Phospholipid metabolism modulates cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in rat heart microsomes

Time-course changes in content and fatty acid composition of phosphatidic acid from rat thymocytes during concanavalin A stimulation

Several studies have shown the potential role of phosphatidic acid (PA) as a second messenger in different cell types. Thus, PA has been shown to mimic physiological agonists leading to various cellular responses, such as neurotransmitter and hormone release, cell proliferation by modulating DNA or RNA synthesis, the expression of several proto-oncogenes and growth factors, and the stimulation of enzyme activities such as phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinases and cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase. Stimulation of [3H]arachidonate-labelled rat thymocytes with the mitogen lectin concanavalin A (con A) resulted in enhanced production of radiolabelled PA after only 5 min of activation. The radiolabelled PA increase corresponded to a real increase in PA mass as determined by GLC quantification of its fatty acid content. In the presence of ethanol (0.5%), formation of phosphatidylethanol was not observed after 5 min of con A activation. Pretreatment of cells with R 59022 (10 microM), a diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase inhibitor, showed an inhibition in the formation of radiolabelled PA and in PA mass. These results suggest that the PLC-DAG kinase may be the pathway for PA synthesis in the first minutes of mitogenic thymocyte activation. A detailed analysis of the fatty acid composition showed that the relative amount of unsaturated fatty acids was increased in PA from stimulated cells concomitantly with a decrease in saturated ones; in particular, arachidonic acid was increased approximately 2-fold only 2 min after con A addition whereas palmitic acid was decreased for the whole period investigated (20 min). These changes favour the hydolysis of phosphoinositides rather than phosphatidylcholines by PLC. As PA remains a minor phospholipid, these changes are unlikely to affect cell membrane fluidity; but PA being now well recognized as a potential second messenger, its increased content as well as its increased unsaturation in the fatty acyl moiety might modulate several signalling pathways or the activity of enzymes such as cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, controlling in this way the cellular level of cAMP, a negative regulator of blastic transformation.

Modulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by dietary fats in rat heart

Feeding oils of different fatty acid composition modifies the fatty acid composition of cardiac membrane phospholipids, thereby inducing changes in cardiac contractility and altering response of adenylate cyclase to catecholamines. In the present study, the effect of such dietary manipulations on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, which is involved in the control of cyclic nucleotide intracellular levels and in the control of cardiac contractility, was investigated. Rats were fed either a saturated fatty acid-enriched diet (8 weight percent [%] coconut oil + 2% sunflower oil), an n-6 fatty acid-enriched diet (10% sunflower oil) or an n-3 fatty acid-enriched diet (8% fish oil + 2% sunflower oil). The fatty acid composition of cardiac phospholipids, as well as the nonesterified fatty acid content of heart were markedly altered by the diets. The 18:2n-6 and 20:4n-6 content of cardiac phospholipids was markedly (-49%) depressed by fish oil as compared with sunflower oil feeding, but the nonesterified fatty acid level of heart membrane was lowest in coconut oil-fed rats. In addition, fish oil feeding more drastically depressed the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio in the nonesterified fatty acid pool than in cardiac phospholipids. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was the lowest in both the particulate and soluble fractions of heart from rats fed sunflower oil, whereas cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was not altered by the diets. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity was decreased by 18 and 12% in heart membranes of the sunflower oil group as compared to that of the coconut oil and fish oil groups, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Central effects of the preservative, methylparaben. In vivo activation of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase and reduction of cortical cAMP

The phenolic preservative, methylparaben (MPB), has in the past been demonstrated to harbour definite pharmacological effects. In an attempt to examine the possible central effects of MPB, notably on cyclic nucleotides and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE; EC 3.1.4.17), rats were orally treated with the drug (0.4% in rat food) for 3 weeks with cortex extracts being used for the various determinations. Three isozymes were identified by DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography, namely the calmodulin/calcium-stimulated form or PDE I (peak I), the cGMP-stimulated form or PDE II (peak II), and an independent form not affected by either calmodulin or cGMP also known as PDE IV (peak III). The presence of MPB induced a significant decrease in cortical cAMP, as well as strongly stimulating the activity of PDE IV (peak III). In addition, a small, yet significant, increase in cGMP levels was observed. Since no increase in cGMP hydrolysis was observed, we conclude that chronic ingestion of MPB induces a preference for cAMP hydrolysis, which was confirmed by the increase in PDE IV (peak III) activity. PDE IV is a membrane-bound, low Km PDE exhibiting high selectivity for cAMP hydrolysis. While there was an increase in cGMP, we failed to observe an increase in the activity of the cGMP-stimulated PDE (PDE II). These data are discussed with reference to the possible membrane effects of MPB allowing it to alter both the kinetic properties of PDE IV with the resultant effects on cAMP, as well as a means whereby it may activate guanyl cyclase and increase cGMP.

Phospholipid turnover and ultrastructural correlates during spontaneous germinal vesicle breakdown of the bovine oocyte: effects of a cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor

The turnover of [32P]orthophosphate in bovine oocyte phospholipids was studied during the early stages of spontaneous meiotic maturation, and during inhibition of this process by the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX). Radioactive lipids were separated by TLC and the meiotic stage was determined cytogenetically. Ultrastructure of the nuclear membrane was examined using transmission EM. During the commitment period to meiotic resumption, which precedes germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), small localized convolutions appeared in the intact nuclear membrane. This was accompanied by a decrease in [32P]phosphatidic acid (PA) and an increase in [32P]-phosphatidylcholine (PC). This was followed by extensive convolutions, and subsequent dissociation, of the nuclear membrane, concomitant with a tremendous surge in [32P]PC and [32P]phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The cAMP-mediated maintenance of meiotic arrest involved retention of entire nuclear envelope integrity and total inhibition of the surge in [32P]PC and [32P]PE which accompanied GVBD. The increase in [32P]phosphatidylinositol (PI) associated with all stages of early meiotic resumption was unaffected by IBMX. Microinjection of heparin inhibited GVBD, and injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) overrode IBMX-maintained meiotic arrest in almost 40% of the oocytes. The results suggest that there may be several functions for phospholipid turnover in the regulation of spontaneous meiotic resumption in the bovine oocyte. The first precedes the commitment period, and involves IP3 generation to serve as the primary signal for meiotic resumption. The second occurs concomitant with the commitment period, is unaffected by the level of intracellular cAMP, and is associated with the general turnover of phospholipid. The third is associated with GVBD, and is cAMP-sensitive, and may represent stimulation of de novo synthesis of phospholipid, thereby permitting disruption of the nuclear membrane.

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases and Ca2+ current regulation in cardiac cells

At least four different isoforms of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are responsible for the hydrolysis of cAMP in cardiac cells. However, their distribution, localization and functional coupling to physiological effectors (such as ion channels, contractile proteins, etc.) vary significantly among various animal species and cardiac tissues. Because the activity of cardiac Ca2+ channels is strongly regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, Ca(2+)-channel current (ICa) measured in isolated cardiac myocytes may be used as a probe for studying cAMP metabolism. When the activity of adenylyl cyclase is bypassed by intracellular perfusion with submaximal concentrations of cAMP, effects of specific PDE inhibitors on ICa amplitude are mainly determined by their effects on PDE activity. This approach can be used to evaluate in vivo the functional coupling of various PDE isozymes to Ca2+ channels and their differential participation in the hormonal regulation of ICa and cardiac function. Combined with in vitro biochemical studies, such an experimental approach has permitted the discovery of hormonal inhibition of PDE activity in cardiac myocytes.