Factors influencing calcium influx in endotoxin-challenged fibroblasts.

The role of cell density and pH on calcium influx was studied in normal and endotoxin-challenged cultured 3T6 fibroblasts. In normal fibroblasts, at low cell densities, there was no marked difference in calcium influx at pH 6.6, 7.4, and 7.8, whereas at high cell densities, the calcium influx was markedly higher at pH 6.6 as compared to that at pH 7.8. Endotoxin treatment for 4 hr at low cell density and in alkaline pH (7.4-7.8) increased calcium influx in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, at high cell density and low pH (6.6), endotoxin treatment markedly decreased calcium influx in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These endotoxin-induced changes in calcium influx were not fully compensated by altered calcium efflux because total calcium content of the cells was found to be altered. The efficacy of the endotoxin varied depending on the bacterial source of the endotoxin and the method of purification. There was a relationship between the effect of different endotoxins on the increase in calcium influx and the inhibition of cell proliferation. Endotoxin did not decrease, but slightly increased cell proliferation when added to high cell density cultures even at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml.