急性低氧和复氧对牛主动脉内皮细胞损伤的研究

本实验通过一个自制的用于低氧研究的装置,将细胞暴露于严重低氧条件下（ＰＯ２＝５．３ＫＰａ）观察不同时间低氧和复氧时内皮细胞超微结构和存活率的变化。研究显示随低氧时间延长细胞存活率逐步降低,急性低氧后再复氧细胞存活率进一步降低。细胞超微结构损伤也随低氧时间延长逐步加重,低氧后再复氧超结构损伤程度进一步加重。实验观察到在急性低氧和复氧条件下,培养的牛主动脉内皮细胞超微结构损伤以脂质体和空泡的增加为其最明显特点,而不是线粒体和内质网等细胞器的肿胀和破裂。用ＳＯＤ孵育（１５０μ／ｍｌ）能减少复氧引起的牛主动脉内皮细胞死亡（Ｐ＜０．０５）,提示复氧时可能有超氧自由基产生,并在细胞损伤中起重要作用。     

SNP抑制5-HT诱导的胞内游离钙浓度升高和内钙释放

用Ｆｕｒａ － ２／ＡＭ 荧光测量技术研究了５ － 羟色胺（５－ ＨＴ） 诱导的大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞胞内钙升高和一氧化氮（ＮＯ） 的抑制效应。实验表明, 胞外０ｍ ｍｏｌ／ Ｌ Ｃａ２ ＋ 时胞内静息［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ ｉ 为２０ ．２±８ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ８） 。１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ ５－ ＨＴ 可诱导出胞内钙库释放引起的瞬态［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 升高,其峰值达２４５ ．７ ±７１．６ｎｍｏｌ／ Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ６） 。１０ － ７ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ 硝普钠（ＳＮＰ） 可抑制５－ ＨＴ 诱导的［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 升高,其峰值浓度降为７５．１±３５ ．９ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ５） 。当细胞浴液含２．５ｍ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ Ｃａ２ ＋ 时,静息［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ为１１２ ．８ ±１０ ．３ｎｍｏｌ／ Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ５） , 这时１０μｍｏｌ／ Ｌ ５ － ＨＴ 可诱导［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ ｉ 的峰值为２５２ ．３ ±８０ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ４） ,以及其后平台浓度为１４３ ．０ ±３７ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ４） ,略大于［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 为１１２．８ ±１０ ．３ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ 的静息浓度,为外钙内流引起。１０ － ７ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＳＮＰ 也可抑制５－ ＨＴ 诱导［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ｉ 平台相浓度。平台浓度由１４３ ±４７     

细胞转化过程中胞内钙离子浓度的变化

使用钙离子荧光探针Ｆｌｕｏ－３ＡＭ和ＤＮＡ荧光染料Ｈｏｅｃｈｓｔ３３３４２联染细胞的方法,利用显微分光光度计ＭＰＶⅡ测量了两种温度敏感细胞—６Ｍ２和ｔｓＲＳＶＮＩＨ３Ｔ３－ＬＡ９０细胞及Ｃ３Ｈ１０Ｔ１／２和转化Ｃ３Ｈ１０Ｔ１／２细胞在不同细胞周期时相内钙的浓度,发现从Ｇ１期到Ｓ期到Ｇ２期,６ｍ２细胞当在３３℃培养时（转化状态）胞内钙的浓度〔Ｃａ＾２＋〕ｉ分别为８５．０,１３８．４２３９．０ｎｍｏｌ     

离体大鼠心肌细胞钠超负荷与缺氧—复氧损伤

本工作在离体成年大鼠心肌细胞缺氧-复氧模型上,观察到细胞无氧孵育时加入Na~ -K~ ATP酶抑制剂哇巴因,增加细胞内钠离子浓度,复氧孵育后造成了更严重的细胞损伤及钙超负荷,缺氧期末细胞内钠离子浓度与复氧后钙超负荷的程度呈显著正相关。复氧期给予Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换抑制剂Mn~(2 ),明显减轻了细胞的缺氧-复氧损伤,Mn~(2 )还显著抑制了无钠孵育引起的细胞损伤。结果提示:缺氧期细胞内钠超负荷是复氧时细胞内钙超负荷发生的条件,Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换是Ca~(2 )进入细胞的重要途径。     

兔心肌细胞核钙转运

本研究在离体家兔心肌细胞核上,观察细胞核钙调节的特征。发现心肌细胞每毫克蛋白质的钱含量较细胞浆高２．６倍,而核总钙含量占细胞总钙含量的１／６。心肌细胞核上存在高新和力的Ｃａ－ＡＴＰａｓｅ,其活性具有Ｃａ＾２＋和ＡＴＰ依赖性,在２．０ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＡＴＰ时,其Ｃａ＾２＋依赖的Ｋａ＝２２６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｖｍａｘ＝３４６０ｎｍｌ／（ｈ．ｍｇ）;在４００ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ的Ｃａ＾２＋时,其ＡＴＰ依赖的Ｋｍ＝３７６     

常氧及低氧下孵育液中钙浓度改变对心肌线粒体钙含量及其呼吸功能损伤的影响

在常氧孵育中,当孵育介质自由钙离子浓度升高时,离体心肌线粒体钙含量显著增加。同时,线粒体状态4呼吸速率也明显加快并与其钙含量的增加呈正相关关系。在低氧孵育中,当孵育介质自由钙离子浓度升高时,离体心肌线粒体钙含量没有明显的增加,其状态4呼吸速率虽有加快但程度明显较常氧孵育时低。另外,在低孵育介质自由钙离子浓度(pCa8.0)的条件下,低氧可引起轻微的线粒体状态4呼吸速率加快。从以上结果作者推测,低氧引起心肌细胞的线粒体损伤可能主要不是低氧直接对线粒体作用所造成的,而是由低氧引起的心肌细胞胞浆环境变化对线粒体破坏的结果。其中胞浆自由钙离子的升高可能是一个的原因。     

Gi／0蛋白介导的信息转导通路在低氧预处理心肌保护中的作用

实验以低氧３ｈ后复氧期间心肌细胞的生存率和ＬＤＨ的释放量为指标,观察Ｇｉ／ｏ蛋白及其下游成分在低氧预处理（ｈｙｐｏｘｉｃ ｐｒｅｃｏｎｄｉｔｉｏｎｉｎｇ,ＨＰ）心肌保护中的作用。与单纯低氧组相比,ＨＰ组（２５ｍｉｎ低氧＋３０ｍｉｎ复氧作为ＨＰ）细胞生存率增高,ＬＤＨ释放减少（Ｐ＜０．０１）。用ＮＥＭ预处理,能完全模拟ＨＰ的心肌细胞保护作用;而用ＰＴＸ阻断Ｇｉ／ｏ蛋白,或Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ和８－Ｂｒ     

GM_3、GD_3作用下SMMC－7721肝癌细胞内磷脂酰肌醇（1，4，5）三

外源性ＧＭ３（１０ｎｍｏｌ／ｍＬ）、ＧＤ３（１ｎｍｏｌ／ｍＬ）可使ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１人肝癌培养细胞内钙浓度呈快速的短暂升高,其到达峰值时间为４５秒,一次作用后,内钙水平于２－３ｍｉｎ内恢复至对照水平。在一定时间间隔中连续几次加入ＧＭ３或ＧＤ３后内钙水平的变化表明,ＧＭ３所引起的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ的增加依赖于内质网钙贮的释放和细胞外钙的流入;而ＧＤ３增加［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ与此二系统无关。进一步研究表明,在细胞内钙达峰值时,１０ｎｍｏｌ／ｍＬＧＭ３可使ＩＰ３（１,４,５）浓度增加９．３倍,ｃＡＭＰ浓度增加８２％;１ｎｍｏｌ／ｍＬＧＤ３反使Ｉｐ３浓度增加１．２倍,提示ＧＭ３、ＧＤ３升高内钙的不同机制。     

低氧对少突胶质前体细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察低氧／复氧和间歇性低氧时少突胶质前体细胞（O2A）增殖的影响。方法：取混合培养4d的胶质细胞。按实验分为低氧／复氧、间歇性低氧和常氧3组,低氧／复氧组细胞置低氧环境（3％O2）中分别培养1h、2h、3h、4h、8h、12h、24h、48h和72h后取出,恢复常氧培养至9d。间歇性低氧组每天上午定时将细胞置于低氧环境中分别培养1h、2h、3h、4h后取出。恢复常氧培养。每天一次,分别重复1～4次后。常氧培养至9d。然后同时取出各组细胞,进行O2A细胞的分离纯化和细胞计数。结果：低氧／复氧1h、2h、3h组和间歇性低氧1h、2h、3h组,O2A细胞数均较常氧组明显增多。结论：低氧／复氧和间歇性低氧都可促进体外培养的O2A细胞明显增殖。其机制尚有待于进一步研究。     

TFP刺激裂殖酵母细胞钙离子内流的质膜效应

ＴＦＰ（１０－１００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可引起裂殖酵母（Ｓｃｈｉｚｏｓａｃｃｈａｒｏｍｙｃｅｓ　ｐｏｍｂｅ）胞外Ｃａ２＋内流,ＴＦＰ浓度不同,促进Ｃａ２＋内流程度也不一样,５０μｍｏｌ／ＬＴＦＰ的促进作用最大。并且ＴＦＰ浓度越大,Ｃａ２＋内流出现峰值也越早,１０、２０、５０、１００μｍｏｌ／ＬＴＦＰ处理后,胞内总钙出现峰值时间分别为４５、４５、３０、１５分钟。胞外Ｈ＋浓度也会对ＴＦＰ引起的Ｃａ２＋内流产生不同影响,缓冲液的ｐＨ值为６．０时最有利于ＴＦＰ引起胞内Ｃａ２＋含量增加,碱性条件下ＴＦＰ的效果最不明显。由ＴＦＰ引起的Ｃａ２＋内流增加要比单一地增加外钙浓度效果好得多,ＴＦＰ在１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ浓度的外钙条件下引起的胞内钙含量数值比１０００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的外钙条件而无ＴＦＰＴ所引起的胞内钙含量还要高５３．９％。缓冲液中加入０．８％的钙离子通道阻断剂ＬａＣ１３或溶液中无葡萄糖的存在,ＴＦＰ的促进作用消失,说明ＴＦＰ促进Ｃａ２＋内流是通过钙离子通道来完成的并需要能量参与。     

Effect of hypoxia upon intracellular calcium concentration of human endothelial cells.

Ischemia is a situation occurring in several diseases including myocardial infarction and organ transplantation in which oxygenated blood supply is impaired. Ischemia leads to many cellular and tissue modifications, the most important one being cell death. Several explanations have been proposed to account for these modifications and cell death; among them is calcium overload. However, the influence of calcium concentration on the alteration of endothelial cell functions or viability during ischemia are still unknown. We developed here an in vitro model where human endothelial cell monolayers were submitted to hypoxia with or without reoxygenation and variation in calcium concentration was followed using a specific intracellular probe Fura 2. We observed a significant increase of [Ca2+]i during 2 h hypoxia reaching values similar to those observed during agonist stimulation of endothelial cells but far lower than values toxic for the cells. This increase was constant during the hypoxic incubation and was due mainly to an influx of extracellular calcium. Viability was also followed during hypoxia and using calcium channel blockers, we could show that there was no correlation between viability and the rise in calcium concentration. During the reoxygenation period, [Ca2+]i decreased to reach the normal value of resting cells after 45 min, suggesting that cells were still able to recover their calcium homeostasis. The use of a ketone body (beta-hydroxybutyrate) indicated that an energy deficiency was responsible for the hypoxia-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. We actually observed a 43% decrease in ATP concentration after 2 h hypoxia. This decrease was already significant after 30 min which thus precedes the changes in [Ca2+]i. These results show that during hypoxia, energy deficiency led to an increase in [Ca2+]i which is, however, too low to account for the loss of viability but which is within the range of concentrations observed during stimulation of endothelial cells. We propose that such increased intracellular calcium concentrations could play a role in the synthesis of mediators leading to the development of local inflammation.     

Hypoxia-induced alterations in Ca(2+) mobilization in brain microvascular endothelial cells

To investigate the possible cellular mechanisms of the ischemia-induced impairments of cerebral microcirculation, we investigated the effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BBEC). In the cells kept in normal air, ATP elicited Ca(2+) oscillations in a concentration-dependent manner. When the cells were exposed to hypoxia for 6 h and subsequent reoxygenation for 45 min, the basal level of [Ca(2+)](i) was increased from 32.4 to 63.3 nM, and ATP did not induce Ca(2+) oscillations. Hypoxia/reoxygenation also inhibited capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE), which was evoked by thapsigargin (Delta[Ca(2+)](i-CCE): control, 62.3 +/- 3.1 nM; hypoxia/reoxygenation, 17.0 +/- 1.8 nM). The impairments of Ca(2+) oscillations and CCE, but not basal [Ca(2+)](i), were restored by superoxide dismutase and the inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport, rotenone and thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA). By using a superoxide anion (O(2)(-))-sensitive luciferin derivative MCLA, we confirmed that the production of O(2)(-) was induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and was prevented by rotenone and TTFA. These results indicate that hypoxia/reoxygenation generates O(2)(-) at mitochondria and impairs some Ca(2+) mobilizing properties in BBEC.     

NHE and ICAM-1 expression in hypoxic/reoxygenated coronary microvascular endothelial cells

Although Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) has been implicated in myocardial reperfusion injury, participation of coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) in this pathogenesis has been poorly understood. NHE-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) overload in CMECs may increase the synthesis of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM), which is potentially involved in myocardial reperfusion injury. The present study tested the hypothesis that NHE plays a crucial role in [Ca2+]i overload and ICAM-1 synthesis in CMECs. Primary cultures of CMECs isolated from adult rat hearts were subjected to acidic hypoxia for 30 min followed by reoxygenation. Two structurally distinct NHE inhibitors, cariporide and 5-(N-N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA), had no significant effect on the acidic hypoxia-induced decrease in intracellular pH (pH(i)) of CMECs but significantly retarded pH(i) recovery after reoxygenation. These NHE inhibitors abolished the hypoxia- and reoxygenation-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. Expression of ICAM-1 mRNA was markedly increased in the vehicle-treated CMECs 3 h after reoxygenation, and this was significantly inhibited by treatment with cariporide, DMA, or Ca2+-free buffer. In addition, enhanced ICAM-I protein expression on the cell surface of CMECs 8 h after reoxygenation was attenuated by treatment with cariporide, DMA, or Ca2+-free buffer. These results suggest that NHE plays a crucial role in the rise of [Ca2+]i and ICAM-1 expression during acidic hypoxia/reoxygenation in CMECs. We propose that inhibition of ICAM-1 expression in CMECs may represent a novel mechanism of action of NHE inhibitors against ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

低氧条件下大脑皮层微血管平滑肌细胞内皮细胞中[Ca~(2 )]_i变化的研究

目的和方法：本研究采用离子探针Ｆｕｒａ２／ＡＭ 结合计算机图象分析技术,并通过施加ＮＯ合酶抑制剂ＬＮＮＡ和ＮＯ的作用靶———鸟苷酸环化酶（ＧＣ）的抑制剂美兰（Ｍｅｔｈｙｌｅｎｅ Ｂｌｕｅ;ＭＢ）,观察经培养的大鼠大脑皮层微血管内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞中的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ 在低氧作用后的变化以及与有关血管舒张因子ＮＯ和ｃＧＭＰ之间的关系。结果：低氧时大脑微血管内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞内的Ｃａ２＋ 浓度有所下降,变化幅度的大小与低氧的程度及低氧作用的时间有关,且可以被ＬＮＮＡ和ＭＢ所抑制。结论：低氧时大脑微血管的舒张反应与ＮＯ的产生有关,ＮＯ通过细胞内的多种机制,最终使得胞内Ｃａ２＋ 下降而导致血管舒张     

Convective mass transfer effects on the intracellular calcium response of endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells, which line the vasculature, respond to specific agonists such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by elevating cytosolic calcium levels and increasing production of the vasoactive compounds, prostacyclin and endothelial derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Endothelial cells express ecto-enzymes which metabolize ATP. If the activity of these enzymes is sufficiently high, then the concentration of ATP near the endothelial cell surface can be substantially lower than the bulk concentration. The ATP concentration is determined by a balance between the convection of fresh ATP from upstream and the degradation of ATP by the endothelial cells. In this report, we present a parallel plate flow system for measurement of cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of individual bovine aortic endothelial cells with the calcium sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2. The cells respond to increases in the flow rate by increasing [Ca2+]i if there is ATP present in the perfusing buffer, but not in the absence of ATP. The amount of agonist in the perfusing fluid near the endothelial cell surface is estimated by solving the governing differential equation for the concentration profile of ATP in the parallel plate flow geometry. The solution indicates that one mechanism endothelial cells may use to detect changes in the flow rate is to respond to the change in the local concentration of agonist.     

Spontaneous and flow-induced Ca2+ transients in retracted regions in endothelial cells

Changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and focal adhesion sites of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were simultaneously visualized in real time. Local [Ca2+]i transients were observed at the rear edges of spontaneously migrating BAECs. Furthermore, the majority of starting regions of [Ca2+]i transients retracted continuously. Frequency of [Ca2+]i transients increased with the application of fluid flow. The majority of starting regions of flow-induced [Ca2+]i transients retracted following the occurrence of [Ca2+]i transients. In addition, retracted areas were distributed in the upstream regions of the cell. Application of GdCl3, a mechanosensitive cation channel blocker, resulted in a clear reduction of [Ca2+]i transients and rear retractions in cases of spontaneous and flow-induced BAEC migration. Flow-induced directional rear retractions were also inhibited. Consequently, we conclude that local [Ca2+]i transients play an important role in the migration of BAECs with respect to rear retraction. Furthermore, flow-induced [Ca2+]i transients regulate directional rear retraction under flow conditions.     

Hypotonic stress-induced dual Ca(2+) responses in bovine aortic endothelial cells

We have investigated the effects of hypotonic stress on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Reducing extracellular osmolarity by 5% to 40% elicited a steep Ca(2+) transient both in normal Krebs and Ca(2+)-free solutions. The hypotonic stress-induced Ca(2+) transient was inhibited by phospholipase C inhibitors (neomycin and U-73122), a P(2)-receptor antagonist (suramin), and an ATP-hydrolyzing enzyme (apyrase), suggesting that the hypotonic stress-induced Ca(2+) transient is mediated by ATP. A luciferin-luciferase assay confirmed that 40% hypotonic stress released 91.0 amol/cell of ATP in 10 min. When the hypotonic stress-induced fast Ca(2+) transient was inhibited by neomycin, suramin, or apyrase, a gradual [Ca(2+)](i) increase was observed instead. This hypotonic stress-induced gradual [Ca(2+)](i) increase was inhibited by a phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, 4-bromophenacyl bromide. Furthermore, exogenously applied arachidonic acid induced a gradual [Ca(2+)](i) increase with an ED(50) of 13.3 microM. These observations indicate that hypotonic stress induces a dual Ca(2+) response in bovine aortic endothelial cells, i.e., an ATP-mediated fast Ca(2+) transient and an arachidonic acid-mediated gradual Ca(2+) increase, the former being the predominant response in normal conditions.     

Intracellular calcium 'signatures' evoked by different agonists in isolated bovine aortic endothelial cells.

Agonist induced increases in intracellular free calcium, [Ca2+]i, were measured in single Fura-2 loaded bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells by dual wavelength microspectrofluorimetry. Low doses of ATP (less than 10 microM) induced complex changes in [Ca2+]i. These changes usually consisted of a large initial transient peak with subsequent fluctuations superimposed upon a maintained rise in [Ca2+]i. Higher doses of ATP (greater than 50 microM) produced much simpler biphasic increases in [Ca2+]i in individual cells. Acetylcholine and bradykinin also elicited increases in [Ca2+]i in single cells in confluent monolayers of endothelial cells. However, only acetylcholine produced complex fluctuations. High doses of acetylcholine evoked simple rises in [Ca2+]i similar to those seen with high doses of ATP. In contrast, bradykinin evoked relatively simple rises in [Ca2+]i at all doses used. These results indicate that the mechanisms responsible for generating agonist induced increases in [Ca2+]i in BAE cells are not homogeneous. ATP and acetylcholine produced more complex Ca2+ changes or 'signatures' in single confluent bovine aortic endothelial cells than bradykinin. All three agonists appeared to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores as well as stimulating Ca2+ influx. The possible mechanisms underlying these phenomena are discussed.     

Antigen-specific T cell activation results in an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium

Free intracellular calcium acts as a messenger in response to extracellular stimuli, including those that result in cellular proliferation. For example, mitogenic lectins have been shown to increase intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca+2]i) during proliferation of T lymphocytes. To determine if similar changes in [Ca+2]i occur when T cells are activated by nominal antigen, [Ca+2]i was measured in murine T cells from a bovine insulin-specific, major histocompatibility-restricted T hybridoma by using the calcium-sensitive fluor quin-2. Quin-2-loaded T hybridoma cells were activated by incubation with antigen-pulsed antigen-presenting cells (APC) and [Ca+2]i determined by measurement of quin-2 fluorescence. T cell [Ca+2]i rose sharply within 20 min after incubation with APC. Incubation of T cells with unpulsed APC resulted in [Ca+2]i not significantly different from resting levels. Further evidence that this activation was antigen specific was demonstrated at the level of both the APC and the T cell. Incubation of quin-2-loaded T cells with APC pulsed with the inappropriate antigen, porcine insulin, did not result in an increase in [Ca+2]i. Additionally, pretreatment of T cells with a monoclonal antibody against the T cell antigen receptor abrogated the [Ca+2]i increase. Finally, the antigen-induced rise in [Ca+2]i could be blocked by pretreatment of APC with appropriate but not inappropriate Ia monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that a rapid rise in [Ca+2]i is an early event in the antigen-specific activation of the T cell and may be related to later steps, such as the secretion of lymphocyte monokines.     

Hypoxia-induced migration in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells requires calcium-dependent upregulation of aquaporin 1

Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) migration is a key component of the vascular remodeling that occurs during the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, although the mechanisms governing this phenomenon remain poorly understood. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1), an integral membrane water channel protein, has recently been shown to aid in migration of endothelial cells. Since AQP1 is expressed in certain types of vascular smooth muscle, we hypothesized that AQP1 would be expressed in PASMCs and would be required for migration in response to hypoxia. Using PCR and immunoblot techniques, we determined the expression of AQPs in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and the effect of hypoxia on AQP levels, and we examined the role of AQP1 in hypoxia-induced migration in rat PASMCs using Transwell filter assays. Moreover, since the cytoplasmic tail of AQP1 contains a putative calcium binding site and an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is a hallmark of hypoxic exposure in PASMCs, we also determined whether the responses were Ca(2+) dependent. Results were compared with those obtained in aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs). We found that although AQP1 was abundant in both PASMCs and AoSMCs, hypoxia selectively increased AQP1 protein levels, [Ca(2+)](i), and migration in PASMCs. Blockade of Ca(2+) entry through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) or nonselective cation channels prevented the hypoxia-induced increase in PASMC [Ca(2+)](i), AQP1 levels, and migration. Silencing AQP1 via siRNA also prevented hypoxia-induced migration of PASMCs. Our results suggest that hypoxia induces a PASMC-specific increase in [Ca(2+)](i) that results in increased AQP1 protein levels and cell migration.