Nitric oxide donors increase cytosolic ionized calcium in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells

We used fluorescence spectrophotometry, digital-imaging fluorescence microscopy, and the fluorescent dye, Fura-2, to measure the effects of several different nitric oxide (NO.) donors on intracellular levels of ionized calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cultured Caco-2BBe cells, a human enterocytic cell line. Incubation of Caco-2BBe cells with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or isosorbide dinitrate for 2 h significantly increased [Ca2+]i. The effects of both agents were concentration dependent. The lowest concentrations of SNP or isosorbide dinitrate capable of increasing [Ca2+]i were .625 mM and 10 mM, respectively. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ with 2 mM EGTA abrogated the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by SNP. In contrast, blockade of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels with 2 mM NiCl2 or 200 microM verapamil failed to affect SNP-induced alterations in [Ca2+]i. Using NBD-phallicidin to stain polymerized (F)-actin, we found that incubation of Caco-2BBe cells with SNP results in actin polymerization, particularly in the periphery of cells. We conclude that NO. increases [Ca2+]i and promotes actin polymerization in a cultured enterocytic cell line.