Neurotensin elevates cytosolic calcium in small cell lung cancer cells.

The ability of neurotensin (NT) to elevate cytosolic Ca2+ in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells was investigated using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura 2-AM. Using SCLC cell line NCI-H345, NT elevated cytosolic Ca2+ levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Using a 10 nM dose, NT and C-terminal fragments such as NT(8-13) but not N-terminal fragments such as NT(1-8) elevated the cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Because EGTA (5 mM) did not affect the NT response, NT may cause release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. These data indicate that SCLC NT receptors may use Ca2+ as a second messenger.