Maintenance of bradykinin-induced intracellular calcium response of MDCK cells depends on extracellular calcium.

Bradykinin (BK) induces intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) release in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. During long-term continuous BK exposure, cells become desensitized and fail to respond to a new BK stimulus. We used a protocol of repeated short-term BK addition and removal. MDCK cells were loaded with the Ca-indicator indo-1 and were exposed to BK (100 nmol/L) for 10 seconds, followed by BK removal. This cycle was repeated four to eight times while [Ca2+]i was continuously recorded. In a Ca-free bath, the cells gradually became completely desensitized to repeated BK stimuli. In the presence of 1 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L Cae, however, repeated addition of BK caused repeated [Ca2+]i transients with partial decrease of peak heights (327 and 436 nmol/L delta[Ca2+]i final) (partial desensitization). Repeated BK stimuli also led to partial desensitization (70% to 85%) to adenosine triphosphatase and carbachol (heterologous desensitization). BK also reduced peak thapsigargin response (70%), consistent with partial depletion of endoplasmic reticulum Ca pools. Our results show that MDCK cells maintain their sensitivity to BK during repeated short-term BK exposures. Available Ca3 plays a major role in modulating the degree of cellular responsiveness.