title: Age-related differences in the effects of cyclosporine on lymphocyte intracellular free calcium.
abstract: The effect of cyclosporine on lymphocyte intracellular free calcium [( Ca2+]i) is controversial, and potential age-related differences in lymphocyte CsA sensitivity have not been studied. We measured the mitogen-induced change in [Ca2+]i in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) following intravenous CsA infusion (5 mg/kg) in neonatal pigs and found a significantly reduced calcium response compared with control (P = 0.02). This was associated with an elevation in resting [Ca2+]i in the neonatal PBLs 24 hr following the CsA infusion (P = 0.02). These changes in lymphocyte [Ca2+]i were associated with suppression of cell proliferation. Neonatal PBLs in mixed lymphocyte cultures showed a greater PHA-induced change in [Ca2+]i (delta[Ca2+]i) compared with mature PBLs (P = 0.0007). The addition of CsA (1 microgram/ml) to mitogenic- and allogeneic-stimulated cultures did not affect resting [Ca2+]i or delta[Ca2+]i in either neonatal or mature PBLs. Our results demonstrate significant differences in calcium responses in neonatal lymphocytes following CsA infusion and allogeneic stimulation. This implies that there are age-related differences in CsA effects at or proximal to the level of calcium release and/or sequestration in the lymphocyte signal transduction pathway, and that elevated resting intracellular calcium levels may be indicative of reduced responsiveness, possibly through feedback inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Radde
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Martell
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Augustine
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Coles
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D008934:Mitogens; D002118:Calcium