Different mechanisms are involved in intracellular calcium increase by insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 in articular chondrocytes: voltage-gated calcium channels, and/or phospholipase C coupled to a pertussis-sensitive G-protein.

This study describes the mechanisms involved in the IGF-1 and IGF-2-induced increases in intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i in cultured chondrocytes and the involvement of type 1 IGF receptors. It shows that IGF-1, IGF-2, and insulin increased the cytosolic free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner, with a plateau from 25 to 100 ng/ml for both IGF-1 and IGF-2 and from 1 to 2 micrograms/ml for insulin. The effect of IGF-1 was twice as great as the one of IGF-2, and the effect of insulin was 40% lower than IGF-1 effect. Two different mechanisms are involved in the intracellular [Ca2+]i increase. 1) IGF-1 and insulin but not IGF-2 involved a Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels: pretreatment of the cells by EGTA and verapamil diminished the IGF-1 or insulin-induced [Ca2+]i but did not block the effect of IGF-2. 2) IGF-1, IGF-2, and insulin also induced a Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum: phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors, neomycin, or U-73122 partially blocked the intracellular [Ca2+]i increase induced by IGF-1 and insulin and totally inhibited the effect of IGF-2. This Ca2+ mobilization was pertussis toxin (PTX) dependent, suggesting an activation of a PLC coupled to a PTX-sensitive G-protein. Lastly, preincubation of the cells with IGF1 receptor antibodies diminished the IGF-1-induced Ca2+ spike and totally abolished the Ca2+ influx, but did not modify the effect of IGF-2. These results suggest that IGF-1 action on Ca2+ influx involves the IGF1 receptor, while part of IGF-1 and all of IGF-2 Ca2+ mobilization do not implicate this receptor.