Distinct roles in signal transduction for each of the phospholipase A2 enzymes present in P388D1 macrophages

Phospholipase A2 metabolites regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase in myocytes

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL) stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, protein, and nitric oxide (NO) production in neonatal ventricular myocytes (NVM). In other types of cells, IL also activates phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which liberates arachidonic acid for the pathways involved in eicosanoid production, and induces the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isoform, which increases prostanoid production. Since NO has been shown to directly stimulate COX activity and the resulting prostanoids to modulate IL induction of iNOS, we questioned whether PLA2 and/or COX products are involved in IL regulation of iNOS and NO production in NVM. We first found that IL induced COX-2 mRNA and protein, resulting in approximately 200-fold and 15-fold increases in PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2), respectively. IL-stimulated prostanoid production was inhibited by the COX-2-specific inhibitor NS-398, as well as the nonspecific COX inhibitor indomethacin (INDO). We next studied the involvement of the PLA2 inhibitor ONO-RS-082 (ONO) and the COX inhibitor INDO in IL regulation of iNOS. Pretreatment with ONO blocked IL-stimulated NO production and iNOS protein, suggesting that PLA2 products are involved in regulation of iNOS synthesis. Unlike ONO, the COX inhibitor INDO had little effect on IL-stimulated NO. In addition to the COX pathway, arachidonic acid (AA) is also metabolized by the lipoxygenase (LO) pathway. The LO inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) decreased IL-stimulated NO and iNOS synthesis. These data suggest that: (1) IL upregulates COX-2 expression and prostanoid production in NVM; and (2) AA metabolites other than COX products, possibly products of the LO pathway, are involved in IL regulation of iNOS.

Regulation of leukotriene and platelet-activating factor synthesis in human alveolar macrophages

It has been suggested that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) contributes to the regulation of leukotriene (LT) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) synthesis by controlling the release of their precursors, arachidonic acid (AA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), from membrane phospholipids. In rat alveolar macrophages (AMs), PLA2 appears to have a major role in LT synthesis but a more limited role in PAF synthesis. The present study was designed to define the role of PLA2 in LT and PAF synthesis in human AMs and determine whether differences exist between AMs obtained from normal subjects and those from patients with asthma. In the normal subjects, the calcium ionophore A23187 (Cal) increased AM PAF synthesis (percent incorporation of tritiated acetate) by 135% (p < 0.01) and LTB4 synthesis 88-fold (p < 0.001). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) had little effect alone, but it had a synergistic effect with Cal, increasing PAF synthesis by 466% and LTB4 synthesis to 229-fold above the control values (p < 0.001 for both). Ro 25-4331, a combined cytosolic (c) and secretory (s) PLA2 inhibitor, had little effect on the Cal-stimulated PAF synthesis, but it completely blocked the effect of PMA. It also blocked the Cal- and Cal+PMA-stimulated LTB4 synthesis. AACOCF3, a cPLA2 inhibitor, had no effect on either Cal or Cal+PMA-stimulated PAF synthesis. It reduced LTB4 synthesis, but it did so less effectively than Ro 25-4331. CoA-independent transacylase (CoAI-TA) activity in the AMs increased after stimulation and exposure to Ro 25-4331. SK&F 45905, a CoAI-TA inhibitor, reduced stimulated PAF synthesis by 30% to 40%. Patients with asthma had similar results except that cPLA2 had a greater role in stimulated LTB4 synthesis. These data indicate that PLA2 plays a direct role in human AM LT synthesis; both the cytosolic and secretory forms contribute to LT synthesis; PLA2 appears to have a more limited role in PAF synthesis, although it mediates the synergistic effect of PMA, probably via sPLA2; and CoAI-TA contributes to PAF synthesis during PLA2 inhibition. With the exception of the greater role for cPLA2 in stimulated LTB4 synthesis in the patients with asthma, the contributions of PLA2 and CoAI-TA to AM LT and PAF synthesis appear to be similar in normal subjects and patients with asthma.

Antisense inhibition of group VI Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 blocks phospholipid fatty acid remodeling in murine P388D1 macrophages

A major issue in lipid signaling relates to the role of particular phospholipase A2 isoforms in mediating receptor-triggered responses. This has been difficult to study because of the lack of isoform-specific inhibitors. Based on the use of the Group VI Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) inhibitor bromoenol lactone (BEL), we previously suggested a role for the iPLA2 in mediating phospholipid fatty acid turnover (Balsinde, J., Bianco, I. D., Ackermann, E. J., Conde-Frieboes, K., and Dennis, E. A. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92: 8527-8531). We have now further evaluated the role of the iPLA2 in phospholipid remodeling by using antisense RNA technology. We show herein that inhibition of iPLA2 expression by a specific antisense oligonucleotide decreases both the steady-state levels of lysophosphatidylcholine and the capacity of the cell to incorporate arachidonic acid into membrane phospholipids. These effects correlate with a decrease in both iPLA2 activity and protein in the antisense-treated cells. Collectively these data provide further evidence that the iPLA2 plays a major role in regulating phospholipid fatty acyl turnover in P388D1 macrophages. In stark contrast, experiments with activated cells confirmed that the iPLA2 does not play a significant role in receptor-coupled arachidonate mobilization in these cells, as manifested by the lack of an effect of the iPLA2 antisense oligonucleotide on PAF-stimulated arachidonate release.

Regiospecificity and catalytic triad of lysophospholipase I

A 25-kDa murine lysophospholipase (LysoPLA I) has been cloned and expressed, and Ser-119 has been shown to be essential for the enzyme activity (Wang, A., Deems, R. A., and Dennis, E. A. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 12723-12729). In the present study, we show that LysoPLA I represents a new member of the serine hydrolase family with Ser-119, Asp-174, and His-208 composing the catalytic triad. The Asp-174 and His-208 are conserved among several esterases and are demonstrated herein to be essential for LysoPLA I activity as the mutation of either residue to Ala abolished LysoPLA I activity, whereas the global conformation of the mutants remained unchanged. Furthermore, the predicted secondary structure of LysoPLA I resembles that of the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold, with Ser-119, Asp-174, and His-208 occupying the conserved topological location of the catalytic triad in the alpha/beta-hydrolases. Structural modeling of LysoPLA I also indicates that the above three residues orient in such a manner that they would comprise a charge-relay network necessary for catalysis. In addition, the regiospecificity of LysoPLA I was studied using 31P NMR, and the result shows that LysoPLA I has similar LysoPLA1 and LysoPLA2 activity. This finding suggests that LysoPLA I may play an important role in removing lysophospholipids produced by both phospholipase A1 and A2 in vivo.

Inflammatory activation of arachidonic acid signaling in murine P388D1 macrophages via sphingomyelin synthesis

Ceramide has emerged as an important lipid messenger for many cellular processes triggered via surface receptors. In the present study, inflammatory activation of P388D1 macrophages with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) stimulated a transient accumulation of ceramide. Moreover, cell-permeable ceramide mimicked LPS/PAF in triggering arachidonate mobilization in these cells. LPS/PAF-induced ceramide synthesis did not result from sphingomyelinase activation but from increased de novo synthesis. Participation of this pathway in arachidonate signaling was detected since fumonisin B1, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis, was able to inhibit the LPS/PAF-induced response. These studies have uncovered a new role for sphingolipid metabolism in cellular signaling and constitute evidence that products of the sphingomyelin biosynthetic pathway may serve a specific role in signal transduction by influencing the activity of the novel Group V secretory phospholipase A2.

Prostaglandin E2 amplifies cytosolic phospholipase A2- and cyclooxygenase-2-dependent delayed prostaglandin E2 generation in mouse osteoblastic cells. Enhancement by secretory phospholipase A2

We used the MC3T3-E1 cell line, which originates from C57BL/6J mouse that is genetically type IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2)-deficient, to reveal the type IIA sPLA2-independent route of the prostanglandin (PG) biosynthetic pathway. Kinetic and pharmacological studies showed that delayed PGE2 generation by this cell line in response to interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) was dependent upon cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Expression of these two enzymes was reduced by cPLA2 or COX-2 inhibitors and restored by adding exogenous arachidonic acid or PGE2, indicating that PGE2 produced by these cells acted as an autocrine amplifier of delayed PGE2 generation through enhanced cPLA2 and COX-2 expression. Exogenous addition or enforced expression of type IIA sPLA2 significantly increased IL-1beta/TNFalpha-initiated PGE2 generation, which was accompanied by increased expression of both cPLA2 and COX-2 and suppressed by inhibitors of these enzymes. Thus, our results revealed a particular cross-talk between the two PLA2 enzymes and COX-2 for delayed PGE2 biosynthesis by a type IIA sPLA2-deficient cell line. cPLA2 is responsible for initiating COX-2-dependent delayed PGE2 generation, and sPLA2, if introduced, enhances PGE2 generation by increasing cPLA2 and COX-2 expression via endogenous PGE2.

Electrogenic H+ pathway contributes to stimulus-induced changes of internal pH and membrane potential in intact neutrophils: role of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2

The potential role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the regulation of the electrogenic arachidonic acid (AA)-activatable H+ translocator of neutrophils was investigated. (1) The trifluoromethyl ketone analogue of arachidonate (AACOCF3), a newly developed selective blocker of cPLA2, inhibited both the N-formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP)- and the phorbol-ester-induced rheogenic H+ efflux (K0.5 approximately 5 microM) and abrogated the stimulus-triggered release of AA from these cells. The drug failed to reduce the fMLP-evoked Ca2+ signal or protein tyrosine phosphorylation and did not affect the activity of protein kinase C. By using the patch-clamp technique we verified that the agent did not interfere with the voltage- and the pH-dependent activation of the H+ conductance of the peritoneal macrophages and therefore is not a direct blocker of the H+ channel itself. AACOCF3, however, slightly decreased the AA-induced stimulation of the H+ currents. We conclude that AA, liberated by the agonist-induced stimulation of cPLA2, is a direct activator of H+ conductance. (2) AACOCF3 did not inhibit superoxide generation, indicating that activation of cPLA2 may not be a prerequisite for turning on NADPH oxidase. (3) Since neither acid generation by the oxidase, nor the basal or stimulated Na+/H+ exchange (the predominant acid-eliminating mechanism) were influenced by the drug, we could use AACOCF3 to address whether the H+ channel in fact opens and plays any physiological role during activation of neutrophils. Stimulus-induced cytosolic alkalinization was smaller, whereas depolarization became larger, in the presence of AACOCF3. Stimulated H+ conductance therefore does contribute to intracellular pH (pHi) homoeostasis and membrane potential changes of intact neutrophils.

P11, a unique member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, interacts with and inhibits the activity of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2

Using a two hybrid system screen of a human cDNA library, we have found that p11, a unique member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, interacts with the carboxyl region of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). p11 synthesized in a cell-free system interacts with cPLA2 in vitro. The p11-cPLA2 complex is detectable from a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS 2B). Furthermore, p11 inhibits cPLA2 activity in vitro. Selective inhibition of p11 expression in the BEAS 2B cells by antisense RNA results in an increased PLA2 activity as well as an increased release of prelabeled arachidonic acid. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism for the regulation of cPLA2 by an S100 protein.

Cloning, expression, and catalytic mechanism of murine lysophospholipase I

A lysophospholipase (LysoPLA I) has been purified and characterized from the mouse macrophage-like P388D1 cell line (Zhang, Y. Y, and Dennis, E. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9965-9972). This enzyme has now been sequenced, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The enzyme contains 230 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 24.7 kDa. It has a high helical content in its predicated secondary structure, which is also indicated in its CD spectrum. The cloned LysoPLA I was purified to homogeneity from the transformed E. coli cells by a gel filtration column and an ion exchange column. The specific activity of the purified protein is 1. 47 micromol/min.mg toward 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine at pH 8.0 and 40 degrees C, corresponding to the reported value of 1.3-1.7 micromol/min.mg for the protein purified from the P388D1 cells. In addition, the cloned protein cross-reacted with an antibody raised against LysoPLA I also purified from the P388D1 cells. The deduced LysoPLA I sequence contains a well conserved GXSXG motif found in the active site of many serine enzymes, and the activity of the LysoPLA I was irreversibly inhibited by the classical serine protease inhibitor diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis was employed to change Ser-119 in the GXSXG motif to an Ala. The resulting mutant protein lost all of its lysophospholipase activity, even though it had the same overall protein conformation as that of the wild-type LysoPLA I. Therefore, LysoPLA I has been demonstrated to be a serine enzyme with Ser-119 at the active site.

Inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A2 by annexin V in differentiated permeabilized HL-60 cells. Evidence of crucial importance of domain I type II Ca2+-binding site in the mechanism of inhibition

Annexin V belongs to a family of proteins that interact with phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner. This protein has been demonstrated to have anti-phospholipase A2 activity. However, this effect has never yet been reported with the 85-kDa cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2). We studied, in a model of differentiated and streptolysin O-permeabilized HL-60 cells, the effect of annexin V on cPLA2 activity after stimulation by calcium, GTPgammaS (guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)), formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Both recombinant and human placental purified annexin V inhibit cPLA2 activity whatever the stimulus used. The decrease of arachidonic acid release is of 40 and 50%, respectively, at [Ca2+] of 3 and 10 microM. The mechanism of inhibition was also analyzed. cPLA2 requires calcium and protein kinase C (PKC) or mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation for its activation. As annexin V was shown to be an endogenous inhibitor of PKC, PKC-stimulated cPLA2 activity was analyzed. Using GF109203x, a specific PKC inhibitor, we demonstrated that this pathway is of minor importance in our model. cPLA2 inhibition by annexin V is not linked to PKC inhibition. To test the hypothesis of phospholipid depletion, mutants of annexin V were constructed using mutagenesis directed to Ca2+ site. We demonstrate that the Ca2+ site located in domain I is necessary for the inhibitory effect of annexin V on cPLA2 activity. The site in domain IV is also involved but with less efficiency. In contrast, mutations in site II and III do not modify this effect. Moreover, annexin V mutated on all sites does not inhibit cPLA2. Thus, we propose a predominant role of module (I/IV) in the biological action of annexin V, which, in physiological conditions, may control cPLA2 activity by depletion of the phospholipid substrate.

Protein-facilitated export of arachidonic acid from pig neutrophils

Activated neutrophils release a variety of eicosanoids into the extracellular medium including arachidonic acid, 5-hydroxyicosatetraenoic acid, and leukotriene A4 and B4. In this study, the mechanism of arachidonic acid export has been examined using inside-out plasma membrane vesicles from pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Tritiated arachidonic acid associated rapidly with the membrane vesicles and crossed the membrane into the intravesicular space in a time-dependent and saturable manner. Half the maximal influx rate was measured at an arachidonate concentration of 5.7 microM, and a maximal influx velocity of 3.0 nmol/mg x min was determined at pH 6.8. Influx into vesicles was sensitive to a number of common anion transport inhibitors including pentachlorophenol, phloretin, diiodosalicylic acid, and quercetin as well as to the proteases trypsin and Pronase, suggesting a protein-dependent process. Furthermore, influx was temperature-sensitive with an energy of activation of 11.6 kcal/mol. Varying extravesicular concentration of ATP, Na+, or K+ had no impact on arachidonate influx, whereas changes in pH had a profound effect; optimum transport activity was observed at an extravesicular pH of 6, whereas raising the pH to 9.5 essentially abolished uptake. These results indicate and initially characterize a novel protein-facilitated arachidonate export mechanism in pig neutrophils.

Identity between the Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 enzymes from P388D1 macrophages and Chinese hamster ovary cells

A novel Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) has recently been purified and characterized from P388D1 macrophages (Ackermann, E. J., Kempner, E. S., and Dennis, E. A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 9227-9233). This enzyme appears to play a key role in regulating basal phospholipid remodeling reactions. Also an iPLA2 from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been purified, molecularly cloned, and expressed (Tang, J., Kriz, R., Wolfman, N., Shaffer, M., Seehra, J., and Jones, S. S. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 8567-8575). We report herein that the cloned CHO iPLA2 is equivalent to the mouse enzyme purified from P388D1 cells. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA fragments from P388D1 cells using primers based on the CHO iPLA2 sequence, revealed a high degree of homology between the mouse and hamster enzymes at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels (92 and 95%, respectively). Identity between the two proteins was further demonstrated by using immunochemical, pharmacological, and biochemical approaches. Thus, an antiserum generated against the CHO enzyme recognized the P388D1 cell enzyme and gave similar molecular masses (about 83 kDa) for the two enzymes under the same experimental conditions. Further, the CHO enzyme has exactly the same sensitivity to inhibition by a variety of compounds previously shown to inhibit the P388D1 enzyme, including bromoenol lactone, palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone, and methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate. Additionally, covalent modification of the CHO enzyme by [3H]bromoenol lactone is dependent on active enzyme as is the P388D1 iPLA2. Finally, both enzymes have the same specific activities under identical experimental conditions.

A novel cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 contains eight ankyrin motifs

We report the purification, molecular cloning, and expression of a novel cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2) from Chinese hamster ovary cells, which lacks extended homology to other phospholipases. iPLA2 is an 85-kDa protein that exists as a multimeric complex of 270-350 kDa with a specific activity of 1 micromol/min/mg. The full-length cDNA clone encodes a 752-amino acid cytoplasmic protein with one lipase motif (GXS465XG) and eight ankyrin repeats. Expression of the cDNA in mammalian cells generates an active 85-kDa protein. Mutagenesis studies show that Ser465 and the ankyrin repeats are required for activity. We demonstrate that iPLA2 selectively hydrolyzes the sn-2 over sn-1 fatty acid by 5-fold for 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine in a mixed micelle. Moreover, we found the fatty acid preference at the sn-2 position to be highly dependent upon substrate presentation. However, iPLA2 does have a marked preference for 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidic acid presented in a vesicle, generating the lipid second messenger lysophosphatidic acid. Finally the enzyme is able to hydrolyze the acetyl moiety at the sn-2 position of platelet-activating factor.

Phospholipase A2 in human placental serum

Intervillous blood was collected from term placentae at delivery, and sera were tested for phospholipase A2 under various experimental conditions. Enzyme activity was found to develop upon extended storage in the cold or at 37 degrees C. The enzyme is reversibly inhibited by dithiothreitol, requires Ca++ ions for activity, and tolerates various detergents. The apparent molecular weight is 42 kDa. In all these parameters the serum enzyme behaves similar to the 42 kDa phospholipase A2 which we recently purified to homogeneity from thoroughly washed placental tissue. Serum phospholipase A2 appears to be generated by proteolytic processing from a slightly larger inactive precursor which was detected immunochemically. Most likely this protein originates from fetal cells and may be released by membrane damage. We conclude that both placental serum and tissue harbour a novel type of phospholipase A2 which is distinct from cytosolic and secretory phospholipases A2. Preference for arachidonate containing substrate suggests a role in eicosanoid production within gestational tissues.

Prostaglandin synthase-1 and prostaglandin synthase-2 are coupled to distinct phospholipases for the generation of prostaglandin D2 in activated mast cells

Aggregation of IgE cell surface receptors on MMC-34 cells, a murine mast cell line, induces the synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Synthesis and secretion of PGD2 in activated MMC-34 cells occurs in two stages, an early phase that is complete within 30 min after activation and a late phase that reaches a maximum about 6 h after activation. The early and late phases of PGD2 generation are mediated by prostaglandin synthase 1 (PGS1) and prostaglandin synthase 2 (PGS2), respectively. Arachidonic acid, the substrate for both PGS1 and PGS2, is released from membrane phospholipids by the activation of phospholipases. We now demonstrate that in activated mast cells (i) secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2) mediates the release of arachidonic acid for early, PGS1-dependent synthesis of PGD2; (ii) secretory PLA2 does not play a role in the late, PGS2-dependent synthesis of PGD2; (iii) cytoplasmic PLA2 mediates the release of arachidonic acid for late, PGS2-dependent synthesis of PGD2; and (iv) a cytoplasmic PLA2-dependent step precedes secretory PLA2 activation and is necessary for optimal PGD2 production by the secretory PLA2/PGS1-dependent early pathway.

Novel inhibitors of brain, neuronal, and basophilic anandamide amidohydrolase

Mammalian brain as well as mouse neuroblastoma (N18TG2) and rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL) cells were previously shown to contain "anandamide amidohydrolase', a membrane-bound enzyme sensitive to serine and cysteine protease inhibitors and catalyzing the hydrolysis of the endogenous cannabimimetic metabolite, anandamide (arachidonoyl-ethanolamide). With the aim of developing novel inhibitors of this enzyme, we synthesized three arachidonic acid (AA) analogues, i.e. arachidonoyl-diazo-methyl-ketone (ADMK), ara-chidonoyl-chloro-methyl-ketone (ACMK) and O-acetyl-arachidonoyl-hydroxamate (AcAHA), by adding to the fatty acid moiety three functional groups previously used to synthesize irreversible inhibitors of serine and cysteine proteases. The three compounds were purified and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and electron impact mass spectrometry. Their effect was tested on anandamide amidohydrolase partially purified from N18TG2 and RBL-1 cells and porcine brain. Pre-treatment of the enzyme with each compound produced a significant inhibition, with ADMK being the most potent (IC50 = 3, 2 and 6 microM) and AcAHA the weakest (IC50 = 34, 15 and 25 microM) inhibitors. The inactivated enzyme regained its full activity when chromatographed by anion-exchange chromatography, suggesting that none of the compounds inhibited the amidohydrolase in a covalent manner. Accordingly, Lineweaver-Burk profiles showed competitive inhibition by each compound. Conversely, the irreversible inhibitor of cytosolic phospholipase As, methyl-arachidonoyl-fluoro-phosphonate (MAFP), covalently inhibited the amidohydrolase. MAFP was active at concentrations 10(3) times lower than those reported for phospholipase A2 inhibition, and is the most potent anandamide amidohydrolase inhibitor so far described (IC50 = 1-3 nM). MAFP, ADMK and ACMK, probably by inhibiting anandamide degradation, produced an apparent increase of the in vitro formation of anandamide from its biosynthetic precursor N-arachidonoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine.

Differential regulation of phospholipase D and phospholipase A2 by protein kinase C in P388D1 macrophages

Activation of P388D1 macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) resulted in the translocation of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms alpha, delta, and epsilon from the cytosol to membranes. Furthermore, PMA activated phospholipase D (PLD) in these cells, and potentiated the effect of the inflammatory lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) on PLD activation. PAF also activated phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and enhanced arachidonic acid (AA) release in P388D1 macrophages, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased the responsiveness of these cells to PAF. In contrast with PLD, PLA2 activation in P388D1 macrophages was found to take place independently of PKC. This was supported by the following evidence: (i) PMA neither induced AA release nor enhanced the PAF response; (ii) inclusion of PMA along with LPS during priming did not have any effect on PAF-stimulated AA release; (iii) down-regulation of PMA-activatable PKC isoforms by chronic treatment with the phorbol ester had no effect on the PAF response; and (iv) the PKC inhibitor staurosporine did not alter the PAF-induced AA release. The present study provides an example of cells in which the direct activation of PKC by phorbol esters does not lead to a primed and/or enhanced AA release. As a unique example in which PKC activation is neither necessary nor sufficient for AA release to occur, this now allows study of the separate and distinct roles for PLD and PLA2 in signal-transduction processes. This has hitherto been difficult to achieve because of the lack of specific inhibitors of these two phospholipases.

Macrophage arachidonate release via both the cytosolic Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent phospholipases is necessary for cell spreading

We have observed that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation and arachidonate (AA) release are essential for monocyte/macrophage adherence and spreading. In this study, we addressed the relationship between AA release and cell adherence/spreading in murine resident peritoneal macrophages, and the roles of specific PLA2S in these processes. The PLA2-specific inhibitors, (E)-6-(bromomethylene)tetrahydro-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-pyran-2-one (BEL, specific for the Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 (iPLA2)) and methyl arachidonoyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP, specific for the Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase (cPLA2)) inhibited AA release and cell spreading in a correlated fashion but only modestly decreased cell adherence. Cell spreading was normalized by the addition of AA to PLA2-inhibited cells. AA release during spreading was also inhibited by Ca2+ depletion or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition, and was accompanied by increased (but transient) phosphorylation of cPLA2-Inhibition of macrophage spreading, however, only partially inhibited AA release. Moreover, constitutive AA release was seen in fully spread macrophages which was inhibited by BEL, but not MAFP or Ca2+ depletion. BEL also reversed the phenotype of fully spread cells. These data suggest that macrophage spreading requires the release of AA by the iPLA2 (which appears to be constitutively active) and cPLA2 (which appears to be stimulated by adherence/spreading). Maintenance of macrophage spreading, in contrast, appears to be principally dependent on the iPLA2.

Depletion of human monocyte 85-kDa phospholipase A2 does not alter leukotriene formation

Human monocytes possess several acylhydrolase activities and are capable of producing both prostanoids (PG) and leukotriene (LT) products upon acute stimulation with calcium ionophore, A23187 or phagocytosis of zymosan particles. The cytosolic 85-kDa phospholipase (PLA) A2 co-exists with the 14-kDa PLA2 in the human monocyte, but their respective roles in LT production are not well understood. Reduction in 85-kDa PLA2 cellular protein levels by initiation site-directed antisense (SK 7111) or exposure to the 85-kDa PLA2 inhibitor, arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3), prevented A23187 or zymosan-stimulated monocyte prostanoid formation. In contrast, neither treatment altered stimulated LTC4 production. This confirmed the important role of the 85-kDa PLA2 in prostanoid formation but suggests that it has less of a role in LT biosynthesis. Alternatively, treatment of monocytes with the selective, active site-directed 14-kDa PLA2 inhibitor, SB 203347, prior to stimulation had no effect on prostanoid formation at concentrations that totally inhibited LT formation. Addition of 20 microM exogenous arachidonic acid to monocytes exposed to SK 7111 or SB 203347 did not alter A23187-induced PGE2 or LTC4 generation, respectively, indicating that these agents had no effect on downstream arachidonic acid-metabolizing enzymes in this setting. Taken together, these results provide evidence that the 85-kDa PLA2 may play a more significant role in the formation of PG than LT. Further, utilization of SB 203347 provides intriguing data to form the hypothesis that a non-85-kDa PLA2 sn-2 acyl hydrolase, possibly the 14-kDa PLA2, may provide substrate for LT formation.

Synergy by secretory phospholipase A2 and glutamate on inducing cell death and sustained arachidonic acid metabolic changes in primary cortical neuronal cultures

Secretory and cytosolic phospholipases A2 (sPLA2 and cPLA2) may contribute to the release of arachidonic acid and other bioactive lipids, which are modulators of synaptic function. In primary cortical neuron cultures, neurotoxic cell death and [3H]arachidonate metabolism was studied after adding glutamate and sPLA2 from bee venom. sPLA2, at concentrations eliciting low neurotoxicity (</=100 ng/ml), induced a decrease of [3H]arachidonate-phospholipids and preferential reesterification of the fatty acid into triacylglycerols. Free [3H]arachidonic acid accumulated at higher enzyme concentrations, below those exerting highest toxicity. Synergy in neurotoxicity and [3H]arachidonate release was observed when low, nontoxic (10 ng/ml, 0.71 nM), or mildly toxic (25 ng/ml, 1. 78 nM) concentrations of sPLA2 were added together with glutamate (80 microM). A similar synergy was observed with the sPLA2 OS2, from Taipan snake venom. The NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 blocked glutamate effects and partially inhibited sPLA2 OS2 but not sPLA2 from bee venom-induced arachidonic acid release. Thus, the synergy with glutamate and very low concentrations of exogenously added sPLA2 suggests a potential role for this enzyme in the modulation of glutamatergic synaptic function and of excitotoxicity.

Cross-linking of the high-affinity IgE receptor induces the expression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 and attendant prostaglandin generation requiring interleukin 10 and interleukin 1 beta in mouse cultured mast cells

When mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) developed in interleukin (IL)-3 were activated with IgE and antigen (IgE/antigen) in the presence of both IL-10 and IL-1 beta, two sequential phases of prostaglandin (PG)D2 generation were elicited, in which the first phase occurred by 1 h and the second phase from 2 to 10 h. The delayed phase of PGD2 generation was accompanied by a marked induction of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA, which reached a peak at 1-2 h, followed by that of its protein from 2-10 h, with a peak at 5 h. The immediate phase of PGD2 generation was completely abrogated by the irreversible inhibition of pre-existing COX-1 by aspirin pretreatment, whereas the delayed phase of PGD2 generation was almost undetectable in the presence of the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398. A detailed analysis of the individual effects of IgE/antigen, IL-10 and IL-1 beta on COX-2 expression revealed that IgE/antigen and IL-10 each initiated and stabilized COX-2 mRNA expression, leading to an increase in the expression of its protein. Conversely, IL-1 beta stabilized the COX-2 protein without affecting its mRNA level. The induction of COX-2 by IgE/antigen with IL-10 and IL-1 beta preceded the induction of transcripts for endogenous cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1 beta and IL-10. The inhibition of PGD2 generation by indomethacin did not affect the induction of COX-2 or these cytokines. Thus the two major delayed-phase responses of BMMC after IgE-dependent activation, namely COX-2-dependent PGD2 generation and cytokine production, are regulated independently.

Novel group V phospholipase A2 involved in arachidonic acid mobilization in murine P388D1 macrophages

Four related genes encode four different secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes in mammals, namely the well described Group I and IIA enzymes and the more recently described Groups IIC and V. A large body of research has putatively demonstrated that the Group IIA sPLA2 is involved in diverse pathologic processes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, septic shock, intestinal neoplasia, and epidermal hyperplasia, as well as in cellular signaling by regulating the formation of arachidonate-derived lipid messengers. However, we demonstrate herein the involvement of another sPLA2, i.e. the Group V sPLA2, in arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin production in the mouse macrophage-like cell line P388D1. Abundant message for Group V sPLA2 was detected in both resting and activated cells. In contrast, Group IIA sPLA2 message was undetectable as analyzed by Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, blockage of Group V sPLA2 gene expression by antisense RNA oligonucleotides resulted in inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production as well as reduction of the amount of sPLA2 protein at the cellular surface. Collectively, these results uncover Group V sPLA2 as a novel effector involved in arachidonic acid-mediated signal transduction.

Bromoenol lactone inhibits magnesium-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and blocks triacylglycerol biosynthesis in mouse P388D1 macrophages

Bromoenol lactone (BEL) has previously been identified as a potent, irreversible, mechanism-based phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor that possesses greater than 1000-fold selectivity for inhibition of Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) versus the Ca2+-dependent ones. Thus, this compound has been used as a selective tool for studies aimed at elucidating the role of iPLA2 in certain cellular functions. Herein we report that BEL also inhibits cellular phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity in intact P388D1 macrophages with an IC50 of about 8 microM, which is very similar to that previously found for inhibition of iPLA2 under the same experimental conditions. This results in the blockage of the incorporation of exogenous arachidonate and palmitate into diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol. Thus, inhibition of PAP by BEL blocks triacylglycerol biosynthesis in P388D1 cells due to decreased diacylglycerol availability. Because two forms of PAP activity exist in mammalian cells, differential assays were performed to identify which of these forms was inhibited by BEL. The results of these experiments revealed that BEL selectively inhibits the cytosolic, Mg2+-dependent enzyme. No apparent effect of BEL on the membrane-bound Mg2+-independent PAP form could be detected. Collectively, the results reported herein establish that BEL inhibits two cellular phospholipases, namely iPLA2 and Mg2+-dependent PAP, with similar potency. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of BEL on Mg2+-dependent PAP might explain several cellular functions previously attributed to iPLA2.

Type II secretory phospholipase A2 associated with cell surfaces via C-terminal heparin-binding lysine residues augments stimulus-initiated delayed prostaglandin generation

Type II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) has been shown to be induced by a variety of proinflammatory stimuli and, therefore, has been implicated in the inflammatory process. In order to determine whether association of sPLA2 with cell surfaces via heparan sulfate proteoglycan is important for its effects on cellular functions, we have identified the critical domain in sPLA2 for heparin and cell surface binding and examined its role in cellular prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis. Replacement of several conserved Lys residues in the C-terminal region of mouse and rat sPLA2s by Glu resulted in a marked reduction of their capacities to bind to heparin and mammalian cell surfaces without affecting their enzymatic activities toward dispersed phospholipid as a substrate. CHO cells stably transfected with wild-type sPLA2 released about twice as much arachidonic acid (AA) during culture for 10 h with fetal calf serum and interleukin-1beta than cells transfected with vector alone, whereas the ability to enhance AA release was impaired in sPLA2 mutants incapable of binding to cell surfaces. AA released by wild-type sPLA2-transfected CHO cells was metabolized to prostaglandin E2 via prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS)-2 after IL-1beta stimulation, revealing a particular functional linkage of sPLA2 to PGHS-2. In contrast, A23187-initiated immediate AA release over 30 min was not affected by sPLA2 overexpression. Taken together, these results suggest that sPLA2 expressed endogenously and anchored on cell surfaces via its C-terminal heparin-binding domain is involved in the PGHS-2-dependent delayed PG biosynthesis initiated by growth factors and cytokines during long term culture.