title: Second messenger-activated calcium influx in rat peritoneal mast cells.
abstract: 1. To study the regulation of calcium influx in non-excitable cells, membrane currents of rat peritoneal mast cells were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. At the same time, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was monitored via the fluorescent calcium-indicator dye Fura-2, which was loaded into cells by diffusion from the patch pipette. 2. Stimulation of mast cells with secretagogues, such as compound 48/80 or substance P, caused release of Ca2+ from internal stores. In addition, external agonists also induced influx of external calcium in 26% of the cells investigated. The agonist-stimulated Ca2+ influx was increased during membrane hyperpolarization and was associated with small whole-cell currents. 3. Likewise, internal application of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins1,4,5P3:0.5-10 microM) elevated [Ca2+]i due both to release of Ca2+ from internal stores and to influx of external calcium. The Ins1,4,5P3-induced influx was greater at more negative membrane potentials, suggesting that Ins1,4,5P3 opened a pathway through which calcium could enter at a rate governed by its electrochemical driving force. 4. Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins1,3,4,5P4) did not induce Ca2+ influx by itself nor did it facilitate or enhance Ins1,4,5P3-induced Ca2+ entry. Calcium influx was also induced by inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate. Since this inositol phosphate is a poor substrate for Ins1,4,5P3 3-kinase it seems unlikely that Ins1,3,4,5P4 plays a role in the regulation of the Ca2(+)-influx pathway in mast cells. 5. The Ins1,4,5P3-induced Ca2+ influx was associated with whole-cell currents of 1-2 pA or less, with no channel activity detectable in whole-cell recordings. The small size of the whole-cell current suggests either that the Ins1,4,5P3-dependent influx occurs via small-conductance channels that are highly calcium specific or that the influx is not via ion channels. 6. Agonist stimulation also activated large-conductance (ca 50 pS) cation channels, through which divalent cations could permeate; thus, these channels represent a second pathway for Ca2+ influx. The slow speed of activation of the channels by agonists, their activation by internal guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S), and the inhibition of agonist activation by internal guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-beta-S) all suggest that the 50 pS channels are regulated by a second messenger and/or a GTP-binding protein. The activity of the 50 pS channel in mast cells is not sensitive to either Ins1,4,5P3 or Ins1,3,4,5P4. Activity of the channel was inhibited by elevated [Ca2+]i.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, FRG.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium