The ER stress sensor IRE1 interacts with STIM1 to promote store-operated calcium entry, T cell activation, and muscular differentiation

Abstract

Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) mediated by stromal interacting molecule (STIM)-gated ORAI channels at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM) contact sites maintains adequate levels of Ca²⁺ within the ER lumen during Ca²⁺ signaling. Disruption of ER Ca²⁺ homeostasis activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) to restore proteostasis. Here, we report that the UPR transducer inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) interacts with STIM1, promotes ER-PM contact sites, and enhances SOCE. IRE1 deficiency reduces T cell activation and human myoblast differentiation. In turn, STIM1 deficiency reduces IRE1 signaling after store depletion. Using a CaMPARI2-based Ca²⁺ genome-wide screen, we identify CAMKG2 and slc105a as SOCE enhancers during ER stress. Our findings unveil a direct crosstalk between SOCE and UPR via IRE1, acting as key regulator of ER Ca²⁺ and proteostasis in T cells and muscles. Under ER stress, this IRE1-STIM1 axis boosts SOCE to preserve immune cell functions, a pathway that could be targeted for cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: CP: Cell biology; CP: Immunology; CRISPR screening; CaMPARI; ER stress; IRE1; SOCE; STIM1; T cells; calcium; muscle.