Calmodulin (CaM) is the principal Ca²⁺ sensor protein in all eukaryotic cells, that upon binding to target proteins transduces signals encoded by global or subcellular-specific changes of Ca²⁺ concentration within the cell. The Ca²⁺/CaM complex as well as Ca²⁺-free CaM modulate the activity of a vast number of enzymes, channels, signaling, adaptor and structural proteins, and hence the functionality of implicated signaling pathways, which control multiple cellular functions. A basic and important cellular function controlled by CaM in various ways is cell motility. Here we discuss the role of CaM-dependent systems involved in cell migration, tumor cell invasiveness, and metastasis development. Emphasis is given to phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events catalyzed by myosin light-chain kinase, CaM-dependent kinase-II, as well as other CaM-dependent kinases, and the CaM-dependent phosphatase calcineurin. In addition, the role of the CaM-regulated small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 (cell division cycle protein 42) as well as CaM-binding adaptor/scaffold proteins such as Grb7 (growth factor receptor bound protein 7), IQGAP (IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein) and AKAP12 (A kinase anchoring protein 12) will be reviewed. CaM-regulated mechanisms in cancer cells responsible for their greater migratory capacity compared to non-malignant cells, invasion of adjacent normal tissues and their systemic dissemination will be discussed, including closely linked processes such as the epithelial–mesenchymal transition and the activation of metalloproteases. This review covers as well the role of CaM in establishing metastatic foci in distant organs. Finally, the use of CaM antagonists and other blocking techniques to downregulate CaM-dependent systems aimed at preventing cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis development will be outlined.

The pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) has been implicated in tumourigenesis. Expression of PRL and its receptor (PRLR) was reported in human breast epithelium and breast cancer cells. It was suggested that PRL may act as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor. Here, we addressed the role of locally synthesised PRL in breast cancer. We analysed the expression of PRL in human breast cancer tumours using qPCR analysis and in situ hybridization (ISH). PRL mRNA expression was very low or undetectable in the majority of samples in three cDNA arrays representing samples from 144 breast cancer patients and in 13 of 14 breast cancer cell lines when analysed by qPCR. In accordance, PRL expression did not reach detectable levels in any of the 19 human breast carcinomas or 5 cell lines, which were analysed using a validated ISH protocol. Two T47D-derived breast cancer cell lines were stably transfected with PRL-expressing constructs. Conditioned medium from the T47D/PRL clones promoted proliferation of lactogen-dependent Nb2 cells and control T47D cells. Surprisingly, the PRL-producing clones themselves displayed a lower proliferation rate as compared to the control cells. Their PRLR protein level was reduced and the cells were no longer responsive to exogenous recombinant PRL. Taken together, these data strongly indicate that autocrine PRL signalling is unlikely to be a general mechanism promoting tumour growth in breast cancer patients.

Sprifermin, recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 18 (rhFGF18), induces cartilage regeneration in knees of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). We hypothesized that a temporal multiphasic process of extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and formation underlie this effect. We aimed to characterize the temporal ECM remodeling of human knee OA articular cartilage in response to sprifermin treatment. Articular cartilage explants from patients with knee OA (n_patients = 14) were cultured for 70 days, with permanent exposure to sprifermin (900, 450, 225 ng/mL), FGF18 (450 ng/mL), insulin-like growth factor-1 (100 ng/mL, positive control) or vehicle (n_{replicates/treatment/patient} = 2). Metabolic activity (AlamarBlue) and biomarkers of type IIB collagen (PIIBNP) formation (Pro-C2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) and aggrecanase-mediated aggrecan neo-epitope NITEGE (AGNx1 ELISA) were quantified once a week. At end of culture (day 70), gene expression (quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and proteoglycan content (Safranin O/Fast green staining) were quantified. The cartilage had continuously increased metabolic activity, when treated with sprifermin/FGF18 compared to vehicle. During days 7–28 PIIBNP was decreased and NITEGE was increased, and during days 35–70 PIIBNP was increased. At end of culture, the cartilage had sustained proteoglycan content and relative expression of ACAN < COL2A1 < SOX9 < COL1A1, indicating that functional chondrocytes remained in the explants. Sprifermin induces a temporal biphasic cartilage remodeling in human knee OA articular cartilage explants, with early-phase increased aggrecanase activity and late-phase increased type II collagen formation.

Calmodulin (CaM) is a Ca2+ binding protein modulating multiple targets of which several are associated with cardiac pathophysiology. Recently, CaM mutations were linked to heart arrhythmia. CaM is crucial for cell growth and viability, yet the effect of the arrhythmogenic CaM mutations on cell viability as well as heart rhythm remains unknown and only a few targets with relevance for heart physiology have been analyzed for their response to mutant CaM. We show that the arrhythmia-associated CaM mutants support growth and viability of DT40 cells in the absence of wt CaM except for the LQTS mutant CaM D129G. Of the six CaM mutants tested (N53I, F89L, D95V, N97S, D129G, F141L) three showed a decreased activation of Ca2+/CaM-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), most prominently the D129G CaM mutation, which was incapable of stimulating T286 autophosphorylation. Furthermore, the CaM D129G mutation led to bradycardia in zebrafish and an arrhythmic phenotype in a subset of the analyzed zebrafish.