Phospholipase D activation is functionally linked to superoxide generation in the human neutrophil

The protein kinase C inhibitor, K252a, inhibits superoxide production in human neutrophils activated by both PIP2-dependent and -independent mechanisms

We report that the putative protein kinase C inhibitor, K252a, at concentrations of 0.2 and 1 microM, inhibited the respiratory burst induced by fluoride and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine respectively, both in human neutrophils primed with a subthreshold dose of phorbol myristate acetate and in non-primed neutrophils. In addition, K252a effectively inhibited ConA-zymosan-mediated superoxide generation in Ca2(+)-depleted neutrophils, with virtually maximal inhibition seen at 1 microM. These results suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the putative phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate-independent signal transduction mechanism of the respiratory burst as well as the pathway dependent on phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate hydrolysis.

Demethoxyviridin and wortmannin block phospholipase C and D activation in the human neutrophil

1. The fungal metabolite, wortmannin, has recently been shown to inhibit fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated superoxide production and phospholipase D (PLD) activation in the human neutrophil. 2. We have found that a close structural analogue of wortmannin, demethoxyviridin, has a similar inhibitory profile but in addition blocks phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C and hence inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) formation. 3. Inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated PLD by demethoxyviridin was characteristically non-competitive (IC50 = 31 +/- 10 nM). 4. Inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulation IP3 formation required concentrations almost 10 times higher (IC50 = 250 +/- 130 nM). 5. Surprisingly, demethoxyviridin only inhibited fMet-Leu-Phe-induced intracellular calcium mobilization at concentrations 100 times greater than those needed to block IP3 formation. 6. Demethoxyviridin also inhibited PLD activation induced by sodium fluoride or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) but the concentrations required were 100 times those needed to block fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated PLD. 7. These observations support the contention that PLD plays an important role in signal transduction in the human neutrophil and indicate that wortmannin and demethoxyviridin inhibit PLD activation at a common step in the signalling pathway. 8. Furthermore, these results suggest that demethoxyviridin may block the interaction between the chemotactic peptide receptor and a GTP-binding protein that is intimately involved in PLD activation.

Oxygen radicals: common mediators of neurotoxicity

The inherent biochemical, anatomical and physiological characteristics of the brain make it especially vulnerable to insult. Specifically, some of these characteristics such as myelin and a high energy requirement provide for the introduction of free radical-induced insult. Recently, the biochemistry of free radicals has received considerable attention. It also has become increasingly apparent that many drug and chemical-induced toxicities may be evoked via free radicals and oxidative stress. Major points addressed in this work are the regulation of neural free radical generation by antioxidants and protective enzymes, xenobiotic-induced disruption of cerebral redox status, and specific examples of neurotoxic agent-induced alterations in free radical production as measured by the fluorescent probe dichlorofluorescein. This article considers the thesis that free radical mechanisms may contribute significantly to the properties of several diverse neurotoxic agents and proposes that excess production of free radicals may be common phenomena of neurotoxicity.

Hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D is a common response to mitogens which stimulate inositol lipid hydrolysis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

The stimulated hydrolysis of inositol lipids and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) by bombesin, [Arg8]vasopressin ([Arg8]Vp) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) was analysed in Swiss 3T3 cells pre-labelled to isotopic equilibrium with either [methyl-3H]choline, myo-[2-3H]inositol or [9,10 (n)-3H]palmitic acid. All three agonists activated the phospholipase D-catalysed hydrolysis of PtdCho as determined by the release of [3H]choline (Cho) and the formation of [3H]phosphatidylbutanol (PtdBut). The release of [3H]choline by each agonist exhibited similar sensitivity to prolonged pre-exposure to the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The release of [3H]choline exhibited the same dose dependency as the production of total inositol phosphates for each mitogen suggesting that the two responses might be mediated through identical receptors. Acute pre-treatment with TPA allowed the dissociation of inositol lipid hydrolysis from PtdCho breakdown, since it inhibited inositol phosphate accumulation but stimulated choline generation. The loss of mitogen stimulated choline release in cells pre-treated with the phorbol ester for 48 h was not due to loss of stimulated inositol phosphate production which was reproducibly enhanced in these 'down-regulated' cells.

Divergent effects of propranolol on neutrophil superoxide release: involvement of phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol as second messengers

Relatively high levels of propranolol (170 microM) markedly attenuated the generation of 1,2 diacylglycerol in neutrophils stimulated with either FMLP plus cytochalasin B or with 20.0 mM NaF. This effect resulted from inhibition of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase as it was accompanied by a corresponding increase in the recovery of phosphatidic acid in organic extracts of stimulated cells. Although propranolol enhanced phosphatidic acid levels in neutrophils treated with FMLP alone, the drug had only a slight inhibitory influence on diglyceride generation in these cells. The effect of propranolol on enhancement of PA levels in neutrophils treated with FMLP alone strongly correlated with enhancement of FMLP-induced O2- generation. However, propranolol induced a similar dose-dependent inhibition of O2- generation in neutrophils stimulated with either FMLP + cytochalasin B or with 20.0 mM NaF. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that both phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol are required for optimal initiation of neutrophil O2- release.

Epidermal growth factor-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase D and phospholipase C in human dermal fibroblasts

The enzymatic pathways for formation of 1,2-diradylglyceride in response to epidermal growth factor in human dermal fibroblasts have been investigated. 1,2-Diradylglyceride mass was elevated 2-fold within one minute of addition of EGF. Maximal accumulation (4-fold) occurred at 5 minutes. Since both diacyl and ether-linked diglyceride species occur naturally and may accumulate following agonist activation, we developed a novel method to determine separately the alterations in diacyl and ether-linked diglycerides following stimulation of fibroblasts with EGF. Utilizing this method, it was found that approximately 80% of the total cellular 1,2-diradylglyceride was diacyl, the remaining 20% being ether-linked. Addition of EGF caused accumulation of 1,2-diacylglyceride without alteration in the level of ether-linked diglyceride. Thus, the observed induction of 1,2-diradylglyceride by EGF was due exclusively to increased formation of 1,2-diacylglyceride. In cells labelled with [3H]choline, the water soluble phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis products, phosphorylcholine and choline, were increased 2-fold within 5 minutes of addition of EGF. No hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidylinositol was observed. Quantitation by radiolabel and mass revealed equivalent elevations in phosphorylcholine and choline, suggesting stimulation of both phospholipase C and phospholipase D activities. To identify the presence of EGF-induced phospholipase D activity, cells were labelled with exogenous [3H]1-0-hexadecyl, 2-acyl phosphatidylcholine and its conversion to phosphatidic acid in response to EGF determined. Radiolabelled phosphatidic acid was detectable in 15 seconds after addition of EGF and was maximal (3-fold) at 30 seconds. Consistent with the presence of EGF-induced phospholipase D activity, treatment of cells with EGF, in the presence of [14C]ethanol, resulted in the rapid formation of [14C]phosphatidylethanol, the product of phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation. The formation of phosphatidylethanol, which competes for the formation of phosphatidic acid by phospholipase D, did not diminish the induction of 1,2-diglyceride by EGF. These data suggest that the phosphatidic acid formed by phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine is not a major precursor of the observed increased 1,2-diglyceride. Thus, the induction of 1,2-diacylglycerol by EGF may occur primarily via phospholipase C-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine.

Phospholipase D in cell signalling and its relationship to phospholipase C

Phospholipases C and D are phosphodiesterases which act on phospholipid head groups. Although the presence of these enzymes in living organisms has long been known, it is only recently that their role in cell signal transduction has been appreciated. The new developments on phospholipases D (PLD) are especially noteworthy, since these enzymes catalyze a novel pathway for second messenger generation. In a variety of mammalian cell systems, several biological or chemical agents have recently been shown to stimulate PLD activity. Depending on the system, activation of PLD has been suggested to be either dependent on, or independent of, Ca2+ and protein kinase C. PLD primarily hydrolyses phosphatidylcholine (PC) but phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine have also been reported as substrates. Different forms of endogenous PLD may also exist in cells. Exogenous addition of PLD causes alterations in cellular functions. In many instances, Ca2+ mobilizing agonists may stimulate both PLC and PLD pathways. Interestingly, several metabolites of these two enzymes are second messengers and are common to both pathways (e.g. phosphatidic acid, diglyceride). This has raised the issue of the interrelationship between these pathways. The regulation of either PLC or PLD by cellular components, e.g. guanine nucleotide binding proteins or protein kinases, is under intense investigation. These recent advances are providing novel information on the significance of phospholipase C and D mediated phospholipid turnover in cellular signalling. This review highlights some of these new discoveries and emerging issues, as well as challenges for future research on phospholipases.

Priming of calcium mobilization in human neutrophils by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: evidence for an involvement of phospholipase D-derived phosphatidic acid

Human neutrophils pre-incubated with granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) exhibit an enhanced mobilization of calcium in response to secondary stimuli such as chemotactic factors. The mechanisms underlying this priming effect of GM-CSF were examined. It was first demonstrated that the additional calcium mobilized by chemotactic factors in GM-CSF-treated cells was derived from intracellular stores and was associated neither with an increased permeability to calcium nor with production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. These results indicated that GM-CSF called upon a novel mechanism in order to enhance the mobilization of calcium in human neutrophils. The growth factor has recently been shown to prime phospholipase D leading to an enhanced activation by chemotactic factors and an augmented production of phosphatidic acid. Furthermore the ability of exogenous phosphatidic acid to mobilize calcium in cell types other than neutrophils has been previously demonstrated. Therefore, we examined the potential involvement of phospholipase D in the priming of the calcium response by GM-CSF in human neutrophils. Inhibition of the production of the fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated production of phosphatidic acid by ethanol or wortmannin had only marginal effects on the concurrent mobilization of calcium. However, the priming of the mobilization of calcium by GM-CSF was greatly decreased in cells treated with either ethanol or wortmannin. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the production of phosphatidic acid, which is enhanced in GM-CSF-treated cells, is linked to an increased mobilization of intracellular calcium. These results may have relevance to the mechanism of action of GM-CSF in mature haematopoeitic cells as well to the mitogenic activity of other growth factors.

Studies of cellular mechanisms for the generation of superoxide by guinea-pig eosinophils and its dissociation from granule peroxidase release

Guniea-pig peritoneal eosinophils generated superoxide anions in response to opsonized zymosan, platelet activating factor, sodium fluoride, digitonin, phorbol ester and calcium ionophore, but were refractory to fMLP. These agonists did not stimulate release of eosinophil peroxidase. The phospholipase inhibitor, mepacrine, and the protein kinase inhibitor, trifluoperazine, were effective inhibitors of superoxide production. Activators of protein kinase C, such as exogenously added phorbol ester and endogenously derived diacylglycerol, stimulate superoxide production, which is therefore proposed to be via pathways dependent on phospholipase and protein kinase activity.

Fluoride activates diradylglycerol and superoxide generation in human neutrophils via PLD/PA phosphohydrolase-dependent and -independent pathways

In contrast to the rapid, ethanol-inhibited superoxide generation by the receptor-linked agonist formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), fluoride-activated superoxide generation occurs after a prolonged lag, and as shown herein is relatively ethanol-insensitive. We have investigated fluoride-activation of diradylglycerol generation and phospholipase D activity. Fluoride induces a very large increase in diradylglycerol mass (both 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) and 1-O-alkyl,2-acylglycerol (EAG)), with kinetics similar to superoxide generation. Unlike fMLP-activated diglyceride generation which is completely inhibited by ethanol, that produced by fluoride is only partially (30%) blocked. When the phosphatidylcholine pool is 3H-prelabeled, fluoride activates both [3H]phosphatidic acid (PA) and [3H]diglyceride generation with similar kinetics. Partial inhibition of the production of these species by ethanol was seen, coincident with the appearance of [3H]phosphatidylethanol, indicating phospholipase D-dependent transphosphatidylation had occurred. The data are consistent with the fluoride activation of PA and diglyceride generation by both phospholipase D-dependent and -independent (presumably phospholipase C) mechanisms.

The temporal relationship between phospholipase activation, diradylglycerol formation and superoxide production in the human neutrophil

Fluctuations in the amounts of choline, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diradylglycerol have been used to monitor phospholipase activation in the human neutrophil. Stimulation of human neutrophils by formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) resulted in a rapid activation of both phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown by phospholipase C and phosphatidylcholine breakdown by phospholipase D. Diradylglycerol accumulation occurred more slowly than that of either choline or IP3 and was inhibited by 30 mM-butanol, suggesting that the bulk was derived from the phospholipase D pathway via phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. Consistent with this is the observation that choline and diradylglycerol are produced in similar amounts. 1,2-Diacylglycerol (DAG) and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerol species accumulated with different time courses, indicating that one or more steps in the phospholipase D pathway was selective for the diacyl species. Superoxide production by fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated neutrophils paralleled DAG accumulation over the first 5 min, but thereafter this production stopped, despite the fact that DAG remained elevated. We conclude that DAG derived from the phospholipase D pathway is only one of the second messengers important in controlling this functional response.

A novel and sensitive assay for phospholipase D in intact cells

A novel and sensitive assay for phospholipase D (PLD) that measures the incorporation of high specific activity [3H]butan-1-ol into [3H]phosphatidylbutanol has been developed. The assay has been used to measure PLD activation in human neutrophils and platelets. Both the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe and opsonised-zymosan stimulated PLD in the human neutrophil. In the platelet, PLD was stimulated by thrombin and collagen but responses were small and only occurred at high agonist concentrations. This assay has a number of advantages over existing techniques and should be valuable for investigating PLD activation in a variety of isolated cells and possibly intact tissues.

Phosphatidic acid and not diacylglycerol generated by phospholipase D is functionally linked to the activation of the NADPH oxidase by FMLP in human neutrophils

It is widely accepted that the activation of the NADPH oxidase of phagocytes is linked to the stimulation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerol formed by hydrolysis of phospholipids. The main source would be choline containing phospholipid via phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. This paper presents a condition where the activation of the respiratory burst by FMLP correlates with the formation of phosphatidic acid, via phospholipase D, and not with that of diacylglycerol. In fact: 1) in neutrophils treated with propranolol, an inhibitor of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, FMLP plus cytochalasin B induces a respiratory burst associated with a stimulation of phospholipase D, formation of phosphatidic acid and complete inhibition of that of diacylglycerol. 2) The respiratory burst by FMLP plus cytochalasin B lasts a few minutes and may be restimulated by propranolol which induces an accumulation of phosphatidic acid. 3) In neutrophils stimulated by FMLP in the absence of cytochalasin B propranolol causes an accumulation of phosphatidic acid and a marked enhancement of the respiratory burst without formation of diacylglycerol. 4) The inhibition of the formation of phosphatidic acid via phospholipase D by butanol inhibits the respiratory burst by FMLP.