title: Does cytosolic free Ca2+ signal neutrophil chemotaxis in response to formylated chemotactic peptide?
abstract: Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration was measured and imaged in human neutrophils moving towards a source of formylated peptide in a micropipette held close to the cells. Under these conditions, neutrophils changed shape and displayed chemotaxis without significant or persistent global or localised elevations in cytosolic free Ca2+. A rear-to-front persistent Ca2+ gradient of less than 0.5 nM/micron was present in the migrating neutrophils, until they reached the zone of higher peptide concentration, when an abrupt rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration was triggered and chemotaxis stopped. Small localised rises in cytosolic free Ca2+, which were occasionally observed during neutrophil manoeuvring, were attributed to the effect of local deformation of the neutrophil membrane, since deformation of the membrane with a blunt micropipette caused similar Ca2+ changes. These data suggest that neutrophil chemotaxis towards a source of formylated peptide occurs without significant changes in Ca2+ signalling.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Laffafian
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hallett
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D002118:Calcium