Activation of gene transcription via CIM0216, a synthetic ligand of transient receptor potential melastatin-3 (TRPM3) channels.

Several compounds have been proposed to stimulate TRPM3 Ca(2+) channels. We recently showed that stimulation of TRPM3 channels with pregnenolone sulfate activated the transcription factor AP-1, while other proposed TRPM3 ligands (nifedipine, D-erythro-sphingosine) exhibited either no or TRPM3-independent effects on gene transcription. Here, we have analyzed the transcriptional activity of CIM0216, a synthetic TRPM3 ligand proposed to have a higher potency and affinity for TRPM3 than pregnenolone sulfate. The results show that CIM0216 treatment of HEK293 cells expressing TRPM3 channels activated AP-1 and stimulated the transcriptional activation potential of c-Jun and c-Fos, 2 basic region leucine zipper transcription factors that constitute AP-1. CIM0216-induced gene transcription was attenuated by knock-down of TRPM3 or treatment with mefenamic acid, a TRPM3 inhibitor. CIM0216 was similarly or less capable in activating TRPM3-mediated gene transcription, suggesting that pregnenolone sulfate is still the ligand of choice for changing the gene expression pattern via TRPM3.