elucidated. Here, we investigated the involvement of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in AMPK activation by pharmacologically defined M-3 mAChRs in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. In Ca2+-free medium the cholinergic agonist carbachol (CCh) caused a transient increase of phospho-Thr172 AMPK that rapidly ceased within 2 min. Conversely, in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ CCh-induced AMPK phosphorylation lasted for at least 180 min. The SOCE modulator 2-aminoethoxydiphephenyl borate (2-APB), at a concentration (50 mu M) that suppressed CCh-induced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+](i)) plateau, inhibited CCh-induced AMPK phosphorylation. CCh triggered the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor stromal interaction molecule (STIM) 1, as indicated by redistribution of STIM1 immunofluorescence into puncta, and promoted the association of STIM1 with the SOCE channel component Orai1. Cell depletion of STIM1 by siRNA treatment reduced both CCh-induced [Ca2+](i) plateau and AMPK activation. M-3 mAChRs increased glucose uptake and this response required extracellular Ca2+ and was inhibited by 2-APB, STIM1 knockdown, CaMKK beta and AMPK inhibitors, and adenovirus infection with dominant negative AMPK. Thus, the study provides evidence that SOCE is required for sustained activation of AMPK and stimulation of downstream glucose uptake by M-3 mAChRs and suggests that SOCE is a critical process connecting M-3 mAChRs to the control of neuronal energy metabolism. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.