title: Single pulses of cytoplasmic calcium associated with phagocytosis of individual zymosan particles by macrophages.
abstract: We have measured cytosolic free calcium levels ([Ca++]i) in individual macrophages during the phagocytosis of single zymosan particles. We report here that the contact of a macrophage with zymosan results in a rapid transient elevation of [Ca++]i. Each [Ca++]i pulse is symmetrical lasting for up to 30 seconds. In contrast, macrophage spreading is associated with repetitive [Ca++]i spiking occurring in salvos of up to four smaller spikes, each lasting for between 8 and 18 seconds. These qualitative and kinetic differences might suggest that the role of [Ca++]i in phagocytosis is distinct from its role in spreading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Moonga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haslett
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D010587:Phagocytosis; D015054:Zymosan
chemical_list: D015054:Zymosan; D002118:Calcium