Alterations of Ca2+ mobilizing properties in migrating endothelial cells

Endothelial migration is one of the major events of pathological neovascula rization. We compared the characteristics of Ca2+ mobilization in nonconflu ent, confluent, and migrating endothelial cells. Migration of endothelial c ells was induced by wounding the confluent cell monolayer. The basal intrac ellular Ca2+ concentration was lower in migrating cells and higher in confl uent cells than in nonconfluent cells. Thapsigargin (TG)-induced Ca2+ leak and TG-evoked Ca2+ entry were accelerated in migrating cells, whereas the l atter was suppressed in confluent cells. The ATP-induced Ca2+ transient was also much larger in migrating cells than in confluent cells. These alterat ions were also observed in a cell as an intracellular polarization, i.e., t he leading edge showed an acceleration of TG-evoked Ca2+ entry and an augme ntation of the ATP-induced Ca2+ transient. Endothelial migration was signif icantly suppressed by TG or cyclopiazonic acid. These observations suggest that the alterations of Ca2+ store site-related Ca2+ mobilizations, i.e., C a2+ sequestration, release, and TG-evoked Ca2+ entry, may be involved in th e cellular mechanisms of endothelial migration.