Neopterin inhibits ATP-induced calcium release in alveolar epithelial cells in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Serum neopterin concentrations rise during activation of the cellular immune system. It is suggested that neopterin interacts with cellular redox mechanisms. This induces oxidative stress, which inhibits intracellular Ca2+ transients in various cell types. In type II alveolar epithelial cells, Ca2+ increase is considered involved in the exocytosis of surfactants. This exocytosis is disturbed during inflammation.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether neopterin affects adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced Ca2+ transients in an alveolar epithelial cell line (L2).


METHODS
Ca2+ transients were detected as fura-2 fluorescence by an image analysis system.


RESULTS
Cells were exposed for 100 sec to ATP (1 microM, repeated four times). The first application of ATP induced an increase of the fluorescence ratio by approximately 100%, while the following stimulations resulted in smaller transients. In a second set of experiments, L2 cells were exposed to ATP or ATP + neopterin (100 nM), alternately. Simultaneous application of neopterin inhibited Ca2+ transients almost completely.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition of Ca2+ transients by neopterin may lead to suppressed exocytosis of surfactant proteins in alveolar epithelial cells. This might contribute to the deterioration of pulmonary functions in the course of inflammatory processes.
Hoffmann
Georg
G
Department of Physiology I, University of Bonn, Germany. umvb01@uni-bonn.de
Gollnick
Frank
F
Meyer
Rainer
R
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019798:Neopterin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D002614:Chelating Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019798:Neopterin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2