The p.E152K-STIM1 mutation deregulates Ca 2+ signaling contributing to chronic pancreatitis

Since deregulation of intracellular Ca can lead to intracellular trypsin activation, and stromal interaction molecule-1 (STIM1) protein is the main regulator of Ca homeostasis in pancreatic acinar cells, we explored the Ca signaling in 37 STIM1 variants found in three pancreatitis patient cohorts. Extensive functional analysis of one particular variant, p.E152K, identified in three patients, provided a plausible link between dysregulated Ca signaling within pancreatic acinar cells and chronic pancreatitis susceptibility. Specifically, p.E152K, located within the STIM1 EF-hand and sterile α-motif domain, increased the release of Ca from the endoplasmic reticulum in patient-derived fibroblasts and transfected HEK293T cells. This event was mediated by altered STIM1-sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA) conformational change and enhanced SERCA pump activity leading to increased store-operated Ca entry (SOCE). In pancreatic AR42J cells expressing the p.E152K variant, Ca signaling perturbations correlated with defects in trypsin activation and secretion, and increased cytotoxicity after cholecystokinin stimulation.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.