Fig. 6.
Effect of differential estrogen receptor (ER) signaling on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) reuptake. In zero calcium environment, the effect on the area under the curve (AUC) of the [Ca2+]i response due to proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (A) and IL-13 (B) in the presence of specific ER agonists were evaluated in nonasthmatic human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. The rate of fall of [Ca2+]i response representing [Ca2+]i reuptake by SR was measured in TNF-α- (C) or IL-13- (D) exposed ASM cells. SERCA2 protein expression analysis of ER agonists treated TNF-α or IL-13-exposed nonasthmatic human ASM cells (E and F). ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01 vs. vehicle; ##P < 0.01, ###P < 0.001 vs. cytokines. Data are presented as means ± SE; n = 5 or 6 patients.