Mechanochemical mechanism underlying intercellular Ca²⁺ wave propagation and its crucial role in apoptotic cell extrusion.

ABSTRACT: Calcium (Ca²⁺) wave propagation plays a crucial role in intercellular communication. Elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ (Ca²⁺ transient) in a single cell is attributed to various Ca²⁺ channels present in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, whereas gap junctions contribute to propagation of Ca²⁺ waves between cells. However, we found that Ca²⁺ waves propagate without gap junctions during apoptotic cell extrusion (ACE). Mechanistically, we identified that a chain reaction of mechano-signal transduction from proximal to distal cells through the mechanosensitive Ca²⁺ channels (MCCs) mediates the Ca²⁺ wave propagation; an apoptotic cell shrinks accompanied by a Ca²⁺ transient, followed by pull

SUBMITTER: Yamada S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12623941 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature