Extracellular calcium is not an absolute requirement for tumoricidal activation of RAW-264 macrophage-like cell line.

The purpose of these studies was to establish whether extracellular calcium (Cao2+) plays a role in the process of activation of RAW-264 macrophages for tumor cell killing. We found that these cells were capable of developing a significant level of cytolytic activity under treatment with lymphokine (LK) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in the absence of Cao2+ and that responses developed in Ca2+-free media were only 6-18% lower in comparison with the responses developed in the presence of Cao2+. The determination of 45calcium uptake in RAW-264 cells treated with LK and LPS showed that the rate of 45calcium uptake has displayed no increase during either the course of activation or in activated, highly cytolytic cells. Finally, three calcium channel blockers examined here: verapamil, diltiazem and flunarizine, with concentrations ranging from 1 X 10(-7) M - 2.5 X 10(-5) M, showed no inhibitory effect on the process of activation. Nifedipine, another calcium channel blocker, inhibited the development of cytolytic activity with concentrations ranging from 1 X 10(-6) M - 2.5 X 10(-5) M. It could be argued, however, that this inhibition was nonspecific, since this agent was 13 times more potent with regard to the calcium ionophore A23187-induced release of beta-glucuronidase, the function which is entirely dependent on Cao2+. Taken together, these results suggest that Cao2+ is not an absolute requirement for the process of tumoricidal activation of RAW-264 macrophages but it may play some supportive role in this process.