title: Intercellular communication mediated by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor.
abstract: Agonist-evoked, intracellular Ca2+-signalling events are associated with active extrusion of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane, implying a local increase in Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) at the extracellular face of the cell. The possibility that these external [Ca2+] changes may have specific physiological functions has received little consideration in the past. Here we show that, at physiological ambient [Ca2+], Ca2+ mobilization in one cell produces an extracellular signal that can be detected in nearby cells expressing the extracellular Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaR), a cell-surface receptor for divalent cations with a widespread tissue distribution. The CaR may therefore mediate a universal form of intercellular communication that allows cells to be informed of the Ca2+-signalling status of their neighbours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massahusetts 02115, USA. ahofer@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curci
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Soybel
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006224:Cricetinae; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D002021:Buffers; C111654:NPS R-467; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2