Sulfite triggers sustained calcium overload in cultured cortical neurons via a redox-dependent mechanism.

Abstract Sulfite is a compound commonly used as preservative in foods and pharmaceuticals. Many studies have examined the neurotoxicity of sulfite, but its effect on neuronal calcium homeostasis has not yet been reported. Here, we observed the effect of sulfite on the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) in cultured cortical neurons using Fura-2/AM based calcium imaging technique. Sulfite (250–1000 μM) caused a sustained increase in [Ca 2+ ]i in the neurons via a dose-dependent manner. In Ca 2+ -free solution, sulfite failed to increase [Ca 2+ ]i. After the depletion of the intracellular calcium store, the effect of sulfite on the [Ca 2+ ]i was largely abolished. Pharmacological inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC)—inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP 3 ) signaling pathway blocked sulfite-induced increase of [Ca 2+ ]i. Interestingly, antioxidants such as trolox and dithiothreitol, abolished the increase of [Ca 2+ ] i induced by sulfite. Exposure to sulfite triggered generation of sulfur- and oxygen-centered free radicals in neurons and increased oxidative stress both in the cultured cortical neurons and the prefrontal cortex of rats. Furthemore, sulfite decreased cell viability in cultured cortical neurons via a calcium-dependent manner. Thus, our current study suggests that the redox-dependent calcium overload triggered by sulfite in cortical neuronsmay be involved in its neurotoxicity.