Abstract
Calcium plays a crucial role in the normal and abnormal cell metabolism. The role of calcium in the differentiation process of murine erythroleukemia cells(MELC) remains controversial. Here, based upon quantitative measurement of fluorescence in single cells, a method was developed to investigate the intracellular free calcium [Ca2+]i concentration and DNA contents simultaneously, by employing the fluorescent probe, fluo-3 acetoxymethyl ester and DNA dye Hoechst 33342. During MELC differentiation, [Ca2+]i concentration incresed. We also demonstrated that calcium ionophore, A23187, enhanced the HMBA-induced MELC differentiation, while verapamil, an inhibitor of calcuim uptake, slightly reduced differentiation. These results suggested that an increase in the [Ca 2+]i level was an essential step in HMBA-induced MELC differentiation.
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This work was supported by the National Sciences Foundation of China No.938800200 and Doctor Foundation of State Education Committee.
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Zhu, D., He, N. & Xue, S. Role of calcium in differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells. Cell Res 3, 157–164 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/cr.1993.17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cr.1993.17
