J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 263, Issue 20, 9635-9639, 07, 1988
Ca2+ mobilization can occur independent of acceleration of Na+/H+ exchange in thrombin-stimulated human platelets
GB Zavoico and EJ Cragoe Jr
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Intracellular free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) were measured
simultaneously by dual wavelength excitation in thrombin-stimulated human
platelets double-labeled with the fluorescent probes fura2 and
2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein to determine the
relationship between changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi, respectively. At 37
degrees C, thrombin (0.5 or 0.1 units/ml) increased [Ca2+]i with no
detectable lag period to maximum levels within 13 s followed by a slow
return to resting levels. There was a transient decrease in pHi within 9 s
that was immediately followed by an alkalinization response, attributable
to activation of Na+/H+ exchange, that raised pHi above resting levels
within 22 s. At 10-15 degrees C, thrombin-induced changes in [Ca2+]i and
pHi were delayed and therefore better resolved, although no differences in
the magnitude of changes in [Ca2+]i and pHi were observed. However, the
increase in [Ca2+]i had peaked or was declining before the alkalinization
response was detected, suggesting that Ca2+ mobilization occurs before
activation of Na+/H+ exchange. In platelets preincubated with
5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride or gel- filtered in Na+-free buffer (Na+
replaced with N-methyl-D-glutamine) to inhibit Na+/H+ exchange, thrombin
stimulation caused a rapid, sustained decrease in pHi. Under these
conditions there was complete inhibition of the alkalinization response,
whereas Ca2+ mobilization was only partially inhibited. Nigericin (a K+/H+
ionophore) caused a rapid acidification of more than 0.3 pH unit that was
sustained in the presence of 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride. Subsequent
stimulation with thrombin resulted in slight inhibition of Ca2+
mobilization. These data show that, in human platelets stimulated with high
or low concentrations of thrombin, Ca2+ mobilization can occur without a
functional Na+/H+ exchanger and in an acidified cytoplasm. We conclude that
Ca2+ mobilization does not require activation of Na+/H+ exchange or
preliminary cytoplasmic alkalinization.