Effect of serum withdrawal on the contribution of L‐type calcium channels (CaV1.2) to intracellular Ca 2 + responses and chemotaxis in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) chemotaxis is fundamental to atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia. An increase in intracellular Ca 2+ [Ca 2+ ] i is an important signal in chemotaxis, but the role of L‐type calcium channels (CaV1.2) in this response in human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMC) has not been examined. hVSMC were grown from explant cultures of saphenous vein. Confluent hVSMC at passage 3 were studied after culture in medium containing 15% foetal calf serum (FCS) (randomly cycling) or following serum deprivation for up to 7 days. Smooth muscle α ‐actin was measured by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. [Ca 2+ ] i was measured using fura 2 fluorimetry. Chemotaxis was measured using a modified Boyden chamber technique and cell attachment to gelatin‐coated plates was also quantified. The number and affinity of dihydropyridine‐binding sites was assessed using [5‐methyl‐ 3 H]PN 200‐110 binding. In randomly cycling cells, the calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644a and 100 m M KCl did not affect [Ca 2+ ] i . In addition, the rise in [Ca 2+ ] i induced by platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF) was unaffected by the CaV1.2 antagonists, amlodipine and verapamil. In randomly cycling cells amlodipine did not affect PDGF‐induced migration. In serum‐deprived cells, smooth muscle α ‐actin was increased and Bay K 8644a and 100 m M KCl increased [Ca 2+ ] i . PDGF‐induced rises in [Ca 2+ ] i were also inhibited by amlodipine and verapamil. The ability of Bay K 8644a to increase [Ca 2+ ] i and verapamil to inhibit PDGF‐induced rises in [Ca 2+ ] i was evident within 3 days after serum withdrawal. In serum‐deprived hVSMC Bay K 8644a induced chemotaxis and amlodipine inhibited PDGF‐induced migration. Cell attachment in the presence of PDGF was unaffected by amlodipine in either randomly cycling or serum‐deprived hVSMC. Serum withdrawal was associated with a decrease in the maximum number of dihydropyridine‐binding sites ( B max ) and a decrease in affinity ( K D ). Serum deprivation of hVSMC results in increased expression of smooth muscle α ‐actin, a marker of more differentiated status, and increased [Ca 2+ ] i responses and chemotaxis mediated by CaV1.2. These observations may have important implications for understanding the therapeutic benefits of calcium channel antagonists in cardiovascular disease. British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 145 , 811–817. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706237