The Ca2+ channel ORAI1 is a regulator of oral cancer growth and nociceptive pain

Sci Signal. 2023 Sep 5;16(801):eadf9535. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.adf9535. Epub 2023 Sep 5.

Abstract

Oral cancer causes pain associated with cancer progression. We report here that the function of the Ca2+ channel ORAI1 is an important regulator of oral cancer pain. ORAI1 was highly expressed in tumor samples from patients with oral cancer, and ORAI1 activation caused sustained Ca2+ influx in human oral cancer cells. RNA-seq analysis showed that ORAI1 regulated many genes encoding oral cancer markers such as metalloproteases (MMPs) and pain modulators. Compared with control cells, oral cancer cells lacking ORAI1 formed smaller tumors that elicited decreased allodynia when inoculated into mouse paws. Exposure of trigeminal ganglia neurons to MMP1 evoked an increase in action potentials. These data demonstrate an important role of ORAI1 in oral cancer progression and pain, potentially by controlling MMP1 abundance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
  • Mice
  • Mouth Neoplasms*
  • Nociceptive Pain*
  • ORAI1 Protein

Substances

  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
  • ORAI1 Protein
  • ORAI1 protein, human
  • Orai1 protein, mouse