Aspirin Induces Mitochondrial Ca²⁺Remodeling in Tumor Cells via ROS‒Depolarization‒Voltage-Gated Ca²⁺ Entry

• Main Authors: Itsuho Fujikawa, Takashi Ando, Manami Suzuki-Karasaki, Miki Suzuki-Karasaki, Toyoko Ochiai, Yoshihiro Suzuki-Karasaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: aspirin; salicylate; melanoma; apoptosis; depolarization; mitochondria
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/13/4771
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and its metabolite salicylate, have an anti-melanoma effect by evoking mitochondrial dysfunction through poorly understood mechanisms. Depolarization of the plasma membrane potential leads to voltage-gated Ca²⁺ entry (VGCE) and caspase-3 activation. In the present study, we investigated the role of depolarization and VGCE in aspirin’s anti-melanoma effect. Aspirin and to a lesser extent, salicylate (≥2.5 mM) induced a rapid (within seconds) depolarization, while they caused comparable levels of depolarization with a lag of 2~4 h. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation also occurred in the two-time points, and antioxidants abolished the early ROS generation and depolarization. At the same concentrations, the two drugs induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in a caspase-independent manner, and antioxidants and Ca²⁺channel blockers prevented cell death. Besides ROS generation, reduced mitochondrial Ca²⁺ (Ca²⁺_m) and mitochondrial membrane potential preceded cell death. Moreover, the cells expressed the Ca_v1.2 isoform of l-type Ca²⁺channel, and knockdown of Ca_v1.2 abolished the decrease in Ca²⁺_m. Our findings suggest that aspirin and salicylate induce Ca²⁺_m remodeling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death via ROS-dependent depolarization and VGCE activation.