Spatiotemporal calcium signaling patterns underlying opposing effects of histamine and TAS2R agonists in airway smooth muscle

Intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) release via phospholipase C (PLC) following G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation is typically linked to membrane depolarization and airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction. However, recent findings show that bitter taste receptor agonists, such as chloroquine (CQ), induce a paradoxical and potent relaxation response despite activating the Ca²⁺ signaling pathway. This relaxation has been hypothesized to be driven by a distinct compartmentalization of calcium ions toward the cellular periphery, subsequently leading to membrane hyperpolarization, in contrast to the contractile effects of histamine. In this study, we further investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ca²⁺ signaling in ASM cells using single-cell microscopy and deep learning-based segmentation, integrating the results into a comprehensive model of ASM ion channel dynamics to compare the effects of histamine, CQ, and flufenamic acid (FFA). Our results show that histamine induces a strong, synchronized calcium release, nearly twice as high as that of CQ, which produces a sustained but lower-magnitude response. Per-cell analysis reveals more variable and asynchronous Ca²⁺ signaling for CQ and FFA, with higher entropy compared with histamine. Integrating these findings into an ASM ion channel model, we observed that histamine-mediated Ca²⁺ release activates voltage-gated Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ channels (leading to depolarization). In contrast, CQ preferentially engages BKCa, SKCa, and chloride channels (promoting hyperpolarization). These findings provide insights into the unique mechanisms by which bitter taste receptor agonists can modulate ASM tone, offering potential therapeutic strategies for relaxing ASM and alleviating airway hyperresponsiveness in conditions such as asthma.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> Using machine-learning methods, these studies identify spatiotemporal differences in calcium responses between agonists of Gq-coupled receptors and bitter taste receptors in airway smooth muscle cells. The findings provide deeper insights into the mechanism of action of bitter tastant-induced airway smooth muscle relaxation.