Enhancement of the phosphorylation of membrane bound myosin light chain by antigen stimulation in rat basophilic leukemia cells

Casein kinase II-like ectokinase activity on RBL-2H3 cells

We studied the properties of the ectokinase activity on the outer cell surfaces of RBL-2H3 cells and examined the phosphorylation of exogenous substrates to clarify the substrate specificity of the ectokinases on RBL-2H3 cells. Among the several protein substrates tested, casein was the most strongly phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP, and the net incorporation of 32P into casein was 0.65 pmol P/50 microg/10(6) cells. Casein kinase II peptide was also phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP. The phosphorylation of casein and casein kinase II peptide was almost completely inhibited by the addition of 3 microg/ml of cell-impermeable K252b. Phosphorylation of casein and casein kinase II peptide was also observed by [gamma-32P]GTP. Western blot analysis using anti-casein kinase II antibody revealed a 44-kDa casein kinase band in the membrane fraction and Fc epsilonRI complexes. The immunofluorescence microscopic analysis using anti-casein kinase II antibody showed the existence of casein kinase II on the surface of the cells. This is the first report about the existence of ectokinase on mast cells.

Quantitative analysis of exocytosis visualized by a video-enhanced light/fluorescence microscope reveals two distinct components of exocytosis in RBL-2H3 cells

Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells, which exhibit Ca2+-dependent secretion of granules when stimulated with antigen or the Ca2+-ionophore A23187, were observed under a video-enhanced light/fluorescence microscope. Exocytotic events of individual granules were visualized in individual cells stimulated with antigen or A23187. Exocytosis of granules stimulated with A23187 showed two peaks in the time course. The earlier one was inhibited by selective inhibitors of protein kinase C (Ro31-8425, Ro31-8220, and chelerythrine) and the other was inhibited by an inhibitor of phosphatidate hydrolase, propranolol. Exocytosis by antigen stimulation, however, showed only one peak, which was inhibited by the selective inhibitors of protein kinase C, but not by propranolol. These results indicate that at least two distinct components of exocytosis exist in RBL-2H3 cells.

Endocytosis of activated receptors and clathrin-coated pit formation: deciphering the chicken or egg relationship

The fundamental mechanisms by which receptors once targeted for endocytosis are found in coated pits is an important yet unresolved question. Specifically, are activated receptors simply trapped on encountering preexisting coated pits, subsequently being rapidly internalized? Or do the receptors themselves, by active recruitment, gather soluble coat and cytosolic components and initiate the rapid assembly of new coated pits that then mediate their internalization? To explore this question, we studied the relationship between activation of IgE-bound high affinity Fc receptors (FCepsilonRI) and coated pit formation. Because these receptors are rapidly internalized via clathrin-coated pits only when cross-linked by the binding of multivalent antigens, we were able to separate activation from internalization by using an immobilized antigen. The FCepsilonRIs, initially uniformly distributed over the cell surface. relocalized and aggregated on the antigen-exposed membrane. The process was specific for the antigen, and temperature- and time-dependent. This stimulation initiated a cascade of cellular responses typical of FCepsilonRI signaling including membrane ruffling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and, in the presence of Ca2+, exocytosis. Despite these responses, no change in coated pit disposition or in the distribution of clathrin and assembly protein AP2 was detected, as monitored by immunoblotting and by quantitative (vertical sectioning) confocal microscopy analysis of immunofluorescently stained cells. Specifically, there was no decrease in the density of clathrin-coated pits in regions of the cell membrane not in contact with the antigen, and there was no apparent increase in clathrin-coated pits in proximity to stimulated FCepsilonRI receptors as would have been expected if the receptors were inducing formation of new pits by active recruitment. These results indicate that de novo formation of clathrin-coated pits is not a prerequisite for rapid internalization or a direct response to stimulation of FCepsilonRI receptors. Therefore, increases in coated pits reported to occur in response to activation of some signaling receptors must be consequences of the signal transduction processes, rather than strictly serving the purpose of the internalization of the receptors.

Binding of monoclonal antibody AA4 to gangliosides on rat basophilic leukemia cells produces changes similar to those seen with Fc epsilon receptor activation

The mAb AA4 binds to novel derivatives of the ganglioside Gd1b on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Some of the gangliosides are located close to the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI), and binding of mAb AA4 inhibits Fc epsilon RI-mediated histamine release. In the present study, mAb AA4 was found to bind exclusively to mast cells in all rat tissues examined. In vitro, within 1 min of mAb AA4 binding, the cells underwent striking morphologic changes. They lost their normal spindle shaped appearance, increased their ruffling, and spread over the surface of the culture dish. These changes were accompanied by a redistribution of the cytoskeletal elements, actin, tubulin, and vimentin, but only the actin was associated with the membrane ruffles. Binding of mAb AA4 also induces a rise in intracellular calcium, stimulates phosphatidyl inositol breakdown, and activates PKC. However, the extent of these changes was less than that observed when the cells were stimulated with antigen or antibody directed against the Fc epsilon RI. None of these changes associated with mAb AA4 binding were seen when the cells were exposed to nonspecific IgG, IgE, or four other anti-cell surface antibodies, nor were the changes induced by binding mAb AA4 at 4 degrees C or in the absence of extracellular calcium. Although mAb AA4 does not stimulate histamine release, it enhances the effect of the calcium ionophore A23187 mediated release. The morphological and biochemical effects produced by mAb AA4 are similar to those seen following activation of the cell through the IgE receptor. Therefore, the surface gangliosides which bind mAb AA4 may function in modulating secretory events.

Inhibition of IgE-mediated histamine release by myosin light chain kinase inhibitors

Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) blocked IgE mediated histamine release from rat basophilic leukemia cell (RBL-2H3) and human basophils dose-dependently. Its IC50 was 20 nM for RBL-2H3 cells and 30 nM for human basophils. There was complete inhibition at the concentration of 1 microM. Wortmannin inhibited partially the A23187 induced histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells (40% inhibition at 1 microM). This inhibition was not accompanied by any significant effect on cytosolic free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i). KT5926, another MLCK inhibitor, inhibited histamine release comparably with wortmannin and blocked to some degree the increase of [Ca2+]i in RBL-2H3 cells. Thus, the phosphorylation of myosin seems to be involved in signal transduction through Fc epsilon RI.