[Quantitative analysis on platelets cytosolic free calcium concentration and ulcerous tissue calcium in patients with...

To study the relationship between the abnormal behavior of calcium (Ca2+) and the pathogenesis of recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) by measuring quantitatively the concentration of platelets' cytosolic free calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) and tissue calcium (Wca2+), the patients with RAU (n = 50) and the healthy volunteers (n = 30) were chosen randomly. Then platelets [Ca2+]i was determined in calcium fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM loaded washed platelets by spectrofluorophotometer and tissue Wca2+ was measured quantitatively by OCPC autoanalyzer method. The results showed that the concentration levels of platelets [Ca2+]i in patients with RAU in attack stage and attack-free stage were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the concentration level of the ulcerous tissue Wca2+ was also obviously higher than that of the normal control group (P < 0.001). There was a significantly positive correlation between the platelets [Ca2+]i and the ulcerous tissue Wca2+ (P < 0.01). The results suggested that the influx disorder and overload of Ca2+ might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RAU.