A locally-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ propagates cell-to-cell in the presence of plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase inhibitors in non-excitable cells.
Intercellular Ca(2+) waves are commonly observed in many cell types. In non-excitable cells, intercellular Ca(2+) waves are mediated by gap junctional diffusion of a Ca(2+) mobilizing messenger such as IP(3). Since Ca(2+) is heavily buffered in the cytosolic environment, it has been hypothesized that the contribution of the diffusion of Ca(2+) to intercellular Ca(2+) waves is limited. Here, we report that in the presence of plasma membrane Ca(2+) ATPase inhibitors, locally-released Ca(2+) from the flash-photolysis of caged-Ca(2+) appeared to induce further Ca(2+) release and were propagated from one cell to another, indicating that Ca(2+) was self-amplified to mediate intercellular Ca(2+) waves. Our findings support the notion that non-excitable cells can establish a highly excitable medium to communicate local responses with distant cells.
Frontier Research Base for Global Young Researchers, Frontier Research Center, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. tnakano@wakate.frc.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
Tadashi
T
Nakano
Takako
T
Koujin
Tatsuya
T
Suda
Yasushi
Y
Hiraoka
Tokuko
T
Haraguchi
D000465:Algorithms; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014638:Vanadates / Q000494:pharmacology
D018031:Connexin 43; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014638:Vanadates; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium