title: Ca2+ mobilization can occur independent of acceleration of Na+/H+ exchange in thrombin-stimulated human platelets.
abstract: Intracellular free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) were measured simultaneously by dual wavelength excitation in thrombin-stimulated human platelets double-labeled with the fluorescent probes fura2 and 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein to determine the relationship between changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi, respectively. At 37 degrees C, thrombin (0.5 or 0.1 units/ml) increased [Ca2+]i with no detectable lag period to maximum levels within 13 s followed by a slow return to resting levels. There was a transient decrease in pHi within 9 s that was immediately followed by an alkalinization response, attributable to activation of Na+/H+ exchange, that raised pHi above resting levels within 22 s. At 10-15 degrees C, thrombin-induced changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi were delayed and therefore better resolved, although no differences in the magnitude of changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi were observed. However, the increase in [Ca2+]i had peaked or was declining before the alkalinization response was detected, suggesting that Ca2+ mobilization occurs before activation of Na+/H+ exchange. In platelets preincubated with 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride or gel-filtered in Na+-free buffer (Na+ replaced with N-methyl-D-glutamine) to inhibit Na+/H+ exchange, thrombin stimulation caused a rapid, sustained decrease in pHi. Under these conditions there was complete inhibition of the alkalinization response, whereas Ca2+ mobilization was only partially inhibited. Nigericin (a K+/H+ ionophore) caused a rapid acidification of more than 0.3 pH unit that was sustained in the presence of 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride. Subsequent stimulation with thrombin resulted in slight inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization. These data show that, in human platelets stimulated with high or low concentrations of thrombin, Ca2+ mobilization can occur without a functional Na+/H+ exchanger and in an acidified cytoplasm. We conclude that Ca2+ mobilization does not require activation of Na+/H+ exchange or preliminary cytoplasmic alkalinization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zavoico
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cragoe
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001572:Benzofurans; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009550:Nigericin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D000584:Amiloride; C043829:2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein; D013917:Thrombin; D009550:Nigericin; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2; C039614:ethylisopropylamiloride