Intracellular calcium responses in CF/T43 cells: calcium pools and influx pathways.

We studied the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) response to histamine in a cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cell line (CF/T43). Histamine (100 microM; duration approximately 10 min) biphasically increased [Ca2+]i, with a rapid initial peak (30-45 s) followed by a smaller second peak that lasted for several minutes before returning to baseline. Neither peak specifically depended on Ca2+ influx. Exposure to bradykinin (10 microM) elicited a single peak that lasted 3-3.5 min before returning to baseline. Bradykinin increased intracellular inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), which peaked and returned to baseline within 150 s. Histamine also increased IP3 monophasically, but the peak was brief (< 20 s). Both phases of the Ca2+ response to histamine exhibited similar responsiveness to histamine concentration and sensitivity to antagonists. Cimetidine or thioperamide (1 mM) had no effect on the second peak. Pyrilamine blocked the second peak at concentrations similar to those required to block the initial peak. Activation of the second peak was observed at a threshold concentration of 1 microM comparable with the threshold of the initial peak. Neither adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, nor cyclic ADP (cADP)-ribose altered the second phase of the histamine response.