Hydrocortisone inhibits antigen-induced rise in intracellular free calcium concentration and abolishes leukotriene C4 production in leukemic basophils

Antigenic stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-3H3) elevates intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and induces production of leukotriene C4 (LTC4). This model was used to examine the role of Ca2+ in LTC4 formation, and inhibition by hydrocortisone (HC). HC, at a physiological concentration (2 x 10(-7) M), selectively prevented the stimulatory effect of the antigen on LTC4 production whereas the response to calcium ionophore (A23187) remained unimpaired. The inhibition by HC was time-dependent: half maximal response was reached at 2 hour and maximal response at 3 hours. Addition of arachidonic acid (3 micrograms/ml) did not overcome the inhibitory action of HC. An elevated [Ca2+]i is known to be essential for the activation of both 5-lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2. The stimulatory effect of the antigen on LTC4 production was abolished when the cells were incubated in Ca2+-deficient medium. Likewise, calcium ionophore stimulation shows dependence on extracellular Ca2+. Half maximal stimulation by the antigen and calcium ionophore was observed at external Ca2+ concentration of 150 microM and 40 microM respectively. Treatment with HC largely prevented the antigen-induced rise in [Ca2+]i, measured by Quin 2. In addition, HC reduced by 70% the accumulation of 45Ca2+ induced by the antigen. Collectively, these results demonstrate for the first time that HC reduces antigen-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i, and this may be associated with the inhibitory action of HC on LTC4 formation. This property could be partly responsible for the antiallergic and antiinflammatory activities of HC.     

Regulation of Ca2+ influx during mitosis: Ca2+ influx and depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores are coupled in interphase but not mitosis.

Activation of a wide variety of membrane receptors leads to a sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) that is pivotal to subsequent cell responses. In general, in nonexcitable cells this elevation of [Ca2+]i results from two sources: an initial release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores followed by an influx of extracellular Ca2+. These two phases, release from intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx, are generally coupled: stimulation of influx is coordinated with depletion of Ca2+ from stores, although the mechanism of coupling is unclear. We have previously shown that histamine effects a typical [Ca2+]i response in interphase HeLa cells: a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i followed by a sustained elevation, the latter dependent entirely on extracellular Ca2+. In mitotic cells only the initial elevation, derived by Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, occurs. Thus, in mitotic cells the coupling of stores to influx may be specifically broken. In this report we first provide additional evidence that histamine-stimulated Ca2+ influx is strongly inhibited in mitotic cells. We show that efflux is also strongly stimulated by histamine in interphase cells but not in mitotics. It is possible, thus, that in mitotics intracellular stores are only very briefly depleted of Ca2+, being replenished by reuptake of Ca2+ that is retained within the cell. To ensure the depletion of Ca2+ stores in mitotic cells, we employed the sesquiterpenelactone, thapsigargin, that is known to affect the selective release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores by inhibition of a specific Ca(2+)-ATPase; reuptake is inhibited. In most cells, and in accord with Putney's capacitative model (1990), thapsigargin, presumably by depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores, stimulates Ca2+ influx. This is the case for interphase HeLa cells. Thapsigargin induces an increase in [Ca2+]i that is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and is associated with a strong stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx. In mitotic cells thapsigargin also induces a [Ca2+]i elevation that is initially comparable in magnitude and largely independent of extracellular Ca2+. However, unlike interphase cells, in mitotic cells the elevation of [Ca2+]i is not sustained and 45Ca2+ influx is not stimulated by thapsigargin. Thus, the coupling between depletion of intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx is specifically broken in mitotic cells. Uncoupling could account for the failure of histamine to stimulate Ca2+ influx during mitosis and would effectively block all stimuli whose effects are mediated by Ca2+ influx and sustained elevations of [Ca2+]i.     

Modulation of cytosolic-free calcium transients by changes in intracellular calcium-buffering capacity: correlation with exocytosis and O2-production in human neutrophils

The intracellularly trapped fluorescent calcium indicator, quin 2, was used not only to monitor changes in cytosolic-free calcium, [Ca2+]i, but also to assess the role of [Ca2+]i in neutrophil function. To increase cytosolic calcium buffering, human neutrophils were loaded with various quin 2 concentrations, and [Ca2+]i transients, granule content release as well as superoxide [O2-] production were measured in response to the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl- phenylalanine (fMLP) and the calcium ionophore ionomycin. Receptor- mediated cell activation induced by fMLP caused a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i. The extent of [Ca2+]i rise and granule release were inversely correlated with the intracellular concentration of quin 2, [quin 2]i. These effects of [quin 2]i were more pronounced in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The initial rate and extent of fMLP-induced O2- production were also inhibited by [quin 2]i. The rates of increase of [Ca2+]i and granule release elicited by ionomycin were also inversely correlated with [quin 2]i in Ca2+-containing medium. As the effects of ionomycin, in contrast to those of fMLP, are sustained, the final increase in [Ca2+]i and granule release were not affected by [quin 2]i. A further reduction of fMLP effects was seen when intracellular calcium stores were depleted by incubating the cells in Ca2+-free medium with ionomycin. The specificity of quin 2 effects on cellular calcium were confirmed by loading the cells with Anis/AM, a structural analog of quin 2 with low affinity for calcium which did not inhibit granule release. In addition, functional responses to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which stimulates neutrophils without raising [Ca2+]i, were not affected by [quin 2]i. The findings indicate that rises in [Ca2+]i control the rate and extent of granule exocytosis and O2-generation in human neutrophils exposed to the chemotactic peptide fMLP.     

Role of calcium in histamine release from rat mast cells activated by various secretagogues; intracellular calcium mobilization correlates with histamine release

Anti-IgE, con A or antigen caused an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, of mast cells. The increase occurred in two stages: a rapid initial rise caused by Ca-mobilization from intracellular Ca-stores and a second sustained rise caused by an influx of extracellular calcium (White, J.R., Pluznik, D.V., Ishizaka, K. & Ishizaka, T. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 8193-8197). The rapid initial rise was followed by a release of histamine, which seemed to coincide with the second rise. A23187 and compound 48/80 induced a rapid initial rise in [Ca2+]i, followed by a gradual decrease in [Ca2+]i, GMCHA-OPhBut, a specific pH 7 tryptase inhibitor (Muramatu, M., Ito, T., Takei, M. & Endo, K. (1988) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler 369, 617-625), strongly inhibited both the initial and second rises of [Ca2+]i, as well as histamine release by these secretagogues, and its effects on the initial rise were closely correlated with those on histamine release. Addition of GMCHA-OPhBut immediately after the initial rise strongly inhibited the second rise, thereby decreasing the final [Ca2+]i. These results strongly suggested a possible involvement of pH 7 tryptase, not only in Ca-mobilization leading to the initial rise in [Ca2+]i, but also in the second rise. Trapping of extracellular calcium by 3mM EGTA decreased both the initial rise in [Ca2+]i and histamine secretion induced by anti-IgE or con A; the magnitude of this effect depended on the time between induction and EGTA addition. Histamine release was closely correlated with the initial rise in [Ca2+]i. Similar results were obtained with A23187, but even 5 min after the addition of EGTA an initial rise of [Ca2+]i could still be induced, and histamine (30% of total histamine) was still released. However, A23187 did not induce a rise in [Ca2+]i in mast cells which had been exhaustively washed with Tyrode/Hepes solution containing 3mM EGTA, followed by suspension in the same solution. Even at 20 min after depletion of the extracellular calcium, compound 48/80 still caused an initial rise in [Ca2+]i to above half the maximal value, and histamine secretion was even less affected. The above results indicated that the initial rise in [Ca2+]i, due to Ca-mobilization, correlates with the histamine release promoted by the secretagogues described. On the other hand, isoproterenol strongly induced histamine secretion with no change of [Ca2+]i, while EGTA treatment prior to isoproterenol stimulation had no effect on histamine release, indicating a different secretion mechanism.     

Oscillations of intracellular calcium induced by vasopressin in individual fura-2-loaded mesangial cells. Frequency dependence on basal calcium concentration, agonist concentration, and temperature

Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in fura-2-loaded single rat mesangial cells by dual wavelength spectrofluorometry. Stimulation with arginine vasopressin (AVP) caused an initial sharp rise of [Ca2+]i followed by repetitive spikes. The frequency of the oscillations was dependent on the concentration of AVP. At 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 nM AVP, the frequencies of oscillations were 0.17 +/- 0.05 (n = 6), 0.32 +/- 0.05 (n = 6), 0.49 +/- 0.05 (n = 6), and 0.48 +/- 0.05 min-1 (n = 5), respectively. Reduction in extracellular [Ca2+] reduced the frequency of AVP-induced oscillations but did not abolish the oscillations. The frequency of calcium oscillations, upon stimulation with 1.0 nM AVP, was directly correlated with the basal [Ca2+]i prior to stimulation. Oscillation frequency increased with increasing temperature. An Arrhenius plot between 24 and 37 degrees C indicated a strong temperature dependency of the oscillations with a Q10 of 3.0. Protein kinase C stimulation by active phorbol esters inhibited AVP-induced calcium oscillations but not the initial [Ca2+] response to AVP. These observations are consistent with a model incorporating a feedback loop linking [Ca2+]i to the mechanism of [Ca2+]i increase. Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release may be involved, whereby inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (inositol 1,4,5-P3) formation releases Ca2+ from an inositol 1,4,5-P3-sensitive pool, with subsequent Ca2+ uptake and release from an inositol 1,4,5-P3-insensitive pool.     

Evidence for receptor-mediated calcium entry and refilling of intracellular calcium stores in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between agonist-induced changes in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and the refilling of intracellular Ca2+ stores in Fura 2-loaded thyroid FRTL-5 cells. Stimulating the cells with ATP induced a dose-dependent increase in ([Ca2+]i). The ATP-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was dependent on both release of sequestered intracellular Ca2+ as well as influx of extracellular Ca2+. Addition of Ni2+ prior to ATP blunted the component of the ATP-induced increase in [Ca2+]i dependent on influx of Ca2+. In cells stimulated with ATP in a Ca(2+)-free buffer, readdition of Ca2+ induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i; this increase was inhibited by Ni2+. In addition, the ATP-induced influx of 45Ca2+ was blocked by Ni2+. Stimulating the cells with noradrenaline (NA) also induced release of sequestered Ca2+ and an influx of extracellular Ca2+. When cells were stimulated first with NA, a subsequent addition of ATP induced a blunted increase in [Ca2+]i. If the action of NA was terminated by addition of prazosin, and ATP was then added, the increase in [Ca2+]i was restored to control levels. Addition of Ni2+ prior to prazosin inhibited the restoration of the ATP response. In the presence of extracellular Mn2+, ATP stimulated quenching of Fura 2 fluorescence. The quenching was probably due to influx of Mn2+, as it was blocked by Ni2+. The results thus suggested that stimulating release of sequestered Ca2+ in FRTL-5 cells was followed by influx of extracellular Ca2+ and rapid refilling of intracellular Ca2+ stores.     

Signaling pathways underlying muscarinic receptor-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in HEK293 cells

We have investigated the signaling pathways underlying muscarinic receptor-induced calcium oscillations in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Activation of muscarinic receptors with a maximal concentration of carbachol (100 microm) induced a biphasic rise in cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) comprised of release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular space. A lower concentration of carbachol (5 microm) induced repetitive [Ca2+]i spikes or oscillations, the continuation of which was dependent on extracellular Ca2+. The entry of Ca2+ with 100 microm carbachol and with the sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, was completely blocked by 1 microm Gd3+, as well as 30-100 microm concentrations of the membrane-permeant inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor inhibitor, 2-aminoethyoxydiphenyl borane (2-APB). Sensitivity to these inhibitors is indicative of capacitative calcium entry. Arachidonic acid, a candidate signal for Ca2+ entry associated with [Ca2+]i oscillations in HEK293 cells, induced entry that was inhibited only by much higher concentrations of Gd3+ and was unaffected by 100 microm 2-APB. Like arachidonic acid-induced entry, the entry associated with [Ca2)]i oscillations was insensitive to inhibition by Gd3+ but was completely blocked by 100 microm 2-APB. These findings indicate that the signaling pathway responsible for the Ca2+) entry driving [Ca2+]i oscillations in HEK293 cells is more complex than originally thought, and may involve neither capacitative calcium entry nor a role for PLA2 and arachidonic acid.     

The T-cell antigen receptor regulates sustained increases in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ through extracellular Ca2+ influx and ongoing intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

Signal transduction by the T-cell antigen receptor involves the turnover of polyphosphoinositides and an increase in the concentration of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). This increase in [Ca2+]i is due initially to the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, but is sustained by the influx of extracellular Ca2+. To examine the regulation of sustained antigen-receptor-mediated increases in [Ca2+]i, we studied the relationships between extracellular Ca2+ influx, the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and the contents of inositol polyphosphates after stimulation of the antigen receptor on a human T-cell line, Jurkat. We demonstrate that sustained antigen-receptor-mediated increases in [Ca2+]i are associated with ongoing depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores. When antigen-receptor-ligand interactions are disrupted, [Ca2+]i and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate return to basal values over 3 min. Under these conditions, intracellular Ca2+ stores are repleted if extracellular Ca2+ is present. There is a tight temporal relationship between the fall in [Ca2+]i, the return of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to basal values, and the repletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Reversal of the increase in [Ca2+]i preceeds any fall in inositol tetrakisphosphate by 2 min. These studies suggest that sustained antigen-receptor-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, although dependent on extracellular Ca2+ influx, are also regulated by ongoing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. In addition, an elevated concentration of inositol tetrakisphosphate in itself is insufficient to sustain an increase in [Ca2+]i within Jurkat cells.     

Mitogen-induced oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ and transmembrane Ca2+ current in human leukemic T cells.

A rapid rise in the level of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) is believed to be one of several early triggering signals in the activation of T lymphocytes by antigen. Although Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and its contribution to Ca2+ signaling in many cell types is well documented, relatively little is known regarding the role and mechanism of Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. We have investigated mitogen-triggered Ca2+ signaling in individual cells of the human T-leukemia-derived line, Jurkat, using fura-2 imaging and patch-clamp recording techniques. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a mitogenic lectin, induces repetitive [Ca2+]i oscillations in these cells peaking at micromolar levels with a period of 90-120 s. The oscillations depend critically upon Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane, as they are rapidly terminated by removal of extracellular Ca2+, addition of Ca(2+)-channel blockers such as Ni2+ or Cd2+, or membrane depolarization. Whole-cell and perforated-patch recording methods were combined with fura-2 measurements to identify the mitogen-activated Ca2+ conductance involved in this response. A small, highly selective Ca2+ conductance becomes activated spontaneously in whole-cell recordings and in response to PHA in perforated-patch experiments. This conductance has properties consistent with a role in T-cell activation, including activation by PHA, lack of voltage-dependent gating, inhibition by Ni2+ or Cd2+, and regulation by intracellular Ca2+. Moreover, a tight temporal correlation between oscillations of Ca2+ conductance and [Ca2+]i suggests a role for the membrane Ca2+ conductance in generating [Ca2+]i oscillations in activated T cells.     

Mobilization of intracellular calcium by endothelin in Swiss 3T3 cells

When intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) was monitored in fura2-loaded Swiss 3T3 cells, endothelin increased [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner; after the addition of endothelin, an initial transient peak was observed immediately and was followed by a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i lasting at least 5 min. 45Ca2+ efflux and influx experiments in endothelin-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells revealed that the change in [Ca2+]i could be explained by a dual mechanism; an initial transient peak induced mainly by the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and the sustained increase by an influx of extracellular Ca2+. Cellular generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and cyclic AMP were not induced by endothelin, suggesting that other cellular mediators with the capacity to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores play a significant role in the signal transduction pathway of endothelin in Swiss 3T3 cells.     

Intracellular calcium stores are involved in growth hormone-releasing hormone signal transduction in rat somatotrophs.

In rat pituitary somatotrophs, the stimulation of growth hormone secretion by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is a Ca(2+)-dependent event involving Ca2+ influx. The presence of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) Ca2+ stores has been suggested in these cells. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the presence of CICR stores in rat somatotrophs and to determine their function in GHRH Ca2+ signalling. To this end we measured cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), using indo-1 in purified rat somatotrophs in primary culture, while altering intracellular Ca2+ stores. Ionomycin (10 ttM) or 4-bromo-A23187 (10 ItM), used to mobilise organelle-bound Ca2+, raised [Ca2+]i in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Caffeine (5 to 50 mM), used to mobilise Ca2+ from CICR stores, transiently raised [Ca2+]i in 65% of cells tested. The response to 40 mM caffeine was abolished when Ca2+ stores were depleted, with 1 microM thapsigargin or with 10 microM ryanodine. All cells that responded to 40 mM caffeine responded to 10 nM GHRH. The [Ca2+]i response to 10 nM GHRH was reversible and repeatable. However, the second response was 38% smaller than the first. Ryanodine treatment abolished the reduction in the second [Ca2+]i response, while thapsigargin increased the reduction by 67%. We conclude that rat somatotrophs possess CICR Ca2+ stores and that they account for 30-35% of the GHRH-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, and that their partial depletion is involved in somatotroph desensitization.     

Effect of activation of muscarinic receptors on intracellular free calcium and secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Stimulation of the nicotinic receptor of bovine chromaffin cells results in a rise in intracellular free calcium [( Ca2+]i) and subsequent release of catecholamine. This response is totally dependent on the presence of external Ca2+. Monitoring [Ca2+]i using quin-2 demonstrated a rise in [Ca2+]i in response to muscarinic agonists which was approximately 4-times less than that obtained in response to nicotinic stimulation. This atropine-sensitive [Ca2+]i rise occurred after a 10-s lag and was found to be independent of the external Ca2+, implying the existence of an intracellular Ca2+ source. Despite producing this [Ca2+]i rise low concentrations of the muscarinic agonist, methacholine (under 1 X 10(-3) M), failed to trigger secretion itself and did not effect the secretory response elicited by nicotine. Challenging the cells with higher methacholine concentrations (over 1 X 10(-3) M) resulted in the same [Ca2+]i rise, no secretion, but an inhibition of secretion due to nicotine. This latter response, however, was found to be atropine-insensitive and therefore non-muscarinic. The [Ca2+]i rise and secretion due to depolarization by 55 mM K+ were largely unaffected by prior addition 1 X 10(-2) M methacholine, inferring that high concentrations of methacholine inhibit nicotine-induced secretion by interacting with the nicotinic receptor. These results provide evidence consistent with the existence of an intracellular Ca2+ store mobilized by muscarinic receptor activation in bovine chromaffin cells and show that, despite causing a rise in [Ca2+]i, bovine chromaffin cell muscarinic stimulation does not effect secretion itself or secretion induced by either nicotine or high K+.     

Signaling between intracellular Ca2+ stores and depletion-activated Ca2+ channels generates [Ca2+]i oscillations in T lymphocytes

Stimulation through the antigen receptor (TCR) of T lymphocytes triggers cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations that are critically dependent on Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. We have investigated the roles of Ca2+ influx and depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores in the oscillation mechanism, using single-cell Ca2+ imaging techniques and agents that deplete the stores. Thapsigargin (TG; 5-25 nM), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA; 5-20 microM), and tert- butylhydroquinone (tBHQ; 80-200 microM), inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases, as well as the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (5-40 nM), elicit [Ca2+]i oscillations in human T cells. The oscillation frequency is approximately 5 mHz (for ATPase inhibitors) to approximately 10 mHz (for ionomycin) at 22-24 degrees C. The [Ca2+]i oscillations resemble those evoked by TCR ligation in terms of their shape, amplitude, and an absolute dependence on Ca2+ influx. Ca(2+)- ATPase inhibitors and ionomycin induce oscillations only within a narrow range of drug concentrations that are expected to cause partial depletion of intracellular stores. Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release does not appear to be significantly involved, as rapid removal of extracellular Ca2+ elicits the same rate of [Ca2+]i decline during the rising and falling phases of the oscillation cycle. Both transmembrane Ca2+ influx and the content of ionomycin-releasable Ca2+ pools fluctuate in oscillating cells. From these data, we propose a model in which [Ca2+]i oscillations in T cells result from the interaction between intracellular Ca2+ stores and depletion-activated Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane.     

Visualization of neural control of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in single vascular smooth muscle cells in situ.

The intermittent rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i oscillation) has been observed in many types of isolated cells, yet it has not been demonstrated whether it plays an essential role during nerve stimulation in situ. We used confocal microscopy to study Ca2+ transients in individual smooth muscle cells in situ within the wall of small arteries stimulated with perivascular sympathetic nerves or noradrenaline. We show here that the sympathetic adrenergic regulation of arterial smooth muscle cells involves the oscillation of [Ca2+]i that propagates within the cell in the form of a wave. Ca2+ release from intracellular stores plays a key role in the oscillation because it is blocked after the store depletion by ryanodine treatment. Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane sustains the oscillation by replenishing the Ca2+ stores. These results demonstrate the involvement of [Ca2+]i oscillations in the neural regulation of effector cells within the integrated system.     

Cross-linking of IgG receptors inhibits membrane immunoglobulin- stimulated calcium influx in B lymphocytes

By cross-linking membrane immunoglobulins (mIg), the antigenic stimulation of B lymphocytes induces an increase in intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) because of a combination of release from intracellular stores and transmembrane influx. It has been suggested that both events are linked, as in a number of other cases of receptor- induced increase in [Ca2+]i. Conversely, in B lymphocytes, type II receptors for the Fc fragment of IgG (Fc gamma RII) inhibit mIg- mediated signaling. Thus, we have investigated at the level of single cells if these receptors could act on specific phases of mIg Ca2+ signaling. Lipopolysaccharide-activated murine B splenocytes and B lymphoma cells transfected with intact or truncated Fc gamma RII-cDNA were used to determine the domains of Fc gamma RII implicated in the inhibition of the Ca2+ signal. [Ca2+]i was measured in single fura-2- loaded cells by microfluorometry. The phases of release from intracellular stores and of transmembrane influx were discriminated by using manganese, which quenches fura-2, in the external medium as a tracer for bivalent cation entry. The role of membrane potential was studied by recording [Ca2+]i in cells voltage-clamped using the perforated patch-clamp method. Cross-linking of mIgM or mIgG with F(ab')2 fragments of anti-Ig antibodies induced a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i due to an extremely fast and transitory release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and a long lasting transmembrane Ca2+ influx. The phase of influx, but not that of release, was inhibited by membrane depolarization. The increase in [Ca2+]i occurred after a delay inversely related to the dose of ligand. Co-cross-linking mIgs and Fc gamma RII with intact anti-Ig antibodies only triggered transitory release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores but no Ca2+ influx, even when the cell was voltage-clamped at negative membrane potentials. These transitory Ca2+ rises had similar amplitudes and delays to those induced by cross-linking mIgs alone. Thus, our data show that Fc gamma RII does not mediate an overall inhibition of mIg signaling but specifically affects transmembrane Ca2+ influx without affecting the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Furthermore, this inhibition is not mediated by cell depolarization. Thus, Fc gamma RII represents a tool to dissociate physiologically the phases of release and transmembrane influx of Ca2+ triggered through antigen receptors.     

Depolarization of rat basophilic leukemia cells inhibits calcium uptake and exocytosis

We have investigated the unusual observation that depolarization of rat basophilic leukemia cells in high potassium not only fails to induce secretion, but also inhibits the secretion induced when receptors for IgE are aggregated by antigen. Antigen-stimulated 45Ca uptake and the rise in cytoplasmic free ionized calcium measured with the fluorescent indicator quin2 were both inhibited in depolarized cells. 45Ca efflux, on the other hand, was unaffected, which confirms that IgE receptor activation was not impaired in high potassium. Unlike the large increase in total cell calcium seen when cells in normal saline solution were stimulated with antigen, there was a decrease in total cell calcium when depolarized cells were stimulated. This is consistent with our finding that 45Ca uptake was inhibited while 45Ca efflux was unaffected. Inhibition of 45Ca uptake and secretion closely paralleled the decrease in membrane potential, and could be overcome by increasing the extracellular calcium concentration. We conclude that changes in the electrochemical gradient for calcium are important in determining calcium influx and the magnitude of antigen-stimulated secretion from rat basophilic leukemia cells, while the release of calcium from intracellular stores is unaffected.     

Stimulation of leukotriene production and membrane translocation of 5-lipoxygenase by cross-linking of the IgE receptors in RBL-2H3 cells.

Recent studies in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) have shown that two pharmacological agents, ionomycin and thapsigargin, induce leukotriene C4 production and translocation of 5-lipoxygenase from cytosol to membrane, primarily by causing an influx of extracellular calcium. In the present study, we investigate the induction of these events by receptor activation. Cross-linking of high-affinity IgE receptors (Fc epsilon RI) by antigen in RBL-2H3 cells leads to leukotriene C4 production and membrane translocation of 5-lipoxygenase. As in the ionomycin-stimulated cells, leukotriene C4 production in antigen-stimulated cells is calcium-dependent since the amount of leukotriene C4 produced correlates quantitatively with the increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, the increase in [Ca2+]i required for equivalent leukotriene C4 production by antigen is not as high as it is using ionomycin. In addition, no threshold [Ca2+]i level is required for leukotriene production by antigen, which is in contrast to the ionomycin stimulation that a [Ca2+]i level of 300-400 nM is required. Furthermore, antigen causes an additive increase in leukotriene C4 production in cells stimulated by the ionomycin. These results suggest that another as yet unidentified intracellular pathway acts in conjunction with Ca2+ for leukotriene synthesis in antigen-stimulated cells. Antigen stimulation causes 20-30% of the total cell 5-lipoxygenase to associate with membranes (compared with 10% in unstimulated cells) as demonstrated by enzyme activity assay and by Western Blot using antibodies to 5-lipoxygenase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Receptor-stimulated phospholipase A2 activation is coupled to influx of external calcium and not to mobilization of intracellular calcium in C62B glioma cells

C62B rat glioma cells respond to muscarinic cholinergic stimulation with transient inositol phosphate formation and phospholipase A2-dependent arachidonic acid liberation. Since phospholipase A2 is a Ca2+-sensitive enzyme, we have examined the role of the agonist-stimulated Ca2+ response in production of the arachidonate signal. The fluorescent indicator fura-2 was used to monitor changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) of C62B cells following acetylcholine treatment. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, acetylcholine induces a biphasic [Ca2+]i response consisting of an initial transient peak that precedes arachidonate liberation and a sustained elevation that outlasts the phospholipase A2 response. The initial [Ca2+]i peak is not altered by the absence of external Ca2+ and therefore reflects intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. The sustained elevation phase is dependent on the influx of external Ca2+; it is lost in Ca2+-free medium and restored on the addition of Ca2+. Pretreating cells with phorbol dibutyrate substantially inhibits acetylcholine-stimulated inositol phosphate formation and the peak [Ca2+]i response without affecting the sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i. This suggests that the release of internal Ca2+ stores by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate can be blocked without interfering with Ca2+ influx. Pretreatment with phorbol also fails to affect acetylcholine-stimulated arachidonate liberation, demonstrating that phospholipase A2 activation does not require normal intracellular Ca2+ release. Stimulated arachidonate accumulation is totally inhibited in Ca2+-free medium and restored by the subsequent addition of Ca2+. Pretreatment with verapamil, a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel inhibitor, also blocks both the sustained [Ca2+]i elevation and arachidonate liberation without altering peak intracellular Ca2+ release. We conclude that the influx of extracellular Ca2+ is tightly coupled to phospholipase A2 activation, whereas large changes in [Ca2+]i due to mobilization of internal Ca2+ stores are neither sufficient nor necessary for acetylcholine-stimulated phospholipase A2 activation.     

Effects of valinomycin on calcium mobilization in vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin II

The effect of the specific potassium (K+) ionophore valinomycin on increase in intracellular calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) was studied in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Valinomycin at more than 10(-9) M dose-dependently suppressed phasic increase in [Ca2+]i in VSMC induced by angiotensin II (AII) in both control and Ca2+-free solution, indicating that it suppressed the release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Nicorandil and cromakalim, which are both K+ channel openers, also suppressed the increases in [Ca2+]i induced by AII in the Ca2+ free solution. However, valinomycin did not suppress AII-induced production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), which is known to mediate the release of Ca2+. These results indicate that decrease of intracellular K+ induced by valinomycin suppressed the release of Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores induced by IP3.     

Measurement of cytosolic free Ca2+ in individual pancreatic acini

The kinetics of changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were determined in individual rat pancreatic acini by microfluorimetry. Three major findings are reported. First, at maximal stimulatory concentrations for amylase release, both caerulein and bombesin induced an initial rise in [Ca2+]i followed by prolonged secondary oscillations of smaller amplitude. The latter effect was not observed with supramaximal doses of caerulein. Second, these cyclic changes were dependent, at least in part, on extracellular Ca2+. Finally, comparison of the threshold doses for [Ca2+]i mobilization and enzyme discharge demonstrated that pathways independent of an elevation of [Ca2+]i control the secretory activity of pancreatic acini at low, picomolar agonist concentrations.