Measurements of intracellular calcium signals in polarized primary cultures of normal and cystic fibrosis human airway epithelia

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:742:113-26. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-120-8_7.

Abstract

The airways are continuously challenged by a variety of stimuli including bacteria, viruses, allergens, and inflammatory factors that act as agonists for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Intracellular calcium (Ca(2+) (i)) mobilization in airway epithelia in response to extracellular stimuli regulates key airway innate defense functions, e.g., Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) secretion, ciliary beating, mucin secretion, and inflammatory responses. Because Ca(2+) (i) mobilization in response to luminal stimuli is larger in CF vs. normal human airway epithelia, alterations in Ca(2+) (i) signals have been associated with the pathogenesis of CF airway disease. Hence, assessment of Ca(2+) (i) signaling has become an important area of CF research. This chapter will focus on measurements of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) signals resulting from GPCR activation in polarized primary cultures of normal and CF human bronchial epithelia (HBE).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bronchi / cytology
  • Bronchi / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism*
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / analysis
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / pathology
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Calcium