Effect of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ on enzyme release from quiescent fibroblasts during various exposures.

Release of enzymes from human fibroblasts, as a result of either ATP depletion caused by metabolic inhibitors or a direct cell membrane damage, was increased in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The lack of extracellular Mg2+ resulted only in a small nonsignificant increase of enzyme release during ATP depletion. However, in a Ca2+-free medium the enzyme release was very much enhanced during ATP depletion if Mg2+ was absent concomitantly. The data show that extracellular calcium protects the cells from cell damage, and that the presence of extracellular magnesium in a calcium-free medium protects the cell against energy-dependent cell damage.