Abstract

3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole derivative (BTP2) or N-[4-3, 5-bis(trifluromethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-4-methyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole-5-carboxamide (YM-58483) is an immunosuppressive compound that potently inhibits both Ca²⁺ influx and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in lymphocytes. We report here that BTP2 dosedependently enhances transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4), a Ca²⁺-activated nonselective (CAN) cation channel that decreases Ca²⁺ influx by depolarizing lymphocytes. The effect of BTP2 on TRPM4 occurs at low nanomolar concentrations and is highly specific, because other ion channels in T lymphocytes are not significantly affected, and the major Ca²⁺ influx pathway in lymphocytes, I_CRAC, is blocked only at 100-fold higher concentrations. The efficacy of BTP2 in blocking IL-2 production is reduced approximately 100-fold when preventing TRPM4-mediated membrane depolarization, suggesting that the BTP2-mediated facilitation of TRPM4 channels represents the major mechanism for its immunosuppressive effect. Our results demonstrate that TRPM4 channels represent a previously unrecognized key element in lymphocyte Ca²⁺ signaling and that their facilitation by BTP2 supports cell membrane depolarization, which reduces the driving force for Ca²⁺ entry and ultimately causes the potent suppression of cytokine release.