A review on methods of phospholipase A determination

Development of a bis-pyrene phospholipid probe for fluorometric detection of phospholipase A2 inhibition

In this work, we report the design, synthesis, and application of a bis-pyrene phospholipid probe for detection of phospholipase A2 action through changes in pyrene monomer and excimer fluorescence intensities. Continuous fluorometric assays enabled detection of the activities of multiple PLA2 enzymes as well as the decrease in catalysis by PLA2 from honey bee venom caused by the inhibitor p-bromo phenacylbromide. Thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis were also used to validate probe hydrolysis by PLA2. Mass spectrometry data also supported cleavage of the probe by phospholipase C and D enzymes, although changes in fluorescence were not observed in these cases. Nevertheless, the bis-pyrene phospholipid probe developed in this work is effective for detection of PLA2 enzyme activity through an assay that enables screening for inhibitor development.

Metabolism and atherogenic disease association of lysophosphatidylcholine

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a major plasma lipid that has been recognized as an important cell signalling molecule produced under physiological conditions by the action of phospholipase A(2) on phosphatidylcholine. LPC transports glycerophospholipid components such as fatty acids, phosphatidylglycerol and choline between tissues. LPC is a ligand for specific G protein-coupled signalling receptors and activates several second messengers. LPC is also a major phospholipid component of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL) and is implicated as a critical factor in the atherogenic activity of Ox-LDL. Hence, LPC plays an important role in atherosclerosis and acute and chronic inflammation. In this review we focus in some detail on LPC function, biochemical pathways, sources and signal-transduction system. Moreover, we outline the detection of LPC by mass spectrometry which is currently the best method for accurate and simultaneous analysis of each individual LPC species and reveal the pathophysiological implication of LPC which makes it an interesting target for biomarker and drug development regarding atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders.

Sera of patients suffering from inflammatory diseases contain group IIA but not group V phospholipase A(2)

During recent years, the high phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) concentrations at sites of inflammation and in circulation in several life-threatening diseases, such as sepsis, multi-organ dysfunction and acute respiratory distress syndrome, has generally been ascribed to the non-pancreatic group IIA PLA(2). Recently the family of secreted low molecular mass PLA(2) enzymes has rapidly expanded. In some cases, a newly described enzyme appeared to be cross-reactive with antibodies against the group IIA enzyme. For this reason, reports describing the expression of group IIA PLA(2) during inflammatory conditions need to be reevaluated. Here we describe the identification of the PLA(2) activity in sera of acute chest syndrome patients and in sera of trauma victims. In both cases, the PLA(2) activity was identified as group IIA. This classification was based upon cross-reactivity with monoclonal antibodies against group IIA PLA(2) which do not recognize the recombinant human group V enzyme. Moreover, purification of the enzymatic activity from the two sera followed by N-terminal amino acid sequence analyses revealed only the presence of group IIA enzyme.

Phospholipase A2: its usefulness in laboratory diagnostics

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. This article reviews the source and structure of PLA2, the involvement of the enzyme in various biological and pathological phenomena, and the usefulness of PLA2 assays in laboratory diagnostics. Of particular importance is the role of PLA2 in the cellular production of mediators of inflammatory response to various stimuli. Assays for PLA2 activity and mass concentration are discussed, and the results of enzyme determinations in plasma from patients with different pathological conditions are presented. The determination of activity and mass concentration in plasma is particularly useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatitis, multiple organ failure, septic shock, and rheumatoid arthritis. A very important result is the demonstration that PLA2 is an acute phase protein, like CRP. Indeed, there is a close correlation between PLA2 mass concentration and CRP levels in several pathological conditions. Although the determination of C-reactive protein is much easier to perform and is routinely carried out in most clinical laboratories, the assessment of PLA2 activity or mass concentration has to be considered as a reliable approach to obtain a deeper understanding of some pathological conditions and may offer additional information concerning the prognosis of several disorders.

Lipid exchange between mixed micelles of phospholipid and triton X-100

If phospholipase catalyzed hydrolysis of phospholipid dissolved in a detergent mixed micelle is limited to the phospholipid carried by a single micelle, then hydrolysis ceases upon exhaustion of that pool. However, if the rate of phospholipid exchange between micelles exceeds the catalytic rate then all of the phospholipid is available for hydrolysis. To determine phospholipid availability we studied the exchange of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine between mixed micelles of phospholipid and non-ionic Triton detergents by both stopped-flow fluorescence-recovery and nuclear magnetic resonance-relaxation techniques. Stopped-flow analysis was performed by combining mixed micelles of Triton and phospholipid with mixed micelles that contained the fluorescent phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-(12-[{7-nitro-2-1, 3-benzoxadiazo-4-yl}amino]dodecanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (P-2-NBD-PC). The concentration dependence of fluorescence recovery suggested a second-order exchange mechanism that was saturable. The true second-order rate constant depends on the specific mechanism for exchange, which was not determined in this study, but the rate constant will be on the order of 106 to 107 M-1s-1. Incorporation of 1-palmitoyl-2-(16-doxylstearoyl)phosphatidylcholine into micelles increased the rate of proton relaxation and gave a limiting relaxation time of 1.3 ms. The results demonstrate that phospholipid exchange was rapid and that the phospholipid content of a single micelle did not limit the rate of phospholipid hydrolysis by phospholipases.

The use of cis-parinaric acid to measure lipid peroxidation in cardiomyocytes during ischemia and reperfusion

cis-Parinaric acid (PnAc), a fluorescent, polyunsaturated fatty acid, was used to measure lipid peroxidation during simulated ischemia and reperfusion in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. PnAc was used both as free fatty acid, inserted in the membranes following cultivation of the cells, as well as constituent of the cellular complex lipids by metabolically integrating the fatty acid during growth. In the insertion experiments a pre-incubation with DL-aminocarnitine, an inhibitor of beta-oxidation, was necessary to prevent loss of fluorescent signal. Such a pre-incubation resulted in an enrichment of PnAc in the sarcolemma: In pre-treated cells 57 +/- 1.3% of total inserted PnAc is present in the sarcolemma compared to 27 +/- 5.7% in cells containing the integrated probe. Both methods to introduce PnAc into the cells were compared with respect to their sensitivity for an externally applied oxidative stress and thereafter lipid peroxidation during simulated ischemia and reperfusion was assayed. Going from normoxic to ischemic conditions lipid peroxidation did not increase and remained at a low level. When the ischemic cells were subsequently subjected to reperfusion (reintroduction of both oxygen and glucose), large scale lipid peroxidation was obvious. When, on the other hand, oxygen alone was reintroduced (reoxygenation) no increased lipid peroxidation was observed. These observations led to the conclusion that ischemia does not lead to an enhanced lipid peroxidation and that resumption of metabolic activity during reperfusion is necessary to induce lipid peroxidation.

A phospholipase A2 kinetic and binding assay using phospholipid-coated hydrophobic beads

A novel kinetic and membrane-binding assay for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has been developed utilizing phospholipid-coated hydrophobic styrene-divinylbenzene beads (5.2 +/- 0.3 microm diameter). Phospholipids formed a stable monolayer film on styrene-divinylbenzene beads with average surface packing density of (1.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(-2) molecule/A2. Secretory PLA2 readily hydrolyzed 1-palmitoyl-2-[3H]-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol coated on styrene-divinylbenzene beads which could be easily monitored by measuring the radioactivity of fatty acid released to solution in the presence of bovine serum albumin. For human cytosolic PLA2 with high specificity for sn-2 arachidonyl group, styrene-divinylbenzene beads coated with 1-stearoyl-2-[14C]-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and dioleoylglycerol (7:3, mol/mol) were used as substrate. PLA2 activity was linearly proportional to the enzyme concentration in the range from 1 to 150 nM for human class II secretory PLA2 and from 1 to 20 nM for cytosolic PLA2; the specific activity was 1.6 and 1.7 micromol/min/mg, respectively. Finally, styrene-divinylbenzene beads coated with polymerized 1,2-bis[12-(lipoyloxy) dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol were used to measure the membrane binding affinity of PLA2, which in conjunction with kinetic data provides important insights into how PLA2 interacts with membranes.

Quantitation of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 (type IV) in isolated human peripheral blood eosinophils by sandwich-ELISA

Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) was developed for precise quantitation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2 type IV) concentration in isolated human peripheral blood eosinophils as an alternative to semiquantitative chemiluminescent assay employing immunoprecipitation/Western blot analysis. In this assay, monoclonal mouse anti-human cPLA2 antiserum was used as the capture antibody, polyclonal rabbit anti-human cPLA2 antiserum as the secondary antibody, and alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG as the tertiary, reporter antibody. Purified human cPLA2 (0-1000 ng/ml) dissolved in Tris-HCl buffered saline was used as the standard protein. The detection limit for cPLA2 in 10(6) eosinophils was 0.109 ng/ml, and coefficients of inter- and intra-assay variation were 4.23% and 7.07%, respectively. There was no cross-reactivity with other (secretory) isoforms of PLA2 (sPLA2 types I-III) either from porcine pancreas, human synovial fluid, or bee venom. In separate studies, the recovery of cPLA2 was > 83% when eosinophil lysate was supplemented exogenously with two different concentrations of cPLA2. From a total protein content of 22.3 +/- 1.7 micrograms/10(6) cells, the baseline concentration of cPLA2 was 0.38 +/- 0.18 ng/10(6) cells in eosinophils obtained from mildly atopic donors. Immunoblotting studies confirmed the complete specificity for the type IV isoform as detected by sELISA. This sELISA method permits the precise quantitative assessment of cPLA2 in nanogram quantities per million cells, which has not previously been possible by immunoblotting analysis.

Effects of dexamethasone and transforming growth factor-beta 2 on group II phospholipase A2 mRNA and activity levels in interleukin 1 beta- and forskolin-stimulated mesangial cells

The expression of 14 kDa group II phospholipase A2 [also referred to as secretory PLA2 (sPLA2)] is induced in rat glomerular mesangial cells by exposure to inflammatory cytokines and forskolin, a cAMP elevating agent. Previously we have shown that dexamethasone and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) suppress sPLA2 protein synthesis and enzyme activity induced by cytokines and forskolin. The regulation of sPLA2 by pro-inflammatory cytokines suggests that the enzyme may play a role in glomerular inflammatory reactions. In order to understand the regulation of sPLA, in more detail, we investigated whether dexamethasone and TGF-beta 2 also suppress sPLA, mRNA after its induction by either interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) or forskolin. We found that IL-1 beta-induced sPLA2 mRNA in rat mesangial cells is not down-regulated by pretreatment of the cells with dexamethasone, even at a concentration of 10 microM, which dramatically decreases sPLA2 protein levels and activity. Metabolic labelling experiments indicated that the decreased sPLA2 levels under these conditions can be explained by inhibition of the rate of sPLA2 synthesis from the elevated mRNA levels. In contrast, the forskolin-induced elevation of sPLA, mRNA is inhibited by dexamethasone in a concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, TGF-beta 2 inhibits the elevation of sPLA, mRNAs induced by either IL-1 beta or forskolin. The decrease in sPLA2 mRNA caused by TGF-beta 2 corresponds with the decrease in sPLA2 enzyme levels and activity. These data suggest that cytokine- and forskolin-induced sPLA2, expression is tightly controlled via both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Furthermore, we show that pretreatment of mesangial cells with epidermal growth factor prior to stimulation with IL-1 beta or forskolin had no suppressing effect on sPLA2 levels or enzyme activity, as has been reported previously for osteoblasts.

Therapy with interleukin-2 induces the systemic release of phospholipase-A2

Therapy with interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces remissions in some forms of cancer. This treatment however, is accompanied by side-effects which, in part, may be mediated by the formation of eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor. We investigated the systemic release of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the formation of these lipid mediators, in patients receiving IL-2. In a pilot study of 4 patients we observed an increase in PLA2 activity in serial plasma samples obtained during the first day after a bolus infusion of IL-2, which increase closely correlated with that of antigen levels of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (r = 0.92; P < 0.001). In 20 patients, receiving 12 x 10(6)-18 x 10(6) IU IL-2/m2, we then investigated the course of antigenic levels of sPLA2 in relation to those of the cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (both cytokines may induce sPLA2 in vivo). From 4 h on, sPLA2 levels significantly increased, reaching a peak 24 h after the IL-2 infusion. Subsequent IL-2 infusions even induced a further increase of sPLA2. This increase of sPLA2 was presumably not due to a direct effect of IL-2 on, for example, hepatocytes, since this cytokine, in contrast to IL-1, IL-6, TNF and interferon gamma, was not able to induce the synthesis of sPLA2 by Hep G2 cells in vitro. Consistent with this, plasma levels of TNF and IL-6 in the patients rose, reaching peak levels before a zenith of sPLA2 occurred, i.e. at 2 h and 4 h after the start of the IL-2 infusion respectively. sPLA2 levels significantly correlated with the development of the side-effects increase in body weight (r = 0.49; P < 0.0001) and decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.40; P < 0.0001). Moreover, maximum sPLA2 levels induced by IL-2 were higher in patients who had progressive disease after therapy than in patients who had stable disease or a partial response.

Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum lysophospholipase by anti-malarial drugs and sulphydryl reagents

The activity of lysophospholipase of human erythrocytes increased by about 3 orders of magnitude upon infection with Plasmodium falciparum. The apparent Km for hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine by this enzyme was 50 +/- 7 microM and the apparent Vmax 6.8 +/- 0.6 nmol/h x 10(6) cells. The activity was Ca2+ independent and had a broad pH maximum at pH 8. The enzyme was insensitive to such anti-malarials as mefloquine and arteether and was only weakly inhibited by chloroquine, with a 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 70 mM. The anti-malarials quinine and quinacrine were more efficient inhibitors, with IC50s of 2.6 mM and 0.7 mM, respectively. The sulphydryl agents p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (pHMB) and thimerosal were considerably more potent, inhibiting the plasmodial lysophospholipase with IC50s of 18 microM and 10 microM, respectively. When present at 10 microM prior to invasion, both pHMB and thimerosal arrested the growth and reinvasion capacity of P. falciparum in culture. In a synchronized P. falciparum culture the continuous presence of 5 microM thimerosal dramatically decreased total parasitaemia and, within 4 days, totally abolished the capacity of the surviving parasites to reinvade. Thus the plasmodial lysophospholipase may represent a potential new target for anti-malarial chemotherapy.

Molecular characterization of enterobacterial pldA genes encoding outer membrane phospholipase A

The pldA gene of Escherichia coli encodes an outer membrane phospholipase A. A strain carrying the most commonly used mutant pldA allele appeared to express a correctly assembled PldA protein in the outer membrane. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the only difference between the wild type and the mutant is the replacement of the serine residue in position 152 by phenylalanine. Since mutants that lack the pldA gene were normally viable under laboratory conditions and had no apparent phenotype except for the lack of outer membrane phospholipase activity, the exact role of the enzyme remains unknown. Nevertheless, the enzyme seems to be important for the bacteria, since Western blotting (immunoblotting) and enzyme assays showed that it is widely spread among species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. To characterize the PldA protein further, the pldA genes of Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus vulgaris were cloned and sequenced. The cloned genes were expressed in E. coli, and their gene products were enzymatically active. Comparison of the predicted PldA primary structures with that of E. coli PldA revealed a high degree of homology, with 79% of the amino acid residues being identical in all four proteins. Implications of the sequence comparison for the structure and the structure-function relationship of PldA protein are discussed.

Determination of the catalytic activity of phospholipase A2: E. coli-based assay compared to a photometric micelle assay

Phospholipase A2 activity in human sera was determined of the basis of the E. coli assay and compared to a photometric micelle assay. The E. coli assay is based on the hydrolysis of phospholipids from [1-14C]oleic acid-labelled E. coli biomembranes. In the photometric assay the phospholipase A2 acts on mixed phospholipid micelles. The amount of fatty acid produced is quantitated in a subsequent photometric assay by coupling in the reaction to the coenzyme A metabolism. The E. coli membranes are essentially resistant to other lipases in human sera, i.e. lipoprotein lipases, hepatic triacylglycerolipase or pancreatic lipase and thus a very specific substrate for the phospholipase A2 of human serum. The photometric assay, though, is susceptible to other lipases in human serum. The ratio of [1-14C]oleic acid to released total fatty acids served as the basis for the calculation of the true enzymatic activity. The assay closely correlated with the photometric assay based on mixed micelles in the higher ranges of phospholipase A2 activity, but not in the normal range. The sensitivity is higher by at least two powers of 10. The human serum phospholipase A2 strongly preferred E. coli membranes as substrate to the mixed micelles containing phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine. In conclusion, the modified phospholipase A2 assay based on E. coli membranes is a sensitive, specific, reliable, and convenient method for the measurement of phospholipase A2 activity in human sera. The photometric assay suffers from low sensitivity but has the advantage of practicability in a normal routine laboratory, including the amenability to automation.

Interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 enhance cytosolic high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity and induce prostaglandin E2 formation in rat mesangial cells

Interleukin-1 beta induces gene expression and secretion of group-II phospholipase A2 and release of prostaglandin E2 from rat mesangial cells. The interleukin-1 beta-induced synthesis of group-II phospholipase A2 is prevented by transforming growth factor-beta 2, whereas transforming growth factor-beta 2 potentiated the interleukin-1 beta-evoked prostaglandin E2 production. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 itself did not induce synthesis of group-II phospholipase A2, although it stimulated prostaglandin E2 formation. Here we describe the effect of interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 on a cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity and prostaglandin E2 formation in rat mesangial cells. Based on the resistance to dithiothreitol and migration profiles on a Mono-Q anion-exchange column and a Superose 12 gel-filtration column, the cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity was assigned to a high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2. Measured with 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoylglycero-phosphocholine as substrate, both interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 enhanced the high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity. The stimulation of rat mesangial cells with interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 was time- and dose-dependent with maximal cytosolic phospholipase A2 activities at 10 nM and at 10 ng/ml respectively, after 24 h of stimulation. Under these conditions, interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta 2 enhanced the cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity 2.2 +/- 0.6-fold and 2.5 +/- 0.6-fold, respectively. These results strongly suggest that an enhanced cytosolic high-molecular-mass phospholipase A2 activity is involved in the formation of prostaglandin E2 mediated by transforming growth factor-beta 2. Whether interleukin-1 beta induced group-II phospholipase A2 and/or interleukin-1 beta-enhanced cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity is involved in prostaglandin E2 formation in rat mesangial cells is discussed.

The use of C6-NBD-PC for assaying phospholipase A2-activity: scope and limitations

Determination of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is of special interest in view of the abundance of this enzyme in various organelles of all cells, and its role in many cell functions, especially in eicosanoid production. Assaying PLA2 activity is therefore of special importance to cell biology. However, it is a complicated and non-trivial task for several reasons including the critical dependence of PLA2 activity on the physical state of the lipid substrate, the complex kinetics of its action, the low activity of most intercellular and membrane-bound enzymes and the metabolism of the fatty acid products, when applied to intact cell. In recent years the fluorescent analogue of phosphatidylcholine, C6-NBD-PC, has been used for determination of the activity of soluble and membrane-bound PLA2. In the present study we evaluate the use of this method for continuous monitoring of PLA2 activity, based on time-dependent changes in the fluorescence intensity which results from the hydrolysis of C6-NBD-PC into NBD-caproic acid and lysolecithin. The fluorescence intensity of aggregated C6-NBD-PC is reduced due to self-quenching which is maximal in systems containing no additional lipids, when NBD-PC forms micelles. In these systems the hydrolysis increase the fluorescence intensity due to de-quenching, since the NBD caproic acid products dissolves in water in the form of monomers. In contrast, in the presence of additional lipids (mixed micelles, membrane vesicles, lipid emulsion particles or lipoproteins), the probe partitions into lipidic compartments where its fluorescence is only partially quenched (if at all) and its quantum yield is much higher. Consequently, the hydrolysis is accompanied by a decrease in fluorescence. The time course of this change is a complex function of the additional lipid concentration(s) and of physical processes which follow the hydrolysis. Due to this complexity, the assay of PLA2 activity by continuous monitoring of fluorescence is ambiguous. Furthermore, the rate of NBD-PC hydrolysis is very different from that of the 'host' lipid bilayer or monolayer and is less sensitive to the physical state of the lipids. Under various conditions it follows very different kinetics, depending on the ratio of NBD-PC to the host PC. Therefore, it can not be used as a general assay for PLA2 in lipid-containing systems.

Cytokine- and forskolin-induced synthesis of group II phospholipase A2 and prostaglandin E2 in rat mesangial cells is prevented by dexamethasone

We have previously described that treatment of rat glomerular mesangial cells with interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor or forskolin stimulates the synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin E2 and group II phospholipase A2. We now report that pretreatment of the mesangial cells with dexamethasone dose-dependently suppresses the cytokines- and forskolin-induced synthesis of prostaglandin E2 as well as the induced synthesis and secretion of group II phospholipase A2. These observations implicate that the inhibition of the cellular or secreted phospholipase A2 activity by dexamethasone in rat mesangial cells is not due to induced synthesis of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins but caused by direct inhibition of phospholipase A2 protein expression.

Interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor and forskolin stimulate the synthesis and secretion of group II phospholipase A2 in rat mesangial cells

Treatment of rat glomerular mesangial cells with interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor or forskolin resulted in the release of phospholipase A2 activity in the culture medium. Essentially all of this phospholipase A2 activity was bound to immobilized monoclonal antibodies raised against rat liver mitochondrial 14 kDa group II phospholipase A2. Gelfiltration confirmed the absence of higher molecular weight phospholipases A2 in the culture medium. Immunoblot experiments showed the virtual absence of this 14 kDa group II phospholipase A2 in unstimulated mesangial cells. The time-dependent increase of phospholipase A2 activity in both cells and culture medium upon stimulation with interleukin-1 beta plus forskolin is accompanied with elevated 14 kDa phospholipase A2 protein levels. These results indicate that the increased phospholipase A2 activity upon treatment of mesangial cells with these stimulators is due to increased synthesis of group II phospholipase A2. Over 85% of this newly synthesized phospholipase A2 appears to be secreted from the cells.

Assay strategies and methods for phospholipases

Of the general considerations discussed, the two issues which are most important in choosing an assay are (1) what sensitivity is required to assay a particular enzyme and (2) whether the assay must be continuous. One can narrow the options further by considering substrate availability, enzyme specificity, assay convenience, or the presence of incompatible side reactions. In addition, the specific preference of a particular phospholipase for polar head group, micellar versus vesicular substrates, and anionic versus nonionic detergents may further restrict the options. Of the many assays described in this chapter, several have limited applicability or serious drawbacks and are not commonly employed. The most commonly used phospholipase assays are the radioactive TLC assay and the pH-stat assay. The TLC assay is probably the most accurate, sensitive assay available. These aspects often outweigh the disadvantages of being discontinuous, tedious, and expensive. The radioactive E. coli assay has become popular recently as an alternative to the TLC assay for the purification of the mammalian nonpancreatic phospholipases. The assay is less time consuming and less expensive than the TLC assay, but it is not appropriate when careful kinetics are required. Where less sensitivity is needed, or when a continuous assay is necessary, the pH-stat assay is often employed. With purified enzymes, when free thiol groups are not present, a spectrophotometric thiol assay can be used. This assay is approximately as sensitive as the pH-stat assay but is more convenient and more reproducible, although the substrate is not available commercially. Despite the many assay choices available, the search continues for a convenient, generally applicable assay that is both sensitive and continuous. The spectrophotometric SIBLINKS assay and some of the fluorescent assays show promise of filling this need.

Phospholipases in biology and medicine

Phospholipases, a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids, are classified according to the bond cleaved in a phospholipid into PLA1 (EC 3.1.1.3), PLA2 (EC 3.1.1.4), PLB (EC 3.1.1.5), PLC (EC 3.1.4.3), and PLD (EC 3.1.4.4). This paper reviews source and structure of PLA2 and the involvement of PLA2 and PLC in several biological phenomena, such as, signal transduction, photoreception, biosynthesis of lung surfactant, sperm motility, and fertilization. New assays for PLA2 activity and concentration in biological fluids are discussed. Phospholipases are involved in many inflammatory reactions by making arachidonate available for eicosanoid biosynthesis. The determination of PLA2 activity and mass concentration in plasma is useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatitis and of septic shock. Naturally occurring phospholipase inhibitors, such as lipocortins act as second messengers in the anti-inflammatory response to steroids. Lipocortins may be valuable therapeutic agents, because they are more specific in their anti-inflammatory action than glucocorticoids; therefore, they are less likely to produce harmful side effects.

Phospholipase A2 activity and concentration in several body fluids in patients with acute pancreatitis

According to recent studies, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) may be an important factor in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. Increased serum PLA2 activities and concentrations have been measured in patients with acute pancreatitis. Serum PLA2 activities have been shown to correlate with the severity and prognosis of the disease. To study the different methods of PLA2 determination, we measured the PLA2 activity by means of an isotopic assay method and the concentration by a radioimmunologic method in several body fluids of 52 consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis. PLA2 activity and concentration were detected in all of the patient body fluids. The serum PLA2 activities were 2.5-fold higher (mean +/- SD, 7.6 +/- 6.0) than normal activities, and the concentrations were 9.6-fold higher (mean +/- SD, 41 +/- 88). The enzyme activities and concentrations correlated well in ascites, fluids from the pleural cavity, and peritoneal lavation and poorly in serum, urine, and fluid from pancreatic pseudocyst.

AT32P-dependent estimation of nanomoles of fatty acids: its use in the assay of phospholipase A2 activity

A procedure for the assay of free fatty acids which has been adapted for the assay of phospholipase A2 is described. This consists of the conversion of long chain fatty acids to fatty acyl-CoA using the Mg2(+)-dependent fatty acyl-CoA synthetase, [alpha-32P]ATP and coenzyme A. In order to ensure the complete conversion of the acid to its CoA ester pyrophosphatase is also added to the incubation mixture. AM32P formed in stoichiometric amounts is separated from the remaining AT32P by polyethyleneimine-cellulose thin-layer chromatography and the fatty acid content is calculated from the specific radioactivity of AT32P. As little as 1 to 3 nmol of fatty acids hydrolyzed from any phospholipid using nanogram amounts of phospholipase A2 can be estimated with reliability. The real advantage of the method is that it combines the sensitivity of a radiochemical procedure without having to use radiolabeled substrates for the assay of phospholipases.

A single and continuous spectrophotometric assay for various lipolytic enzymes, using natural, non-labelled lipid substrates

A rapid, continuous spectrophotometric assay for measuring the amount and activity of several lipolytic enzymes is described. It is based on the metachromatic properties of the cationic dye safranine, and makes use of the fact that an adequate combination of a lipolytic enzyme with one of its substrates leads to a change in the net negative charge at the lipid/water interface, which is monitored by the absorbance change of safranine. Utilizing this method, most lipolytic enzymes can be detected in very low amounts (milliunit or less) in about 1 min without employing radiolabelled lipids or synthetic lipid analogues. Over a wide range of enzyme concentrations, there is a good linearity between the initial hydrolysis rate (determination by the safranine method) and the amount of enzyme. The versatility of the assay is illustrated by examples showing how phospholipase A2, triacylglycerol hydrolase, phospholipase D or phospholipase C (either general or phosphatidylinositol-specific) activities can be detected, either separately or sequentially. Due to its high sensitivity, simplicity, and rapidity, this assay should find its main application in monitoring column effluents during the purification steps of lipolytic enzymes.

Mechanism for the inhibitory and stimulatory actions of proteins on the activity of phospholipase A2

The influence of proteins on phospholipase A2 was found to depend strongly on the enzyme assay system. We have used three different systems to measure phospholipase A2 which represent the different assay conditions used by a number of previous investigators. Two distinct stimulatory and two distinct inhibitory effects of proteins were observed. (1) A number of proteins - such as albumin, gamma-globulin and lysozyme - were found to inhibit phospholipase A2 activity only at very low substrate concentrations. This 'substrate depletion' was recently proposed as the mode of action for lipocortin. We therefore suggest that substrate depletion is not sufficiently specific to serve as a physiological regulatory mechanism and that the observed inhibition by lipocortin and other proteins more recently reported to mimic it are unlikely to be of physiological significance. (2) Use of liposomes at higher concentrations led to a nonlinear time-course. In this assay system, albumin (and other protein) stimulation can be accounted for as relief of product inhibition. (3) With high concentrations of phospholipids in the presence of cholate (mixed micelles), the behavior of proteins in the assay was complex. The assay time-course appeared linear in the absence of added protein, but at concentrations of added albumin up to 1 mg/ml, stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity was observed. Concentrations greater than this led to diminution of enzyme activity to the original activity. No effect whatever was observed when lysozyme was substituted for albumin. Since this biphasic result was not observed with liposomes, we suggest that the product whose inhibition is being relieved is the lysophosphatidylcholine, and not the free fatty acid. The inhibitory effect at high albumin concentrations is probably the result of removal of free fatty acids from the micelle: fatty acids are known to cause stimulation of phospholipase A2 by providing a negative charge to the lipid/water interface. (4) A different type of phospholipase A2 stimulation was apparent with melittin. This was found to be more specific than generally believed: we found no melittin stimulation of pancreatic phospholipase A2, yet confirmed a several-fold stimulation of bee venom phospholipase A2. We also found that high (millimolar) concentrations of calcium suppressed the melittin stimulation of bee venom phospholipase A2, and that a cationic detergent mimicked the stimulation by melittin. (5) We conclude that the effects of proteins on phospholipase A2 studied here can all be explained by proteins binding to substrate or product rather than enzyme-protein interactions.

A sensitive and continuous fluorometric assay for phospholipase A2 using pyrene-labeled phospholipids in the presence of serum albumin

Phospholipase A2 activity can be determined fluorometrically in the presence of serum albumin using phospholipids labeled at the sn-2-acyl position with 10-pyrenyldecanoic acid. In the water reaction medium 10-pyrene phospholipids form vesicles and the monomer fluorescence of the pyrene is negligible due to pyrene-pyrene interaction. Upon phospholipid hydrolysis 10-pyrenyldecanoic acids are produced and tightly bind to albumin so that a monomer pyrene fluorescence is observed. We obtained an excellent parallelism between hydrolysis determined by a classical extraction method and that followed by direct and continuous spectrofluorometric recording of the monomer emission of pyrene. This assay can measure picomole amounts of phospholipids hydrolyzed per minute so that picogram quantities of phospholipases A2 from pancreas or from venoms can be measured. Phospholipase activity remains proportional to enzyme concentration over three orders of magnitude. The method can be used to quantify the phospholipase A2 activity of crude extracts of low specific activity.

A radiochemical test for phospholipase A2 catalytic activity

A position-specifically labelled phosphatidylcholine is the substrate for the selective determination of Phospholipase A2 in serum, ascites and tissue samples. Optimal reaction conditions and simplifications of handling are discussed. A control group of human serum samples ranged up to 2.1 U/l. The maximum serum activity in samples of patients with acute pancreatitis was 126 U/l. In human ascites activities up to 380 U/l were measured. The method described here turned out to be a practicable instrument for the determination of phospholipase A2 activity using only commercially available reagents.

Inhibitors of liver lysosomal acid phospholipase A1

Lysosomal acid phospholipase A1, as well as other lysosomal enzymes, may be released under pathophysiological conditions into extralysosomal compartments. As shown here, several unspecific mechanisms exist which inhibit the hydrolysis of membrane diacylphospholipids by lysosomal acid phospholipase A1 and hence prevent an uncontrolled membrane destruction. These findings were obtained by employing partially purified rat liver lysosomal acid phospholipase A1 and sonicated radioactively labeled phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine as substrate. The inhibitory principles found include (1) pH, (2) inorganic cations, and (3) various proteins. Inorganic cations and proteins, however, inhibited lysosomal acid phospholipase A1 activity only below pH 6.0, and inhibition never exceeded 96%. Of the inorganic cations studied, the divalent species, as compared to the monovalent one, impaired lysosomal acid phospholipase A1 activity at significantly lower concentrations. Virtually all of the intracellular and extracellular proteins studied inhibited the enzyme activity, but the inhibitory potencies of the different proteins varied considerably. In general, basic and hydrophobic proteins were the most potent inhibitors, whereas glycoproteins appeared to be less inhibitory. The degree of inhibition of the enzyme activity in both proteins and inorganic cations depended on the substrate concentration and not on that of the enzyme. Binding studies provided evidence for inhibitor-substrate and against inhibitor-enzyme interactions.

Solubilization and partial characterization of phospholipase A from rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum

Phospholipase A has been solubilized from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat heart by treatment with Tris buffer, potassium chloride, taurodeoxycholate or octyl glucoside. On HPLC gel permeation, two phospholipases were identified at the void volume of a TSK 3000 column and at an apparent molecular mass of 60 kDa. The two activity peaks exhibited a predominance of phospholipase A1 activity (83-91%) and a lesser phospholipase C activity (4-9%) using sonicated 1-palmitoyl-2[1-14C]oleoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes as substrate. The voiding phospholipase A peak, which represented the bulk of the recovered activity, exhibited a requirement for calcium ions in the 0.3-3 microM range. The heat stability and response to mercuric ions was studied and some similarities were noted between the solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum phospholipases A and the cytosolic phospholipases A of rat heart. It is speculated that the cytosolic phospholipase A which we reported earlier may represent in part phospholipase A released from sarcoplasmic reticulum during isolation of the subcellular membrane fractions.

Spin-label assay for phospholipase A2

A rapid and continuous method for measuring phospholipase A2 activity using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and a spin-labeled phospholipid as a substrate has been developed. The substrate, 1-palmitoyl-2-(4-doxylpentanoyl)glycerophosphocholine, gives rise principally to a broad ESR line in aqueous solution due to strong spin-spin interactions, probably resulting from its micellar formation. Upon addition of bee venom phospholipase A2, the water-soluble product, 4-doxylpentanoic acid, is released which brings about a sharp three-line spectrum. Thus, the kinetics of phospholipase A2 activity can be followed by monitoring the increase in the ESR signal amplitude of the three-line spectrum, which is linearly proportional to the amount of 4-doxylpentanoic acid produced; no separation of the product from the substrate is needed during the measurement. The rate of hydrolysis of 1 nmol min-1 can be accurately measured within a 5-min period of time in a sample volume of 100 microliters. This new method should be useful for assaying phospholipase A2 activities in various biological systems.

Use of a silicic acid microcolumn to assay acyl-CoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase

A simple and rapid method for assaying acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase is described. This method is based on silicic acid microcolumn chromatography using labelled lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) as substrate. The reaction was stopped by conventional Folch extraction. The chloroform extract (2 ml) was deposited on the silica gel and pushed through with air, and then elution was performed with methanol/water (50:50, v/v). Under these conditions, only the labelled phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesized was retained on the gel, and this was then removed from the column and counted immediately. This method gave enzyme activities comparable to those obtained with the TLC method, and has proved to be reproducible. The new method, however, is both faster and safer than the classical TLC method.

Phospholipase A2 assay using an intramolecularly quenched pyrene-labeled phospholipid analog as a substrate

A phospholipid analog 1-palmitoyl-2-6(pyren-1-yl)hexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-N- (trinitrophenyl)aminoethanol (PPHTE) in which pyrene fluorescence is intramolecularly quenched by the trinitrophenyl group was used as a substrate for pancreatic phospholipase A2. Upon phospholipase A2 catalyzed hydrolysis of this molecule pyrene monomer fluorescence emission intensity increased as a result of the transfer of the pyrene fatty acid to the aqueous phase. Optimal conditions for phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of PPHTE were similar to those observed earlier for other pyrenephospholipids (T. Thuren, J. A. Virtanen, R. Verger, and P. K. J. Kinnunen (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 917, 411-417). Although differential scanning calorimetry revealed no thermal phase transitions for PPHTE between +5 and +60 degrees C the Arrhenius plot of the enzymatic hydrolysis of the lipid showed a discontinuity at 30 degrees C. The molecular origin of this discontinuity remains at present unknown. To study the effects of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) phase transition at 23.9 degrees C on phospholipase A2 reaction PPHTE was mixed with DMPC in a molar ratio of 1:200 in small unilamellar vesicles. The hydrolysis of DMPC-PPHTE vesicles was measured by following the increase in pyrene monomer fluorescence emission due to phospholipase A2 action on PPHTE. Below the phase transition of DMPC the enzymatic reaction exhibited a hyperbolic behavior. At the transition as well as at slightly higher temperatures a lag period was observed. The longest lag period was approximately 20 min. Above 26 degrees C no lag time could be observed. However, the reaction rates were slower than below the phase transition temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Solubilization and assay of phospholipase A2 activity from rat jejunal brush-border membranes

The phospholipase activity of rat jejunal brush-border membranes was examined in the presence of several solubilizing agents, by measuring the hydrolysis of endogenous membrane phospholipids, as well as the hydrolysis of exogenous, radiolabelled substrates. Enzyme activity was highly stimulated by dispersion in 1% solutions of bile salts, or in a synthetic, bile-salt derivative, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulphonate (CHAPS). Under these conditions the endogenous membrane phospholipids were largely degraded to free fatty acids and water-soluble phosphate. In the presence of 1% CHAPS, hydrolysis of exogenous phosphatidylcholine was shown to be due to an initial phospholipase A2-type attack followed by a subsequent lysophospholipase-type attack. These activities co-purified with the brush-border membrane. Maximal phospholipase A2 hydrolysis occurred at an alkaline pH of 8-11, with bile-salt detergents present at greater than their critical micellar concentrations. Hydrolysis was completely divalent-ion independent. Phospholipase A2 activity was not stimulated by 50% diethyl ether or ethanol, or in the presence of 1% solutions of Triton X-100, Zwittergent 3-12, sodium dodecyl sulphate, or n-octylglucoside. Stimulation of phospholipase activity by detergents was not related to their effectiveness at solubilizing the membrane proteins. When assayed individually phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine were each hydrolyzed (at the sn-2 and sn-1 positions, respectively) at a rate of approximately 125 nmol/mg protein per min. When assayed together, the two substrates appeared to compete for the same active site over a wide range of concentrations. It was concluded that the brush-border membrane contains an integral membrane protein with phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase activities, which is specifically stimulated by bile salts and bile salt-like detergents.

Propranolol inhibition of the neutral phospholipases A of rat heart mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and cytosol

Membrane damage caused by phospholipase A action is thought to be an important factor in ischemic myocardial injury. Propranolol has been shown previously to have beneficial effects in both animal experiments and clinical trials, and it has membrane-stabilizing properties in vitro. To investigate the possibility that these effects might be due, in part, to effects on phospholipases, we determined the effects of propranolol on rat heart phospholipases A at physiological pH using small unilamellar liposomes of di[1-14C]oleoylphosphatidylcholine as substrate. Propranolol inhibited heart phospholipases A in vitro. The concentration required to give 50% inhibition was 0.2 mM for the mitochondrial and cytosolic phospholipases A and 2.9 mM for sarcoplasmic reticulum phospholipase A. The binding of [4-3H]propranolol to fresh membrane preparations was studied using an ultracentrifugation method. Propranolol bound readily to both membrane fractions in vitro with no significant difference in the saturation number (0.20 to 0.28 mol drug per mol phospholipid) but the association constant, KA, was higher for mitochondrial membranes (3760 +/- 350) than for the sarcoplasmic reticulum (2190 +/- 390). Our results show that propranolol inhibited heart phospholipases A in vitro at physiological pH. The mitochondrial and cytosolic phospholipases A were more susceptible to inhibition than the phospholipase A of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Propranolol bound to mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum in vitro, suggesting the possibility that propranolol binding to heart membranes in vivo could result in drug concentrations in these membranes high enough to inhibit phospholipase A. This could represent an additional mechanism by which propranolol exerts beneficial effects in myocardial ischemia.

Contamination of commercial phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase A

During the course of a study involving the assay of a membrane-bound phospholipase A2 it was observed that a commercial preparation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine used as substrate had intrinsic lipolytic activity at pH 8.5. Further investigation revealed a Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A largely susceptible to treatment by the alkylating reagent p-bromophenacyl bromide or by heat (15 min at 120 degrees C). Complete separation of enzyme and phospholipid could be achieved by thin-layer chromatography. Such a contamination was not observed in a chemically identical phosphatidylcholine obtained from a different supplier. These observations may be relevant to investigators using commercial preparations of phospholipids in a variety of studies, including intracellular phospholipase A2 determination.

Phospholipase A2 activity of rat stomach

Phospholipase A activity in rat stomach wall and in gastric content was studied using [1-14C]dioleoylphosphatidylcholine as substrate. The optimum activity of the stomach wall was found to take place at pH 7.0. During optimal phospholipase action about 40% of the [1-14C]oleic acid released was due to an active intracellular lysophospholipase. The gastric phospholipase required 5 mM Ca2+ for full activity and is inhibited by EDTA. It specifically hydrolyzed the sn-2 position of the phospholipid molecule. The enzyme was heat labile and inactivated by acidification at pH 3.0. The gastric content enzyme had a lower specific activity and an optimum pH of 8.0. It was heat stable and was not inactivated by acidification. These results indicate that gastric content phospholipase A is of pancreatic origin, via a duodenal reflux. By ligating the stomach we were able to further confirm that the gastric wall phospholipase was different from that of the gastric content. It originated from the stomach mucosa. Subcellular fractionation suggests that the gastric phospholipase A2 is essentially bound to the plasma membrane. About 6% of the activity was found to be soluble. Biopsies of human gastric mucosa displayed a phospholipase A activity which had similar properties to that of rat gastric enzyme. The physiological function of this enzyme is discussed in terms of prostaglandin synthesis via the release of arachidonic acid.

Characterization of phospholipase A2 from rabbit lung microsomes

A phospholipase A2 activity associated with the microsomal fraction of rabbit lung homogenates was studied. The enzyme showed specificity for the sn-2 ester bond of phosphatidylcholine, had an alkaline pH optimum and required Ca2+ for activity. Other divalent cations were unable to support hydrolysis. In the absence of detergents, exogenous phosphatidylethanolamine was deacylated at a rate sevenfold higher than phosphatidylcholine. The activity toward both substrates could be enhanced by sodium deoxycholate or, more effectively, by sodium taurodeoxycholate. Phosphatidylethanolamine required higher detergent/phospholipid molar ratios than phosphatidylcholine. Under these conditions, the preference for the former substrate over the latter was nearly abolished. The zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) and the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 were either ineffective (phosphatidylcholine) or inhibitory (phosphatidylethanolamine). Addition of KCl produced opposite effects on the activity depending on the bile salt used to disperse the substrate. The phospholipase A2 activity was inhibited by p-bromophenacyl bromide but remained unaffected after treatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate or NaF. N-Ethylmaleimide, but not other thiol reagents, partially inhibited the activity.