U-73122 does not specifically inhibit phospholipase C in rat pancreatic islets and insulin-secreting beta-cell lines

Expression pattern and sub-cellular distribution of phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C enzymes after treatment with U-73122 in rat astrocytoma cells

Phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes interfere with the metabolism of inositol phospholipids (PI), molecules involved in signal transduction, a complex process depending on various components. Many evidences support the hypothesis that, in the glia, isoforms of PI-PLC family display different expression and/or sub cellular distribution under non-physiological conditions such as the rat astrocytes activation during neurodegeneration, the tumoural progression of some neoplasms and the inflammatory cascade activation after lipopolysaccharide administration, even if their role remains not completely elucidated. Treatment of a cultured established glioma cell line (C6 rat astrocytoma cell line) induces a modification in the pattern of expression and of sub cellular distribution of PI-PLCs compared to untreated cells. Special attention require PI-PLC beta3 and PI-PLC gamma2 isoforms, whose expression and sub cellular localization significantly differ after U-73122 treatment. The meaning of these modifications is unclear, also because the use of this N-aminosteroid compound remains controversial, inasmuch it has further actions which might contribute to the global effect recorded on the treated cells.

The phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 inhibits Ca(2+) release from the intracellular sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) store by inhibiting Ca(2+) pumps in smooth muscle

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) releases Ca(2+) via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)R) in response to IP(3)-generating agonists. Ca(2+) release subsequently propagates as Ca(2+) waves. To clarify the role of IP(3) production in wave generation, the contribution of a key enzyme in the production of IP(3) was examined using a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) inhibitor, U-73122.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Single colonic myocytes were voltage-clamped in whole-cell configuration and cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](cyto)) measured using fluo-3. SR Ca(2+) release was evoked either by activation of IP(3)Rs (by carbachol or photolysis of caged IP(3)) or ryanodine receptors (RyRs; by caffeine).

KEY RESULTS

U-73122 inhibited carbachol-evoked [Ca(2+)](cyto) transients. The drug also inhibited [Ca(2+)](cyto) increases, evoked by direct IP(3)R activation (by photolysis of caged IP(3)) and RyR activation (by caffeine), which do not require PI-PLC activation. U-73122 also increased steady-state [Ca(2+)](cyto) and slowed the rate of Ca(2+) removal from the cytoplasm. An inactive analogue of U-73122, U-73343, was without effect on either IP(3)R- or RyR-mediated Ca(2+) release.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

U-73122 inhibited carbachol-evoked [Ca(2+)](cyto) increases. However, the drug also reduced Ca(2+) release when evoked by direct activation of IP(3)R or RyR, slowed Ca(2+) removal and increased steady-state [Ca(2+)](cyto). These results suggest U-73122 reduces IP(3)-evoked Ca(2+) transients by inhibiting the SR Ca(2+) pump to deplete the SR of Ca(2+) rather than by inhibiting PI-PLC.

Screening of second messengers involved in photocyte bioluminescence control of three ophiuroid species (Ophiuroidea: Echinodermata)

We investigated the effects of cyclic nucleotides (cGMP and cAMP) and inositol triphosphate/diacylglycerol pathways on the KCl-induced luminescence control of the ophiuroid species Amphiura filiformis, Ophiopsila aranea and Ophiopsila californica. Results show that dibutyrylcGMP, the cGMP analogue, and sodium nitroprusside, the guanylyl cyclase activator, had no effect on the luminescence of O. aranea and O. californica. On the other hand, cGMP could be involved in an inhibitory control in A. filiformis. Dibutyryl-cAMP, the cAMP analogue, and forskolin, the adenylyl cyclase activator, had no effect on maximal light emission, but the adenylyl cyclase inhibitors MDL-12,330A and SQ22,536 affected the kinetics of light production in both Ophiopsila species and strongly reduced KCl-induced luminescence in A. filiformis and O. aranea, suggesting cAMP pathway involvement in photogenesis. The phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 also strongly reduced KCl-induced luminescence in all three species but this effect seems to be unspecific since U-73343, the inactive analogue of U-73122, equally inhibited photogenesis. Therefore, the results suggest that luminescence control of A. filiformis, O. aranea and O. californica is mediated by cAMP in synergy with calcium.

Phospholipase pathway in Alzheimer's disease brains: decrease in Galphai in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

There is substantial evidence that G-protein-associated signaling pathways in the brain are altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using quantitative immunoblotting we find a significant decrease in Galphai levels in every AD case examined compared to controls (mean Galphai level in AD was 43.5+/-7.4% of control). Galphao levels were slightly decreased, but Galphaq and betagamma were normal. Phospholipase C-beta1, but not gamma1, levels were also decreased. Total phospholipase C activity and ceramide levels were not changed. Thus, in AD, there is impairment in the Galphai-associated signaling pathway in neurons.

Enhanced phosphoinositide hydrolysis via overexpression of phospholipase C beta1 or delta1 inhibits stimulus-induced insulin release in insulinoma MIN6 cells

To study the effects of enhanced phosphoinositide hydrolysis on insulin secretion, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cbeta1 (PLCbeta1) or PLCdelta1 was overexpressed in insulinoma MIN6 cells via adenoviral vectors. Inositol phosphate production stimulated by NaF (with AlCl3) in PLCbeta1-overexpressing cells and that stimulated by KCl or glucose in both PLCbeta1- and PLCdelta1-overexpressing cells were greater than that in control cells. In addition, reduced phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate levels were observed in these cells stimulated by NaF or KCl. The greater phosphoinositide hydrolysis was accompanied by 25-45% inhibition of insulin secretion. These data suggest that excessive phosphoinositide hydrolysis inhibits secretagogue-induced insulin release in MIN6 cells.

1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3-induced store-operated Ca2+ influx in skeletal muscle cells. Modulation by phospholipase c, protein kinase c, and tyrosine kinases

In skeletal muscle cells the steroid hormone 1alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) nongenomically promotes Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and cation influx through both L-type and store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) channels. In the present work we evaluated the regulation and kinetics of the 1, 25(OH)2D3-stimulated SOC influx in chick muscle cells. Stimulation with 10(-9) M 1,25(OH)2D3 in Ca2+-free medium resulted in a rapid (40-60 s) but transient [Ca2+]i rise, which correlated with sterol-dependent inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. The SOC influx stimulated by the hormone was insensitive to both L-type channel antagonists and polyphosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PPI-PLC) inhibitors but was fully inhibitable by La3+ and Ni2+. PPI-PLC blockade prior to 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulation suppressed both the [Ca2+]i transient and the SOC influx. 1,25(OH)2D3-induced SOC entry was markedly increased after 3 min of treatment (30% above basal) and then rapidly reached a steady-state level. The sterol-stimulated SOC influx was prevented by protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase inhibitors but unaffected by blockade of the protein kinase A pathway. None of these inhibitors altered the thapsigargin-induced SOC entry, suggesting the operation of a signaling mechanism different from that for sterol-dependent SOC influx. The present results indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3-induced activation of PPI-PLC is upstream to Ca2+ influx through SOC channels and point for a role of both protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases but not protein kinase A in the regulation of the sterol-dependent SOCE pathway.

Fenspiride inhibits histamine-induced responses in a lung epithelial cell line

Using the human lung epithelial WI26VA4 cell line, we investigated the capacity of fenspiride, an anti-inflammatory drug with anti-bronchoconstrictor properties, to interfere with histamine-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase and eicosanoid formation. Histamine and a histamine H1 receptor agonist elicited a rapid and transient intracellular Ca2+ increase (0-60 s) in fluo 3-loaded WI26VA4 cells. This response was antagonized by the histamine H1 receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, the histamine H2 receptor antagonist, cimetidine, having no effect. Fenspiride (10(-7)-10(-5) M) inhibited the histamine H1 receptor-induced Ca2+ increase. In addition, histamine induced a biphasic increase in arachidonic acid release. The initial rise (0-30 s), a rapid and transient arachidonic acid release, was responsible for the histamine-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase. In the second phase release (15-60 min), a sustained arachidonic acid release appeared to be associated with the formation of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites. Fenspiride (10(-5) M) abolished both phases of histamine-induced arachidonic acid release. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory and antibronchoconstrictor properties of fenspiride may result from the inhibition of these effects of histamine.

Potentiation by thyroxine of interferon-gamma-induced antiviral state requires PKA and PKC activities

Added to HeLa cells previously exposed to recombinant human interferon (IFN)-gamma for 20 h, thyroid hormone [L-thyroxine (T4)] in physiological concentrations potentiates the antiviral action of IFN-gamma by more than 100-fold in 4 h. We examined protein kinase activities for their contributions to the mechanism of this posttranslational effect of thyroid hormone. Added concurrently with thyroid hormone, the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor CGP-41251 (5 nM) blocked T4 potentiation of IFN-gamma action. Coincubated with CGP-41251, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) reversed the effect of the inhibitor on thyroid hormone action. U-73122 (10 nM), a phospholipase C inhibitor, also blocked hormone potentiation. KT-5720 (500 nM), a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, completely inhibited the T4 effect, whereas 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP) restored hormone action in the presence of KT-5720. In the absence of T4, 8-BrcAMP and PMA, added together to cells in the 4-h paradigm, fully reproduced hormone potentiation of the antiviral effect of IFN-gamma. Incubated individually with IFN-gamma-treated cells, the two agonists had no potentiating action. Thyroid hormone apparently must activate both PKA and PKC in the nongenomic pathway of IFN-gamma action to enhance antiviral activity in HeLa cells.

Muscarinic and purinergic Ca2+ mobilizations in the neural retina of early embryonic chick

Acetylcholine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) raise intracellular Ca2+ concentration via muscarinic receptors and P2U purinoceptors by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores in the neural retina of early embryonic chick. The signal transduction mechanisms for the muscarinic and purinergic Ca2+ responses were studied with fura-2 fluorescence measurements. Li+ (1 mM), which inhibits phosphatidylinositol metabolism, enhanced both the Ca2+ rises to carbamylcholine (CCh. 30 microM) a muscarinic agonist and ATP (200 microM). Thapsigargin (250 nM), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-ATPase of inositol trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ stores, abolished both the Ca2+ rises to CCh (100 microM) and ATP (500 microM). U-73122 (2 microM), an inhibitor of phospholipase C beta, suppressed the Ca2+ rise to ATP (500 microM), but its analog U-73343 (2 microM) did not suppress it. In contrast, both U-73122 and U-73343 suppressed the Ca2+ the Ca2+ rise to CCh (100 microM). Pertussis toxin (250 ng/ml) suppressed the ATP-induced Ca2+ rise at least partly, whereas no inhibition was observed on the CCh-induced Ca2+ rise. Cross-talk occurred between the muscarinic and purinergic Ca2+ mobilizations but they were not occlusive. This study suggests that the muscarinic and purinergic Ca2+ mobilizations utilize IP3-sensitive Ca2+, stores, but different signal transduction pathways are involved in between the muscarinic and purinergic Ca2+ responses.

Evidence obtained using single hepatocytes for inhibition by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 of store-operated Ca2+ inflow

The ability of 1-[6-[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17- yl]amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122), an inhibitor of phospholipase C (Smith et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 253:688-697, 1992), to inhibit agonist-stimulated and store-operated Ca2+ inflow in single hepatocytes was investigated with the aim of testing whether the activation of phospholipase C is a necessary step in the process of agonist-stimulated Ca2+ inflow in this cell type. U73122 inhibited the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow induced by vasopressin. An inactive analogue of U73122, 1-[6-[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino]hexyl]- 2,5-pyrrolidone-dione (U73433), did not inhibit vasopressin-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, but did partially inhibit Ca2+ inflow. Neither U73122 nor 'inactive' analogue U73433 inhibited the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores when this was initiated by the photolysis of 'caged' guanosine (5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) introduced to the cytoplasmic space by microinjection. However, both compounds inhibited GTP gamma S-stimulated Ca2+ inflow. U73122 also inhibited the actions of glycerophosphoryl-myo-inositol-4,5-diphosphate (GPIP2), a slowly-hydrolysed analogue of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) which is released by photolysis of 'caged' 1-(alpha-glycerophosphoryl)-myo-inositol-4,5-diphosphate, P4(5)-1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl ester, and thapsigargin in stimulating Ca2+ inflow. U73122 did not inhibit GPIP2-stimulated release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, but did partially inhibit the ability of thapsigargin to induce Ca2+ release. It is concluded that, while U73122 does inhibit phospholipase C beta in hepatocytes, complete inhibition of this enzyme in situ requires an intracellular concentration of U73122 higher than that achieved in the present experiments. Moreover, both U73122 and 'inactive' analogue U73433 have one or possibly two additional sites of action. These are likely to be the hepatocyte plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow channel protein (or a protein involved in the activation of this channel by the InsP3-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store), and a protein involved in thapsigargin action.

U-73122 inhibits carbachol-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, IP3, and insulin release in beta-TC3 cells

We studied the effects of the aminosteroid U-73122, a putative phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, on carbachol-induced increases in insulin release, [Ca2+]i, and IP3 in beta-TC3 cells. Carbachol (0.1-100 microM) increased [Ca2+]i and carbachol (0.1-1000 microM) increased insulin release dose-dependently. Carbachol (100 microM) also increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) production. U-73122 (2-12 microM) inhibited the effects of carbachol on [Ca2+]i and insulin release in a dose-dependent manner, and at the highest dose studied (12 microM) it abolished or greatly attenuated all three effects of carbachol. In contrast, U-73343 (12 microM), the analog of U-73122 that does not inhibit PLC, only inhibited the effect of carbachol on [Ca2+]i by 20%, and did not inhibit the effect of carbachol on insulin release. Since carbachol increases IP3, [Ca2+]i, and insulin release by activating PLC, these results suggested that U-73122 inhibits phospholipase C-dependent processes in beta-TC3 cells.