青藤碱对培养VSMC MAPK、PKC活性和细胞[Ca^2＋]i的影响

目的：观察青藤碱对血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）丝裂素活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）、蛋白激酶C（PKC）活性和胞内游离钙浓度（[Ca^2＋i]）的影响。方法：将VSMC正常培养液、ox-LDL诱导血管内皮细胞（VEC）损伤的条件培养基、青藤碱加ox-LDL诱导VEC损伤的条件培养基等分别作用于VSMC,采用β-放射活性法等测定MAPK及PKC活性,荧光光度法检测VSMC[Ca^2＋]i。结果：VEC损伤条件培养基作用于VSMC后,与正常培养VSMC相比,细胞MAPK、PKC活性明显增加（P〈0．01）,细胞[Ca^2＋]i增加;青藤碱作用于VEC损伤条件培养基培养的VSMC后,与模型组相比,MAPK及PKC活性明显减少（P〈0．01）、细胞[Ca^2＋]i降低。结论：青藤碱抑制VSMC增殖的作用可能与拮抗MAPK、PKC活性和细胞[Ca^2＋]i的增加有关。     

内皮素-1通过L-型钙通道的Ca^2＋内流和钙致钙释放诱导心肌细胞内[Ca^2＋]的增加

本研究利用fura-2-AM荧光成像和膜片钳技术,发现内皮素-1（Endothelin-1,ET-1）可显著提高大鼠分离心肌细胞内钙离子水平（[Ca^2＋]i）,激活心肌细胞钙通道．ETA受体阻滞剂BQ123能够消除ET-1提高[Ca^2＋]i的效应,而ETB受体阻滞剂BQ788对该效应无影响,用ryanodine受体阻断剂ryanodine（10μmol／L）预处理,可以使ET-1诱导的[Ca^2＋]i的增加抑制46.7％,蛋白激酶A（PKA）的抑制剂、蛋白激酶C（PKC）的抑制剂和血管紧张素Ⅱ-型受体（ATI receptor）的抑制剂都能够抑制ET-1诱导的[Ca^2＋]i的增加,本研究发现ET-1能够提高全细胞L-型钙通道电流的幅度,增加L-型钙通道单通道的开放概率．并且BQ123完全阻止了ET-1诱导的L-型钙通道开放概率增加的效应．本研究证明了ET-1通过一系列机制调节钙超载,包括L-型钙通道的激活,钙致钙释放（CICR）,ETA受体,PKC,PKA和血管紧张素Ⅱ-型受体也参与到了这个途径中。     

Ca^2＋参与茉莉酸诱导蚕豆气孔关闭的信号转导

以Fluo-3 AM为Ca^2＋荧光探针,结合激光共聚焦扫描显微技术,观察到在处理后数十秒内,气孔关闭之前,茉莉酸（JA）可引起[Ca^2＋]cyt的迅速上升;对照和JA的前体物亚麻酸（LA）几乎不能引起[Ca^2＋]cyt的明显变化;钙的螯合剂EGTA预处理可完全阻断JA诱导气孔关闭的效应,并且JA不再引起保卫细胞[Ca^2＋]cyt增加;质膜Cah通道的抑制剂硝苯吡啶（nifedipine,NIF）可减弱JA诱导气孔关闭的效应,也使JA诱导保卫细胞[Ca^2＋]cyt增加的幅度有所下降;胞内Ca^2＋释放的抑制剂钌红不能明显改变JA诱导气孔关闲的趋势,但使JA引起的保卫细胞[Ca^2＋]cyt增加有所降低。实验结果表明：Ca^2＋参与JA诱导气孔关闭的信号转导;推测JA引起的[Ca^2＋]cyt升高可能主要来源于胞外,但不能完全排除胞内Ca^2＋的释放。     

pH改变对心肌细胞内Ca2+浓度和细胞长度的影响

目的：探讨细胞内pH(pHi)改变对心肌细胞内Ca^2 浓度（[Ca^2 ]i)和细胞长度的影响。方法：心肌细胞内分别灌注20mmol/L丙酸钠和15mmol/L NH4Cl ,建立细胞内酸碱中毒模型。荧光指示剂indo-1和SNARF－1载入大鼠心肌细胞内,用荧光显微镜同时测定心肌[Ca^2 ]i、pHi和细胞长度。结果：细胞内酸中毒早期,收缩期和舒张期[Ca^2 ]i轻度增加,细胞缩短（CS）降低,细胞长度增加,心肌纤维对Ca^2 的敏感性和CS／[Ca^2 ]i降低（P＜0．01）;碱中毒时,收缩期和舒张期[Ca^2 ]i均较对照组降低,CS增加,细胞长度变短,心肌纤维对Ca^2 的敏感性和CS／[Ca^2 ]i增加（P＜0．01）。结论：酸中毒早期[Ca^2 ]i和细胞长度增加,碱中毒时[Ca^2 ]i和细胞长度降低。酸、碱中毒对Ca^2＋敏感性的影响并非线性关系,即单位pHi变化时酸中毒对敏感性的影响较碱中毒小。     

蛋白酶激活受体2(PAR-2)激动剂对肥大细胞释放类胰蛋白酶的影响

研究反肉桂酰-亮-异亮-甘-精-亮-鸟-[酰胺]（tc-LIGRLO),一种PAR-2激动剂,对肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶释放的影响。结果显示,经过15min的培养,tc-LIGRLO可引起比基础分泌量增加1倍以上的类胰蛋白酶释放,作用强度超过抗IgE抗体和钙离子导入剂（calcium ionophore A23187,CI),而反PAR-2激动剂-反肉桂酰-鸟-亮-精-甘-异亮-亮-[酰胺]（tc-OLRGIL)无此作用,培养时间延长到30min时对tc-LIGRLO的作用无明显影响,其时间关系曲线表明,tc-LIGRLO的作用从1min开始,3min后达高峰,结果表明,PAR-2激动剂tc-LIGRLO是一种高效类胰蛋白酶释放刺激剂,在肥大细胞上可能有PAR-2存在。     

钙激活氯离子通道对大鼠肺动脉张力的调节作用

目的：研究钙激活氯离子通道及其通道阻断剂尼氟灭酸（niflumic acid,NFA）、indaryloxyacetic acid（IAA-94）在苯福林（phenylephrine,PE）引起的肺动脉收缩中的作用。方法：常规离体血管灌流法检测肺动脉环张力;采用钙荧光探针（Fura-2／AM）负载急性酶分离法（胶原酶Ⅰ型和木瓜蛋白酶）获得的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）,观察NFA和IAA-94对PE诱导的PASMCs胞浆游离钙离子浓度（[Ca^2＋]i）的影响,用荧光分光光度计法检测[Ca^2＋]i。结果：钙激活氯离子通道阻断剂NFA和IAA-94可以舒张PE引起的肺动脉环收缩;NFA和IAA-94对KCl引起的血管收缩无影响;PE可以引起[Ca^2＋]i升高,NFA和IAA-94对PE诱导[Ca^2＋]i升高无影响。结论：钙激活氯离子通道在生理状态下与血管活性药（PE）引起的肺动脉张力变化有关,这为研究其在低氧肺血管收缩中的作用提供了新的线索。     

膜钠钙交换蛋白和过氧化氢交互作用对细胞内钙稳态调控

本研究旨在阐明过氧化氢（H2O2）和膜钠钙交换蛋白相互作用对胞浆钙[Ca^2 ],的调控。在稳定表达钠钙交换蛋白CK1．4细胞上,用^45Ca同位素液闪计数法测定钠钙交换蛋白的活性;用fura-2荧光探针和340／380nm双兴奋波长荧光影像技术测定钙释放和[Ca^2 ]i。两因素两水平和三因素两水平正交分析表明10mmol/L H2O2与150mmol/L细胞外钠（[Na^ ]o,1mmol/L细胞外钙[Ca^2 ],相互作用或10mmol/L H2O2分别与150mmol/L[Na ]。或1[Na^ ]。激活钠钙交换蛋白,排出细胞内钙离子,降低[Ca2 ]i。当[Na^ ]。递减至0mmol/L时,10mmol/L H2O2直接抑制钠钙交换蛋白的活性,增加钙释放和升高[Ca2 ]i.在不同[Na^=},梯度中,10mmol/LH2O2对膜的钠钙交换活动和[Ca2 ],起双重调节作用,即抑制或增加钙内流和[Ca^2=]i.10mmol/L H2O2与膜钠钙交换蛋白和[Ca2 ]。相互作用对钠钙交换活动方向,钙释放和[Ca^2_]起负反馈谳节作用。     

吗啡对培养海马神经元钙离子作用的机制研究

目的：研究吗啡对海马神经元[Ca^2 ]i影响的机制,为探索吗啡成瘾的神经生物学机制与可能的治疗途径。方法：荧光探针Fluo-4标记细胞内游离钙后,用激光共聚焦显微镜检测吗啡对大鼠原代培养海马神经元[Ca^2 ]i的影响。结果：吗啡急性刺激引起海马神经元[Ca^2 ]i升高,CTOP不能阻断吗啡引起的细胞内[Ca^2 ]i增加,而naltrindole能阻断吗啡引起的细胞内[Ca^2 ]i反应;Thapsigargin预处理阻断吗啡诱导的细胞内[Ca^2 ]i增加,Verapamil预处理不能完全抑制吗啡引起的细胞内[Ca^2 ]i增加;吗啡长时程作用后,海马神经元[Ca^2 ]i升高,加入纳络酮急性戒断后,不能阻断吗啡引起的细胞内[Ca^2 ]i升高,反而引起[Ca^2 ]i异常升高。结论：吗啡急性刺激引起的海马神经元内游离钙增加主要来源于δ2阿片受体介导的IP3敏感的钙库释放。     

有氧运动对大鼠心肌活细胞核钙转运功能的影响

目的：研究有氧运动后心肌细胞核钙动态变化的生物学机制。方法：采用激光扫描共聚焦显微术（LSCM）对STDBT和Fluo-3Ca^2＋荧光试剂负载的急性分离的有氧运动大鼠心肌活细胞内游离Ca^2＋动态变化进行研究。结果：以胞核特异性Ca^2＋荧光探针STDBT-AM标记的心室肌细胞胞体四周荧光微弱,横纹、横小管隐约可见,但在胞体核的部位荧光分布最强,出现强绿色区域,核膜边界清晰,表明STDBT通过胞浆而特异性聚集在胞核区域,具有靶向性导入胞核区域的特征。有氧训练组与安静对照组比较,[Ca^2＋]n的基值和峰值变化特征与Fluo-3相同。有氧训练组加入异丙肾上腺素后,[Ca^2＋]n显著性增加,其变化率为33.3412%（P〈0.01〉。异丙肾上腺素作用前、后大鼠心肌细胞[Ca^2＋]n发生较明显的变化。[Ca^2＋]n有氧运动组加药后较加药前显著性增加,其变化率为33.224%。结论：本文首次研究了有氧运动训练条件下心肌活细胞核Ca^2＋的变化,证实了有氧运动训练可显著增加心肌细胞[Ca^2＋]n变化水平,并首次初步探讨了有氧运动训练条件下心肌细胞核Ca^2＋的转运功能,异丙肾上腺素可显著升高[Ca^2＋]n而降低[Ca^2＋]i。心肌细胞核也是心肌细胞内钙库之一,有氧训练可影响心肌细胞[Ca^2＋]n调控。     

大黄素升高豚鼠结肠带细胞[Ca~(2+)]_i的特征和GDP的抑制作用

利用Fluo-3荧光探针检测细胞内自由Ca^2 浓度([Ca^2 ]i),研究了大黄素升高豚鼠结肠带细胞[Ca^2 ]i是量－效关系和动态变化特征,及GDP和胞外Ca^2 浓度对其的影响。较低浓度大黄素随药物浓度增加使[Ca^2 ]i显著升高,更高浓度大黄素有超最大抑制效应,GDP对大黄不升高细胞[Ca^2 ]i的抑制作用随其浓度增加而增强,GDP和胞外Ca^2 浓度影响大黄素诱发的[Ca^2 ]i动态变化的结果表明：GDP使[Ca^2 ]i峰消失,胞外无Ca^2 导致[Ca^2 ]i随时间显著下降,大黄素升高[Ca^2 ]i作用趋向消失。     

Protease-activated receptor-2-mediated Ca2+ signaling in guinea pig tracheal epithelial cells

The protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), a G protein-coupled receptor activated by trypsin, contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease including asthma. Here, we examined the mechanisms by which stimulation of PAR-2 induces an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in guinea pig tracheal epithelial cells. Trypsin (0.01-3 units/ml) dose-dependently induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, the increase being blocked by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI 1 microM). An increase in [Ca2+]i was also induced by an agonist peptide for PAR-2 (SLIGRL-NH2, 0.001-10 microM) but not by thrombin (3 units/ml, an activator for PAR-1, PAR-3 or PAR-4). Repeated or cross stimulation of trypsin or SLIGRL-NH2 caused marked desensitization of the [Ca2+]i response. These responses of [Ca2+]i to trypsin and SLIGRL-NH2 were attenuated by a phospholipase C inhibitor, U-73122, and a Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin (100 nM), while removal of Ca2+ and a L-type Ca2+-channel blocker, verapamil, were without significant effects. Further, trypsin was without effect on the rate of fura 2 quenching by Mn2+ entry as an indicator of Ca2+ influx. Thus, stimulation of PAR-2 appears to increase [Ca2+]i through the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores probably via phospholipase Cbeta-linked generation of a second messenger.     

Low energy visible light induces reactive oxygen species generation and stimulates an increase of intracellular calcium concentration in cardiac cells

Low energy visible light (LEVL) irradiation has been shown to exert some beneficial effects on various cell cultures. For example, it increases the fertilizing capability of sperm cells, promotes cell proliferation, induces sprouting of neurons, and more. To learn about the mechanism of photobiostimulation, we studied the relationship between increased intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and reactive oxygen species production following LEVL illumination of cardiomyocytes. We found that visible light causes the production of O2. and H2O2 and that exogenously added H2O2 (12 microm) can mimic the effect of LEVL (3.6 J/cm2) to induce a slow and transient increase in [Ca2+]i. This [Ca2+]i elevation can be reduced by verapamil, a voltage-dependent calcium channel inhibitor. The kinetics of [Ca2+]i elevation and morphologic damage following light or addition of H2O2 were found to be dose-dependent. For example, LEVL, 3.6 J/cm2, which induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, did not cause any cell damage, whereas visible light at 12 J/cm2 induced a linear increase in [Ca2+]i and damaged the cells. The linear increase in [Ca2+]i resulting from high energy doses of light could be attenuated into a non-linear small rise in [Ca2+]i by the presence of extracellular catalase during illumination. We suggest that the different kinetics of [Ca2+]i elevation following various light irradiation or H2O2 treatment represents correspondingly different adaptation levels to oxidative stress. The adaptive response of the cells to LEVL represented by the transient increase in [Ca2+]i can explain LEVL beneficial effects.     

Con A刺激致T淋巴细胞胞浆游离Ca~(2+)浓度升高

本文分别应用荧光Ca~(2+)指示剂Quin2和Indo-1研究了Con A刺激的T淋巴细胞[Ca~(2+)]i升高过程及其发生机制.结果表明Con A与T淋巴细胞作用可导致细胞[Ca~(2+)]i的迅速升高.这种增加的胞内游离Ca~(2+)不仅来自胞外Ca~(2+)的内流,也来源于胞内钙库的释放.其中Ca~(2+)内流与T细胞钙通道的开放有关.可被钙通道抑制剂戊脉胺抑制,细胞的去极化及钾通道阻断剂四乙胺均不能阻断Ca~(2+)的内流,提示Ca~(2+)内流不是通过电位操纵的钙通道实现的,也与拥通道的开闭无关.Ca~(2+)内流可能是通过Con A受体活化的受体操纵的钙通道而实现的.     

Effect of histone H1 on the cytosolic calcium levels in human breast cancer MCF 7 cells

In human breast cancer MCF 7 cells, the effect of exogenous histone H1 on intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels was measured using Fura 2AM. The dose and time dependent assessment revealed significant cell killing effect of histone H1 on MCF 7 cells. Histone H1 induced a sustained concentration dependent increase in [Ca2+]i levels in the presence of calcium in the medium, but the increase was reduced in the absence of extra cellular calcium. The effect of histone H1 on intracellular calcium flux measured using 45Ca radiolabel revealed significant inhibition of calcium uptake in endoplasmic reticulum, whereas the rate of uptake was unaltered in the mitochondria. The activities of phospholipase A2 showed a significant transient increase at 1 minute which by the end of 5 minutes decreased, whereas the activities of phospholipase C which showed a transient increase at the end of 1 minute, was maintained at basal levels in histone H1 treated cells compared to control cells. These findings suggest that histone H1 increases [Ca2+]i in MCF 7 cells by stimulating both extra cellular calcium influx and intracellular calcium release at higher concentrations exhibiting cytotoxic effect.     

Transmembrane calcium influx induced by ac electric fields.

Exogenous electric fields induce cellular responses including redistribution of integral membrane proteins, reorganization of microfilament structures, and changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i). Although increases in [Ca2+]i caused by application of direct current electric fields have been documented, quantitative measurements of the effects of alternating current (ac) electric fields on [Ca2+]i are lacking and the Ca2+ pathways that mediate such effects remain to be identified. Using epifluorescence microscopy, we have examined in a model cell type the [Ca2+]i response to ac electric fields. Application of a 1 or 10 Hz electric field to human hepatoma (Hep3B) cells induces a fourfold increase in [Ca2+]i (from 50 nM to 200 nM) within 30 min of continuous field exposure. Depletion of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium prevents the electric field-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane is responsible for the [Ca2+]i increase. Incubation of cells with the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 does not inhibit ac electric field-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that receptor-regulated release of intracellular Ca2+ is not important for this effect. Treatment of cells with either the stretch-activated cation channel inhibitor GdCl3 or the nonspecific calcium channel blocker CoCl2 partially inhibits the [Ca2+]i increase induced by ac electric fields, and concomitant treatment with both GdCl3 and CoCl2 completely inhibits the field-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Since neither Gd3+ nor Co2+ is efficiently transported across the plasma membrane, these data suggest that the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by ac electric fields depends entirely on Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium.     

Intracellular elevations of free calcium induced by activation of histamine H1 receptors in interphase and mitotic HeLa cells: hormone signal transduction is altered during mitosis

A broad range of membrane functions, including endocytosis and exocytosis, are strongly inhibited during mitosis. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, however, but will probably be important in relation to the mitotic cycle and the regulation of surface phenomena generally. A major unanswered question is whether membrane signal transduction is altered during mitosis; suppression of an intracellular calcium [( Ca2+]i) transient could inhibit exocytosis; [Ca2+]i elevation could disassemble the mitotic spindle. Activation of the histamine H1 receptor interphase in HeLa cells is shown here by Indo-1 fluorescence to produce a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i transient consists of an initial sharp rise that is at least partially dependent on intracellular calcium followed by an elevated plateau that is absolutely dependent on extracellular calcium. The [Ca2+]i transient is completely suppressed by preincubation with the tumor promoter, phorbol myristate acetate, but is unaffected by preincubation with pertussis toxin (islet-activating protein). In mitotic (metaphase- arrested) HeLa cells, the [Ca2+]i transient is largely limited to the initial peak. Measurement of 45Ca2+ uptake shows that it is stimulated by histamine in interphase cells, but not in mitotics. We conclude that the histamine-stimulated generation of the second messenger, [Ca2+]i, in mitotic cells is limited by failure to activate a sustained calcium influx. The initial phase of calcium mobilization from intracellular stores is comparable to that in interphase cells. Hormone signal transduction thus appears to be altered during mitosis.     

High levels of cytosolic free calcium inhibit dephosphorylation of insulin receptor and glycogen synthase.

Treatment of adipocytes with depolarizing concentrations of K+ (40 mM) for 60 min increased [Ca2+]i from 158 +/- 28 nM to 328 +/- 38 nM. This significantly reduced (up to 80% inhibition) dephosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR), EGF receptor (EGF-R) and glycogen synthase (GS). The calcium channel blocker, nitrendipine (30 microM), or Ca2+ free medium completely prevented K(+)-induced inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPTase). This effect of high [Ca2+]i was completely reversible when the cells were returned into the non-depolarizing medium. Trypsin treatment (4 micrograms/ml) of the membrane fraction containing inhibited PPTase activity, restored dephosphorylation activity to normal suggesting that elevated [Ca2+]i may inhibit PPTase by promoting its association with the inhibitors. These observations indicate that dephosphorylation of IR and GS can be regulated by [Ca2+]i.     

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A modulates intracellular Ca2+ signal pathway in human intestinal epithelial cells

We demonstrate here that staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) induces an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in human intestinal epithelial cells and the [Ca2+]i is released from intracellular stores. SEA-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was clearly inhibited by treatment with a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine and guanidine. Intestinal epithelial cells express endothelial NOS in resting cell condition, and express inducible NOS after stimulating with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. TNF-alpha-pretreated cells showed a significant increase in [Ca2+]i that was also inhibited by the NOS inhibitor. These results suggest that SEA modulated [Ca2+]i signal is dependent on NOS expression in human intestinal epithelial cells.     

Role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in hypoxia-dependent increase in intracellular calcium in pulmonary artery myocytes

Previous studies examining the role of mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypoxic responses have been mainly conducted in isolated lungs and cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) using mitochondrial inhibitors, and yielded largely conflicting results. Here we report that in freshly isolated mouse PASMCs, which are devoid of the mixed responses from multi-types of cells in lungs and significant changes in gene expression in cultured cells, the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I, II, or III inhibitors blocked hypoxia-induced increases in intracellular ROS and Ca2+ concentration ([ROS]i and [Ca2+]i) without effects on their resting levels. Inhibition of the complex I plus II and/or III did not produce an additive effect. Glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1) or catalase gene overexpression to enhance H2O2 removal remarkably reduced hypoxic increases in [ROS]i and [Ca2+]i, whereas Gpx1 gene deletion had the opposite effect. None of these genetic modifications changed the resting [ROS]i and [Ca2+]i. H2O2 at 51 microM caused a similar increase in DCF fluorescence ([ROS]i) as that by hypoxia, but only induced 33% of hypoxic increase in [Ca2+]i. Moreover, H2O2 (5.1 microM) reversed the inhibition of the hypoxia-induced increase in [Ca2+]i by rotenone. Collectively, our study using various mitochondrial inhibitors and genetic approaches demonstrates that in response to acute hypoxia, the mitochondrial ETC molecules prior to the complex III ubisemiquinone site act as a functional unit to increase the generation of ROS, particularly H2O2, which is important for, but may not fully cause, the hypoxic increase in [Ca2+]i in freshly isolated PASMCs.     

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.