Abstract
Osteoclasts are polarized cells with a basolateral and an apical membrane exposed to different extracellular Ca2- ([Ca2+](o)) and H+ (pH(e)) concentrations. Osteoclast bone resorption is inhibited in vitro by increases of [Ca2+](o) slightly above physiological levels, detected by a [Ca2+](o) sensing causing elevations of the intracellular signal, [Ca2+](i). Nevertheless, during bone resorption the apical membrane is exposed to [Ca2+](o) severalfold higher than physiological without apparent inhibition of osteoclast functions. Because pH(e) facing the apical membrane is acidic, in this single cell [Ca2+](i) and intracellular pH study we addressed the question of whether the responses of human osteoclast-like cells from a giant cell tumor of bone to elevated [Ca2+](o) are altered by reducing pH(e). We first observed that low pH(e) stimulated Ca2+ efflux and cell acidification. We then demonstrated that the amplitude of the [Ca2-](o)- dependent [Ca2+](i) 'spikes' is downregulated by low pH(e), with ~70-fold higher [Ca2+](o) required to induce significant responses at pH(e) 6.0 compared with pH(e) 7.4. Similar downregulation was observed in authentic freshly isolated rat osteoclasts. Finally, we observed that occupancy of the [Ca2+](o) sensing by Ca2+ prompted rapid and transient cell acidification partially counteracted by a Na+-dependent amiloride derivative-sensitive H+ transport. These results demonstrate that the cascade of events triggered by activation of the [Ca2+](o) sensing is affected by environmental pH and in turn influences cellular H+ transport. Such pH related features of the [Ca2+](o)-sensing mechanism might be relevant for the regulation of osteoclast-like cell function.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | C961-C968 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology |
Volume | 267 |
Issue number | 4 37-4 |
State | Published - Jan 1 1994 |
Keywords
- bone resorption
- calcium homeostasis
- sodium/hydrogen exchanger