Level Of Calcium Mobilization Research Articles

Arachidonic acid inhibition of muscarinic receptor-mediated nitric oxide production occurs at the level of calcium mobilization in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Strong evidence supports that nitric oxide (NO) alters cell signaling pathways involving arachidonic acid (AA). Little is known, however, about the reciprocal modulation of nitrergic pathways by AA. The effects of exogenous AA on signal transduction of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were investigated in a model system of stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. AA concentration-dependently inhibited the effects of carbachol in producing NO (IC50 = 191 microM) but did not alter inositol phosphate production or M1 receptor binding. AA inhibited both carbachol-induced transient and sustained increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i; IC50 = 11 and 12 microM, respectively). Furthermore, AA-induced increase in [Ca2+]i cross-desensitizes with thapsigargin, but AA does not inhibit Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. These data support the concept that AA concentration-dependently inhibits receptor-mediated NO production at the level of calcium mobilization.

Expression and Functional Characteristics of the Complement Receptor Type 2 on Adult and Neonatal B Lymphocytes

In vivo antibody synthesis against thymus-independent type 2 (TI-2) antigens such as type-specific polysaccharides of pneumococci is low or absent during the first 2 years of life. Recently, we described a role for CR2 in the in vitro antibody response of B cells of adults to the TI-2 antigen type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide. In the present study a decreased expression of CR2 is described on cord blood B cells using HB5 and OKB7 anti-CR2 MAb. Crosslinking of HB5 anti-CR2 antibodies on the B cell membrane leads to increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+] i) in both adult and neonatal B cells. In adult B cells, a synergism between CR2 and sIgM could be demonstrated on the level of calcium mobilization by occupying CR2 and crosslinking of sIgM with substimulatory concentrations of anti-IgM antibodies. This synergistic action between CR2 and sIgM could not be demonstrated in neonatal B cells. In addition, it is demonstrated that HB5 MAb cannot induce B cell differentiation in neonatal B cells, while adult B cells can be induced to differentiate into Ig-producing cells by this MAb.

Deactivation of the effects of f-Met-Leu-Phe and leukotriene B 4 on calcium mobilization in rabbit neutrophils

Preincubation of rabbit neutrophils with the synthetic chemotactic factor f-Met-Leu-Phe has been found to diminish the ability of these cells to mobilize calcium upon subsequent stimulation by f-Met-Leu-Phe or by leukotriene B 4. The preexposure of the neutrophils to leukotriene B 4 on the other hand results in a diminished subsequent response to itself but an unaltered response to f-Met-Leu-Phe. These results demonstrate that deactivation can be observed at the level of calcium mobilization, strengthen the postulated second messenger role of calcium in neutrophils and imply that neutrophil activation by chemotactic factors can bypass the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway.