CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RECEPTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THROMBIN-INDUCED INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM RESPONSES IN OSTEOBLAST-LIKE CELLS

Abstract

The receptor responsible for the increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) after the addition of thrombin to the human osteoblast-like cell line Saos-2 has been characterized. Thrombin caused a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i; a half-maximal stimulation was observed with 3.2 +/- 1.1 nM thrombin. The human platelet thrombin receptor is activated by thrombin cleavage to create a new NH2 terminus that acts as a tethered ligand, and peptides based on the tethered ligand can activate the receptor independently of thrombin. Northern analysis indicated the presence of mRNA encoding the platelet receptor in Saos-2 cells, and surface expression of the receptor was demonstrated by i..