Intercellular Ca 2+ response triggered by IP 3 among endothelial cells in shear stress flow

A phenomenon has been observed in which intracellular Ca2+ concentration in endothelial cells increases upon application of shear stress (Ca2+ response). It is therefore assumed that Ca2+ is the second messenger in the transfer of shear stress stimulation into cells. The Ca2+ response is also known to spread to surrounding cells (Ca2+ wave). We investigated the effects on Ca2+ wave among cultured bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) upon inhibiting the main intercellular signaling pathways, such as gap junction and paracrine pathways by inducing Ca2+ wave using D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, P4(5)-(1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl) ester trisodium salt (Caged IP3) due to an intracellular IP3 elevation. In addition, we investigated the Ca2+ wave among BAECs under shear stress loading. Using Caged IP3, local release of ATP from BAEC induced Ca2+ wave. The Ca2+ wave was inhibited by the inhibitors of paracrine pathways. Furthermore, the Ca2+ response spread in the direction of the downstream under shear flow. These results suggest that paracrine pathway is dominant in both of flow and no flow conditions.