title: Hyperthermia effects on cytosolic [Ca2+]: analysis at the single cell level by digitized imaging microscopy and cell survival.
abstract: Digitized video-intensified fluorescence microscopy with the Ca2(+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was used to measure cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]f) in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. At 37 degrees C, the [Ca2+]f of individual cells ranged between 50 and 150 nM, with a mean of 120 nM. Raising the temperature to 41 degrees C for 1 h resulted in a slight reversible decrease (10-20%) in the mean [Ca2+]f. At 44 degrees C for 1 h, most (greater than 80%) cells exhibited a [Ca2+]f greater than 200 nM. This heat-induced rise in [Ca2+]f was not immediate but commenced after a lag time of 30 min. Postincubation at 37 degrees C for 2-6 h after heating, for 1 h at 44 degrees C resulted in a recovery of the basal [Ca2+]f in some but not all cells. A linear relationship was determined between percentage of cell killing and the number of cells with [Ca2+]f of greater than 200 nM after 37 degrees C post-heating incubation. Manipulation of extracellular [Ca2+] between 0.1 and 10 mM during heating did not modify the heat-induced changes in [Ca2+]f. No significant differences in survival at 37 degrees C or 44 degrees C were observed with cells incubated at 10, 1.0, and 0 [plus 1.0 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid] mM extracellular Ca2+. The Ca2+ channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine did not protect cells from heat treatment. These results suggest that irreversible heat-induced changes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis mechanisms may be a critical factor in heat cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reinlib
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donowitz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahniser
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005334:Fever / Q000378:metabolism*; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C049925:fura-2-am; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2