Hydrogen peroxide induces intracellular calcium overload by activation of a non-selective cation channel in an insulin-secreting cell line.

Fura-2 fluorescence was used to investigate the effects of H2O2 on [Ca2+]i in the insulin-secreting cell line CRI-G1. H2O2 (1-10 mM) caused a biphasic increase in free [Ca2+]i, an initial rise observed within 3 min and a second, much larger rise following a 30-min exposure. Extracellular calcium removal blocked the late, but not the initial, rise in [Ca2+]i. Thapsigargin did not affect either response to H2O2, but activated capacitive calcium entry, an action abolished by 10 microM La3+. Simultaneous recordings of membrane potential and [Ca2+]i demonstrated the same biphasic [Ca2+]i response to H2O2 and showed that the late increase in [Ca2+]i coincided temporally with cell membrane potential collapse. Buffering Ca2+i to low nanomolar levels prevented both phases of increased [Ca2+]i and the H2O2-induced depolarization. The H2O2-induced late rise in [Ca2+]i was prevented by extracellular application of 100 microM La3+. La3+ (100 microM) inhibited the H2O2-induced cation current and NAD-activated cation (NSNAD) channel activity in these cells. H2O2 increased the NAD/NADH ratio in intact CRI-G1 cells, consistent with increased cellular [NAD]. These data suggest that H2O2 increases [NAD], which, coupled with increased [Ca2+]i, activates NSNAD channels, causing unregulated Ca2+ entry and consequent cell death.