ABSTRACT
Calcium signaling and Ca(2+)-conducting channels are involved in the development of immune response, cell proliferation, growth and differentiation of lymphocytes. In this paper the calcium channels TRPV5 and TRPV6 (transient receptor potential vanilloid channels) were studied in the plasma membrane of T cell line Jurkat and normal human blood lymphocytes. The channels were activated by removing Ca2+ and Mg2+ from surrounding solution, characterized by inward rectification, and were inactivated by the effective blocker of TRPV5 and TRPV6, ruthenium red. Channel activity was significantly higher in Jurkat cells, than in normal human lymphocytes. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed higher levels of mRNA genes encoding channels TRPV5 and TRPV6 in the proliferation cells compared with resting lymphocytes. In general these data showed that TRPV5/TRPV6 in human lymphocytes are functionally active, and their activity is associated with proliferative status of blood cells.