Abstract
The endothelium plays a crucial role in the regulation of vascular function and cardiovascular homeostasis. Central to this role is an elevation in intracellular Ca2+ and the subsequent activation of Ca2+-dependent signalling pathways. The regulation of intracellular Ca2+ in endothelial cells is complex with numerous ways in which Ca2+ can be released from the endoplasmic reticulum or enter the cell through Ca2+ permeable channels in the cell membrane. Often more than one mode of Ca2+ flux can occur through the activation of a single signalling pathway or through the simultaneous activation of multiple signalling pathways. Further complexities and lack of understanding have arisen due to the differences in expression and contribution of the ion channels, transporters and receptors responsible for regulating Ca2+ flux depending on age, sex, species, vascular diameter and vascular bed. It is crucial that we gain better understanding the molecular mechanisms that underpin endothelial cell function in order to prevent or reduce the adverse consequences of endothelial dysfunction, which has been associated with a variety of diseases including peripheral artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis and stroke. This chapter will describe a method for measuring Ca2+ flux in endothelial cells using a multi-mode plate reader.
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Jones, S. (2015). Measurement of Intracellular Ca2+ in Human Endothelial Cells. In: Slevin, M., McDowell, G. (eds) Handbook of Vascular Biology Techniques. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9716-0_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9716-0_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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