Alterations of the FMLP-induced Ca2+ efflux from human monocytes with aging

The Ca2+ with the calmodulin system plays a major role in the receptor-induced intracellular biochemical events. Thus, as in our previous studies, we found an altered postreceptorial coupling in the case of elderly, we were interested to elucidate the Ca2+ transport in the case of healthy young (less than 25 years) and aged (greater than 65 years) subjects. The chemotactic peptide FMLP was used for receptor stimulation. Our data show that both spontaneous and FMLP-triggered Ca2+ extrusion measured on monocyte monolayers is decreased with aging. The FMLP-triggered Ca2+ extrusion nevertheless did not occur through the TFP-sensitive pathway. These alterations of Ca2+ transport seem to indicate an impaired Ca2+-calmodulin function in monocytes with aging.