Premium
Key role for the multimodal CaSR in pulmonary neuroepithelial body microenvironment physiology
Author(s) -
Lembrechts Robrecht,
Brouns Inge,
Schnorbusch Kathy,
Pintelon Isabel,
Kemp Paul J,
Timmermans JeanPierre,
Riccardi Daniella,
Adriaensen Dirk
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1137.5
Subject(s) - extracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , receptor , biology , population , calcium sensing receptor , immunostaining , cell physiology , cell , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , immunology , biochemistry , immunohistochemistry , calcium metabolism , calcium , environmental health
The neuroepithelial body (NEB) microenvironment consists of densely innervated groups of neuroendocrine cells, representing complex sensory receptors in the airways, and a stem cell population. The extracellular Ca 2+ ‐sensing receptor (CaSR) is a master regulator of extracellular free ionized Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] o ), and a multimodal sensor able to integrate inputs from a variety of physiological stimuli. Immunostaining and (q)RT‐PCR recently revealed a selective CaSR expression on the plasmamembrane of NEB cells in postnatal mouse lungs. We further aimed at exploring potential roles for the CaSR in pulmonary NEB physiology. Ca 2+ imaging of mouse lung slices demonstrated a CaSR‐mediated rise in intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) following an increase of [Ca 2+ ] o or application of established CaSR agonists. The CaSR was shown to be involved in regulating baseline [Ca 2+ ] i in NEBs, and in mediating intercellular communication in the NEB microenvironment. By integrating multiple physio(patho)logical signals and coordinating intra‐ and extracellular Ca 2+ signaling, the CaSR appears to serve key roles for the NEB microenvironment as a complex chemosensory receptor and airway stem cell niche.