Ag. Cabado et al., Crosstalk between cytosolic pH and intracellular calcium in human lymphocytes - Effect of 4-aminopyridin, ammonium chloride and ionomycin, CELL SIGNAL, 12(8), 2000, pp. 573-581
Stimulation of lymphocytes by specific antigens is followed by the activati
on of different signal transduction mechanisms, such as alterations in the
cytoplasmic levels of Ca2+, H+ and variations in membrane potential. To stu
dy interrelationships among these parameters, changes in pHi and Ca2+ were
measured with the fluorescent probes BCECF and Fura-2 in freshly isolated b
lood human lymphocytes. Moreover, membrane potential qualitative alteration
s were recorded with the fluorescent dye bisoxonol. In a bicarbonate-free m
edium, cell alkalinization with NH4Cl slightly decreased intracellular Ca2 concentration ([Ca2+](i)) due to efflux of Ca2+ from the cell. In contrast
, an elevation of pHi induced with 4-AP increased [Ca2+](i), either in the
presence or absence of external Ca2+. The increase in Ca2+-free medium is l
ikely to be due to Ca2+ release from thapsigargin and caffeine-independent
intracellular stores. Both 4-AP or NH4Cl induced a plasma membrane depolari
sation, although with different kinetics. The ionosphere ionomycin increase
d pHi, Ca2+ levels and also induced membrane depolarisation. Together, thes
e observations demonstrate a lack of correlation between the magnitude of c
hanges in pHi and Ca2+. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.