Biphasic increase in intracellular calcium induced by platelet-activating factor in macrophages

Abstract

In single mouse macrophages stimulated by platelet-activating factor (PAF), the intracellular calcium concentration (Ca i) monitored with fura-2 at room temperature presents a biphasic increase, including a transient and a more sustained component. After pulse administration of PAF, the first phase lasts for a few seconds and reaches a peak value of 0.5–1 μM Ca 2+ at high PAF concentration. The amplitude of this peak is independent of extracellular Ca + concentration, suggesting that the initial Ca 2+ transient is due to the release of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores. The second phase of the response lasts for several minutes; its maximum amplitude is reached 1–2 min after the brief initial PAF stimulation. This phase, suppressed in zero external Ca 2+ and increased in 10 mM Ca 2+, is probably due to influx of Ca 2+ through the plasma membrane. This secondary Ca 2+ increase is blocked by 10–50 μM lanthanum. At low PAF concentration, the initial Ca 2+ transient is not followed by a second phase, showing that the initial rises of Ca 2+ and of its activator (presumably inositol trisphosphate) are not sufficient to trigger the second phase of Ca 2+ increase.