Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-1-22
pubmed:abstractText
The intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) LDL causes changes in vascular tone by increasing [Ca2+]i. Pericytes are regarded as the microvascular counterpart of VSMCs and implicated in the regulation of microvascular cell biology under normal and pathological conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, arteriosclerosis). For this reason pericytes and VSMCs were compared in their ability to increase [Ca2+]i after stimulation with LDL. Single VSMCs and pericytes were loaded with 2 microM of the Ca2+-sensitive dye Indo-1/AM. Fluorescence was recorded at 405 nm (Ca2+-bound) and 485 nm (Ca2+-free). Cells in suspension were loaded with 2 microM of the calcium ionophore FURA-2 AM (excitation wavelengths: 340 and 380 nm, emission 505 nm). Basal [Ca2+]i levels were significantly higher in single pericytes (165 +/- 38 nmol/L, n = 41) than in VSMCs (150 +/- 39 nmol/L, n = 40, P = 0.0038). In cell suspensions the following values were obtained: Pericytes (113 +/- 27 nmol/L, n = 36) and VSMCs (109 +/- 26 nmol/L, n = 28), which are statistically not significant. For all concentrations of LDL used (except at 1 microg/ml n-LDL), the increase above basal values was significant and both cell types showed a clear dose-dependent reaction pattern. This study shows for the first time that pericytes and VSMCs increase their [Ca2+]i in a similar way after LDL stimulation. In analogy to aortic smooth muscle cells, our results indicate that LDL mediated [Ca2+]i changes in pericytes in the microvascular bed may cause vasoconstriction leading to impairment of blood flow in the microvasculature.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0026-2862
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
55
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
241-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Can low density lipoprotein influence microvascular caliber?
pubmed:affiliation
University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't