Lactacidosis-induced glial cell swelling depends on extracellular Ca2+.
Cerebral tissue acidosis following ischemia or traumatic brain injury contributes to cytotoxic brain edema formation. In vitro lactacidosis induces swelling of glial cells by intracellular Na+- and Cl--accumulation by the Na+/H+-antiporter, Cl-/HCO3--antiporters and the Na+-K+-2Cl--cotransport. The present study aimed to elucidate whether mechanisms of lactacidosis-induced glial swelling are dependent on intra- or extracellular Ca2+-ions. Therefore, C6 glioma cells were exposed to a lactacidosis of pH 6.2 in standard or calcium-free medium and following intracellular calcium chelation. Cell volume and intracellular pH were assessed by flow cytometry. Lactacidosis of pH 6.2 induced a prompt and sustained swelling of suspended C6 glioma cells reaching a maximum of 128% within 60 min. Omission of Ca2+ from the suspension medium strongly attenuated cell swelling while chelation of intracellular Ca2+ had no effects. Intracellular acidosis was not affected by either treatment. The present data show a strong dependency of lactacidosis-induced glial swelling upon extracellular Ca2+ while intracellular acidosis is not affected by omission of [Ca2+]e. Therefore, our data suggest that the Na+-K+-2Cl--cotransporter, the only so far known transporter involved in cell volume regulation but not in pHi regulation during lactacidosis, is activated in a [Ca2+]e-dependent manner.
Laboratory of Experimental Neurosurgery, Walter Brendel Center for Experimental Medicine, University of Munich Medical Center - Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. florian.ringel@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Florian
F
Ringel
Alexander
A
Baethmann
Nikolaus
N
Plesnila
D000140:Acidosis, Lactic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048429:Cell Size; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D005910:Glioma; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats
D002118:Calcium