title: Characterization of pressure-induced calcium response in neuronal cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cation channels that respond to mechanical stress have been described in neuronal and nonneuronal cells. These nonselective cation ([C+(SA)]) channels are believed to regulate volume and osmolarity of cells in the central nervous system and are therefore believed to be involved in brain injury, resulting in intracellular calcium accumulation and cell death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Activation of pressure-sensitive channels was monitored as an increase in [Ca2+](i) by flow cytometry using indo-1. Several neuronal cell lines including NH15-CA2 neuroblastoma x glioma cells were stimulated by rectangular pressure increase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuronal cell lines showed a pressure-sensitive increase in [Ca2+](i) but no pressure sensitivity was found in fibroblasts and embryonic P19 cells. [C+(SA)] channels in NH15-CA2 cells were not blocked by inhibitors of voltage-dependent calcium channels and G-proteins. Depletion of extracellular calcium and of internal Ca2+ stores inhibited pressure-induced [Ca2+](i) increase. Elevated [C+(SA)] channel activity was also observed in confluent NH15-CA2 thus accumulated in the G(0)/G(1)-phase of the cell cycle. P19 cells showed occurrence of [C+(SA)] channel activity only after neuronal differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure-sensitive channel activity is present in cells of neuronal origin. This activity depends on neuronal differentiation and might have a pivotal role in neuronal development and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Germany. tarnok@medizin.uni-leizpig.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tárnok
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D016193:G1 Phase; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005910:Glioma; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium