[Ca(2+)](i) oscillation frequency regulates agonist-stimulated NF-kappaB transcriptional activity.

In nonexcitable cells, stimulation by high agonist concentrations typically produces a biphasic increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)). This response is characterized by a transient initial increase because of intracellular Ca(2+) release followed by a sustained elevation which varies in amplitude depending on the nature of the stimulus. In contrast, low-level stimulation often evokes oscillatory changes in [Ca(2+)](i). The specific information provided by repetitive [Ca(2+)](i) spikes appears to be encoded in the frequency rather than in the amplitude of [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations. The specific, membrane-permeable inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P(3)) receptor blocker Xestospongin C (XeC, 2-20 microM) was used to affect [Ca(2+)](i) signaling in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) during an established response to low-level (1 microM) histamine stimulation. XeC produced a dose-dependent decrease in the frequency of [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations during histamine stimulation without affecting oscillation amplitude. Histamine stimulated a 14-fold increase in NF-kappaB-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene activity that was dose-dependently decreased by XeC. Thus, during low-level agonist stimulation, [Ca(2+)](i) oscillation frequency regulates nuclear transcription in HAEC.