Type IV collagen stimulates an increase in intracellular calcium. Potential role in tumor cell motility.

Type IV collagen (Coll IV), a component of the extracellular matrix, stimulates motility in the A2058 human melanoma cell line, a response that is inhibited by pertussis toxin (PT). Fibronectin (FN)-induced chemotaxis in this cell line is not affected by PT. To understand the mechanism of cellular signaling, single cell intracellular Ca2+ responses to Coll IV and FN were studied using Fura-2 and digital imaging fluorescence microscopy. Coll IV, at a dose that stimulates motility (100 micrograms/ml, 185 nM), induces a significant rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) within 100 s. This response is not inhibited by PT. Treatment of the cells with FN 30 micrograms/ml (70 nM), a dose that stimulates near-maximal chemotaxis, does not increase [Ca2+]i appreciably. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ fails to inhibit the Coll IV-stimulated rise in Ca2+ in all cells. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ and pretreatment of cells with Ca2+ channel blockers only partially inhibits Coll IV-induced motility. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ inhibits both chemotaxis and the Coll IV-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+. Coll IV does not stimulate membrane phosphoinositide hydrolysis. We conclude that Coll IV treatment induces an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-independent release of intracellular Ca2+ stores which appears to play a necessary role in the chemotactic response of A2058 cells but is not mediated by a PT-sensitive G-protein. This response is not seen in cells exposed to FN, suggesting different intracellular signaling mechanisms for stimulated motility between these two extracellular matrix molecules.