Chemotactic peptide stimulation of arachidonic acid release in HL60 cells, an interaction between G protein and phospholipase C mediated signal transduction

Leukotriene B4 Activates the NADPH Oxidase in Eosinophils by a Pertussis Toxin-Sensitive Mechanism That Is Largely Independent of Arachidonic Acid Mobilization

Experiments were designed to investigate whether leukotriene (LTB4) receptors can couple directly to phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in guinea pig eosinophils and the role of endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in LTB4-induced activation of the NADPH oxidase. LTB4 (EC50 ∼ 16 nM) and AA (EC50 ∼ 6 μM) generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a concentration-dependent manner and at an equivalent maximum rate (5–6 nmol/min/106 cells). LTB4 stimulated PLA2 over a similar concentration range that activated the NADPH oxidase, although kinetic studies revealed that the release of [3H]AA (t1/2 ∼ 2 s) preceded H2O2 generation (t1/2 > 30 s). Pretreatment of eosinophils with pertussis toxin abolished the increase in inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate mass, [Ca2+]c, [3H]AA release, and H2O2 generation evoked by LTB4. Qualitatively identical results were obtained in eosinophils in which phospholipase C (PLC) was desensitized by 4β-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate with the exception that [3H]AA release was largely unaffected. Additional studies performed with the protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, and under conditions in which Ca2+ mobilization was abolished, provided further evidence that LTB4 released [3H]AA independently of signal molecules derived from the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate by PLC. Pretreatment of eosinophils with the PLA2 inhibitor, mepacrine, abolished LTB4-induced [3H]AA release at a concentration that inhibited H2O2 by only 36%. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that agonism of LTB4 receptors on guinea pig eosinophils mobilizes AA by a mechanism that does not involve the activation of PLC. In addition, although LTB4 effectively stimulated PLA2, a central role for AA in the activation of the NADPH oxidase was excluded.

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.

ADP-ribosylation factor 1-regulated phospholipase D activity is localized at the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles in HL60 cells

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), a small GTPase required for vesicle formation, has been identified as an activator of phospholipase D (PLD), thus implying that PLD is localized at intracellular organelles. HL60 cells were prelabelled with [14C]acetate for 72 h and, after disruption, fractionated on a linear sucrose gradient. ARF1-regulated PLD activity in each fraction was assessed by measurement of phosphatidylethanol production. Two peaks of activity were identified, coincident with markers for Golgi/endoplasmic reticulum/granules (endomembranes) and plasma membrane respectively. Analysis of the fractions using exogenous phosphatidylcholine as substrate confirmed the presence of ARF1-dependent PLD activity in endomembranes and plasma membrane, and also identified an additional activity in the cytosol. In formyl-Met-Leu-Phe-stimulated cells, PLD activity as assessed by phosphatidylethanol formation was also associated with both the plasma membrane and endomembranes. Since ARF1-regulated PLD activity requires phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), the distributions of inositol lipids and the kinases responsible for lipid phosphorylation were examined. PIP2 was highly enriched at the plasma membrane, whereas phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), the precursors for PIP2 synthesis, were found predominantly at endomembranes. The distribution of PI 4-kinase and PI4P 5-kinase activities confirmed the plasma membrane as the major site of PIP2 production. However, endomembranes possessed substantial PI 4-kinase activity and some PI4P 5-kinase activity, illustrating the potential for PIP2 synthesis. It is concluded that:(1) ARF1-regulated PLD activity is localized at endomembranes and the plasma membrane, (2) PIP2 is available at both membrane compartments to function as a cofactor for ARF-regulated PLD, and (3) in intact cells, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe stimulates PLD activity at endomembranes as well as plasma membrane.

Activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in permeabilized human neutrophils

Neutrophils (PMN) contain two types of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a 14 kDa 'secretory' Type II PLA2 (sPLA2) and an 85 kDa 'cytosolic' PLA2 (cPLA2), that differ in a number of key characteristics: (1) cPLA2 prefers arachidonate (AA) as a substrate but hydrolyzes all phospholipids; sPLA2 is not AA specific but prefers ethanolamine containing phosphoacylglycerols. (2) cPLA2 is active at nM calcium (Ca2+) concentrations; sPLA2 requires microM Ca2+ levels. (3) cPLA2 activity is regulated by phosphorylation; sPLA2 lacks phosphorylation sites. (4) cPLA2 is insensitive to reduction; sPLA2 is inactivated by agents that reduce disulfide bonds. We utilized PMN permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin to determine whether one or both forms of PLA2 were activated in porated cells under conditions designed to differentiate between the two enzymes. PMN were labeled with [3H]AA to measure release from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to determine total AA release (mainly from phosphatidylethanolamine) and to assess oleate and linoleate mass. A combination of 500 nM Ca2+, a guanine nucleotide, and stimulation with n-formyl-met-leu-phe (FMLP) were necessary to induce maximal AA release in permeabilized PMN measured by either method; AA was preferentially released. [3H]AA and AA mass release occurred in parallel over time. A hydrolyzable form of ATP was necessary for maximum AA release and staurosporin inhibited PLA2 activation. Dithiothreitol treatment had little affect on [3H]AA release and metabolism but inhibited AA mass release. Assay of cell supernatants after cofactor addition did not detect sPLA2 activity and the cytosolic buffer utilized did not support activity of recombinant sPLA2. These results strongly suggested that cPLA2 was the enzyme activated in the permeabilized cell model and this is the first report which unambiguously demonstrates AA release in response to activation of a specific type of PLA2 in PMN.

Hexachlorocyclohexanes affect the arachidonic acid release from phosphatidylinositol but not from other phospholipid classes in tubular cell cultures

Gamma- and delta-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane caused marked decreases in the levels of radioactive phospholipids, and increases in the levels of [3H]arachidonate incorporated into free fatty acids in rat renal tubular cells. The increased radioactivity of free fatty acids arises from the decrease of [3H]arachidonate incorporated into phosphatidylinositol, but not into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylethanolamine. This fact suggests that phosphatidylinositol can be broken down to the fatty acid from the sn-2 position and lysophospholipid by a phospholipase activity increased by hexachlorocyclohexanes. The observed specific toxicant action could be achieved in two ways: (a) operating upon a specific phospholipase A2 that acts on phosphatidylinositol, but not on other phospholipids as substrates and/or (b) involving substrate-phospholipase A2 interactions. Interestingly, the observed effect of the delta-isomer was more pronounced than that of the gamma-one.

The roles of multiple pathways in regulating bombesin-stimulated phospholipase D activity in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

The regulation of bombesin-stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) activity in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts was examined. Increasing protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by using pervanadate to inhibit tyrosine phosphatases was found to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC)-independent [3H]phosphatidylbutanol ([3H]PtdBut) accumulation within 5 min, which continued to increase up to 30 min. The stimulation of PLD activity in response to submaximal [bombesin] could be decreased by approx. 50% by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, whereas pretreatment with genistein and the PKC inhibitor Ro-31-8220 completely abolished the generation of [3H]PtdBut in response to a maximal concentration of bombesin. The addition of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) into permeabilized cells resulted in an increase in [3H]PtdBut, which was abolished by depletion of cellular ATP. The additional presence of 30 microM GTP[S] did not increase the stimulation of PLD activity by any [bombesin] tested, whereas it was synergistic with that stimulated in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. These findings suggest that bombesin-stimulated PLD activity is indirectly regulated by G-proteins, possibly through a kinase intermediate. Furthermore, activation of protein tyrosine kinases is proposed to account for the PKC-independent arm of bombesin-stimulated PLD activity. No evidence was obtained for a form of PLD directly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Arachidonic acid mobilization in P388D1 macrophages is controlled by two distinct Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase A2 enzymes

Macrophage-like P388D1 cells mobilize arachidonic acid (AA) and produce prostaglandin E2 upon stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and platelet-activating factor. We have now demonstrated that AA mobilization in these cells is composed of two distinct events: a transient phase in which AA accumulates in the cell and a sustained phase in which the fatty acid accumulates in the incubation medium. Both phases are markedly dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. Treatment with an antisense oligonucleotide to group II phospholipase A2 inhibits the accumulation of AA in the incubation medium, but has no effect on the accumulation of this fatty acid in the cell. In addition, treatment with antisense oligonucleotide to group II phospholipase A2 has no effect on the uptake or the esterification of AA. Collectively, these results indicate that, in addition to the previously demonstrated role of group II phospholipase A2 in AA mobilization in activated P388D1 cells, another phospholipase A2, distinct from the group II enzyme, is implicated in raising the levels of intracellular AA during the early steps of P388D1 cell activation and in modulating deacylation/reacylation reactions involving AA. The data suggest that each of the different phospholipase A2 enzymes present in P388D1 cells serves a distinct role in cell function.

Phosphatidylcholine breakdown and signal transduction

PC hydrolysis by PLA2, PLC or PLD is a widespread response elicited by most growth factors, cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormones and other extracellular signals. The mechanisms can involve G-proteins, PKC, Ca2+ and tyrosine kinase activities. Although an agonist-responsive cytosolic PLA2 has been purified, cloned and sequenced, the agonist-responsive form(s) of PC-PLC has not been identified and no form of PC-PLD has been purified or cloned. Regulation of PLA2 by Ca2+ and MAPK is well established and involves membrane translocation and phosphorylation, respectively. PKC regulation of the enzyme in intact cells is probably mediated by MAPK. The question of G-protein control of PLA2 remains controversial since the nature of the G-protein is unknown and it is not established that its interaction with the enzyme is direct or not. Growth factor regulation of PLA2 involves tyrosine kinase activity, but not necessarily PKC. It may be mediated by MAPK. The physiological significance of PLA2 activation is undoubtedly related to the release of AA for eicosanoid production, but the LPC formed may have actions also. There is much evidence that PKC regulates PC-PLC and PC-PLD and this is probably a major mechanism by which agonists that promote PI hydrolysis secondarily activate PC hydrolysis. Since no agonist-responsive forms of either phospholipase have been isolated, it is not clear that PKC exerts its effects directly on the enzymes. Although it is assumed that a phosphorylation mechanism is involved, this may not be the case, and regulation may be by protein-protein interactions. G-protein control of PC-PLD is well-established, although, again, it has not been demonstrated that this is direct, and the nature of the G-protein(s) involved is unknown. In some cell types, there is evidence of the participation of a soluble protein, which may be a low Mr GTP-binding protein. What role this plays in the activation of PC-PLD is obscure. Agonist activation of PC hydrolysis in cells is usually Ca(2+)-dependent, but the step at which Ca2+ is involved is unclear, since PC-PLD and PC-PLC per se are not influenced by physiological concentrations of the ion. Most growth factors promote PC hydrolysis and this is mainly due to activation of PKC as a result of PI breakdown. However, in some cases, PC breakdown occurs in the absence of PI hydrolysis, implying another mechanism that does not involve PI-derived DAG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Phospholipases and protein kinases during phagocyte activation

Phospholipases and protein kinases are critical for the intracellular transmission and amplification of signals induced by extracellular ligands. Chemotactic activation of phagocytes through G protein coupled receptors leads to inflammatory responses of the immune cells. Downstream of G proteins, phospholipases generate precursors for eicosanoid synthesis and are involved in the functional responses. Recently, the molecular characterization of specific enzymes of the signalling cascades has gained much attention in research.

Interferon-gamma-stimulated and GTP-binding-proteins-mediated phospholipase A2 activation in human neuroblasts

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potent growth-inhibitory cytokine also endowed with differentiating activity on neural cells. Binding of IFN-gamma to its high-affinity receptor induces a rapid and transient activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The mechanism coupling the IFN-gamma receptor (IFN-gamma-R) to PLA2 activation is not clearly defined, and no information is available on this mechanism in neuroblast cells. We have tested the hypothesis that GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) may couple the IFN-gamma-R to PLA2 in the human neuroblastoma (NB) cell line LAN-5. Incubation of NB cells with IFN-gamma resulted in a rapid increase in [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) release, and this effect was blocked by pretreatment with anti-IFN-gamma antibodies. IFN-gamma-stimulated AA release was still observed in permeabilized cells that were blocked by pretreatment with anti-IFN-gamma-R antibodies. Exposure of permeabilized LAN-5 cells to guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), a non-hydrolysable GTP analogue, induced a dose-dependent release of [3H]AA. A non-specific nucleotide effect was excluded, since similar stimulatory effects on AA mobilization were not observed by GTP, ATP, CTP, ADP and GDP. IFN-gamma-stimulated AA release was completely blocked by the guanine nucleotide analogue that inhibits G-protein function, guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP[S]). A role for G-proteins in IFN-gamma-R coupling to PLA2 was further supported by the inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced [3H]AA release by treatment of permeabilized cells with pertussis toxin and with the antiserum against the common alpha-subunits of G-proteins. To determine a possible contribution to AA mobilization by the phospholipase C and diacyglycerol lipase pathway or by protein kinase C activation, the effects of neomycin, a phospholipase C inhibitor, and PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), a direct activator of protein kinase C, were investigated. Neither neomycin nor PMA affected either basal or IFN-gamma-stimulated AA release. Ca2+ concentration, which has been shown to regulate the activity of some PLA2s, does not appear to play an important role in the regulation of the IFN-gamma-stimulated PLA2 activity, since incubating permeabilized cells in different concentrations of Ca2+ induced AA release without affecting the IFN-gamma response. Altogether, these findings suggest the existence of IFN-gamma-R, which couples a Ca(2+)-independent PLA2 activation via pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-proteins.

Diacylglycerol: formation and function in phospholipid-mediated signal transduction

1. Properties, distribution and multiplicity of phosphoinositidases (phospholipase C, PLC) are investigated. 2. Generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) by a variety of enzymes such as phosphoinositide and phosphatidylcholine specific PLC, by a combination of phospholipase D and phosphatidic hydrolase, and by triglyceride lipase is examined. 3. Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C act as the target of DAG messenger action. 4. There are differences in the formation of DAG in normal and transformal cell.

Regulation of the electrogenic H+ channel in the plasma membrane of neutrophils: possible role of phospholipase A2, internal and external protons

Possible factors regulating the opening of and the rate of H+ flux through a recently described, Cd(2+)-sensitive, phorbol ester- and arachidonic acid (AA)-activatable H(+)-conducting pathway in the plasma membrane of neutrophil granulocytes were investigated. (1) The phospholipase A2 blocker p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced activation of this channel in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50, 4 microM). (2) Neither BPB nor the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine influenced the AA-elicited stimulation of this route. (3) Intracellular acidification (cytoplasmic pH below 6.9) itself is capable of activating an electrogenic, Cd(2+)-sensitive H+ efflux indicating that protons can open up this route in the absence of any other stimulator. (4) PMA significantly decreases the intracellular H+ concentration ([H+]i) threshold for the opening of the channel, thus providing a conductive state at resting pH values, and elevates the rate of H+ efflux at any [H+]i. (5) Changes in external pH also modify the operation of the channel: above an extracellular pH (pH(o)) value of 7.4, the H(+)-flux/driving force relationship is approx. 5-fold greater than below this value. Our results suggest a multifactorial regulation of the electrogenic H+ channel: most probably PKC activates the channel indirectly, via stimulation of phospholipase A2 that subsequently liberates AA. In addition to this, the channel conductance seems to be promoted by internal H+ and inhibited by external H+.

Stimulatory and inhibitory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein involvement in stimulation of arachidonic-acid release by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and platelet-activating factor from guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. Differential receptor/G-protein interaction assessed by pertussis and cholera toxins

The involvement of guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in the regulation of arachidonic-acid release induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) or platelet-activating factor (PAF) was examined in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. We report that maximal release of arachidonic acid in permeabilized cells requires the simultaneous addition of the agonist (fMet-Leu-Phe or PAF) and of GTP (or GTP[S]). Prior treatment of cells with increasing concentrations of pertussis toxin induces a parallel decrease of arachidonic-acid release and of the labeling of a 40-kDa protein in membranes incubated with [32P]NAD and pertussis toxin. fMet-Leu-Phe, but not PAF, allows the ADP-ribosylation of a 40-KDa protein by cholera toxin in the presence of Mg2+. This effect is prevented by guanyl nucleotides and by prior treatment with pertussis toxin. The 40-kDa protein ADP-ribosylated seems to be alpha i1 and/or alpha i2. Stimulation of GTPase activity by fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF has the same amplitude and is completely inhibited by pertussis toxin, but only in part by cholera toxin. Prior treatment of alveolar macrophages with cholera toxin, which ADP-ribosylates Gs, inhibits PAF-stimulated and fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated arachidonic-acid release to the same extent, via a cAMP-protein-kinase-A cascade. The decreased responsiveness of alveolar macrophages previously treated with cholera toxin to fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF is associated with a strong increase of in-vitro [32P]NAD labeling of Gi proteins either by pertussis or by cholera toxin. This effect is mimicked by prior treatment of the cells with dibutyryl cAMP and okadaic acid, a protein-phosphatase inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of protein-kinase A in this process. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that fMet-Leu-Phe and PAF receptors interact differently with Gi1/2 proteins in guinea-pig alveolar macrophages. Gi1/2 proteins are a possible target of the cross-regulation of arachidonic-acid release by a Gs-mediated pathway.

Calcium- and G-protein-dependent activation of arachidonic acid release by concanavalin-A-stimulated mouse macrophages

In this work, signaling mechanisms put into function by concanavalin A in macrophages and its relationship to arachidonic acid release were investigated. After a lag period of approx. 3 min, concanavalin A induced the release of arachidonic acid from macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Removal of calcium from the extracellular medium led to a strong inhibition of the response. However, down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged treatment of macrophages with phorbol myristate acetate did not affect concanavalin-A-induced arachidonic acid release, suggesting that protein kinase C does not mediate the concanavalin A response. The role of G proteins in mediating the concanavalin A response was also investigated. Concanavalin-A-stimulated arachidonic acid release was inhibited by treatment with pertussis toxin but was enhanced by preincubation with cholera toxin. An increase of cAMP did not appear to mediate the stimulatory effect of cholera toxin since non-hydrolyzable cAMP derivatives or agents which raise cAMP levels, such as prostaglandin E2 and forskolin, were without effect on Con-A-stimulated arachidonate release. The direct G-protein activator fluoroaluminate was able to stimulate arachidonic acid release in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Combined treatment with fluoroaluminate and concanavalin A resulted in a greater than additive effect on arachidonic acid release. Altogether, these results suggest that concanavalin-A-induced arachidonic acid release in macrophages is co-ordinately regulated by Ca2+ and G proteins, but not by protein kinase C.

Inositol-lipid-specific phospholipase C isoenzymes and their differential regulation by receptors

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Pathways for arachidonic acid mobilization in zymosan-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages

Resident peritoneal macrophages release arachidonic acid when challenged by zymosan, a phagocytosable particle. The present study was designed to investigate the pathways for arachidonic acid mobilization in zymosan-stimulated macrophages. Experiments were conducted with [3H]arachidonic acid-labeled macrophages to establish the relative contribution of acyltransferases, phospholipase A2, and diacylglycerol lipase to overall arachidonic acid release. Upon zymosan stimulation, [3H]arachidonic acid incorporation into phospholipids was significantly enhanced. Stimulus-induced activation of arachidonic acid incorporated was not observed immediately, but was found 5 min after cell challenge. On the other hand, the results indicated a rapid accumulation of intracellular free [3H]arachidonic acid that paralleled the appearance of both [3H]glycerol-labeled lysophosphatidylcholine and [3H]glycerol-labeled lysophosphatidylinositol, the by-products of phospholipase A2 action on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, respectively. A transient accumulation of [3H]arachidonate-carrying diacylglycerol was also observed. However, no appreciable alterations in the levels of [3H]monoacylglycerol were found. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid substantially prevented the zymosan-induced arachidonic acid release. In contrast, RHC 80267, a diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, though preventing diacylglycerol breakdown, did not have any effect on [3H]arachidonic acid release From these results, it is concluded that: (1) the phospholipase A2 pathway controls arachidonic acid release upon zymosan stimulation; (2) the diacylglycerol lipase pathway appears not to be involved in arachidonic acid release by stimulated cells; (3) the acyltransferases play a remarkable role in controlling free arachidonic acid levels, but they do not participate in the increase of free fatty acid levels observed upon cell stimulation.

Synergistic activation of phospholipase D by protein kinase C- and G-protein-mediated pathways in streptolysin O-permeabilized HL60 cells

Stimulation of phospholipase D (PLD) by cell surface receptors has been observed in many cell types. We have investigated the mechanism of activation of this enzyme in undifferentiated HL60 cells. GTP analogues and Ca2+ (buffered in the nanomolar to micromolar range) were introduced into HL60 cells in the presence of the permeabilizing agent, streptolysin O. We report that guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) is a potent activator of phospholipase D when Ca2+ is available at micromolar levels. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or Ca2+ alone can also stimulate PLD, but to a limited extent. The activation of PLD by GTP[S] can be partially dissociated from GTP[S]-stimulated phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C, suggesting that a G-protein may be directly involved in regulating PLD. However, maximal activation of PLD only occurs under conditions that are permissive to phospholipase C stimulation. We conclude that PLD activation is under dual control, i.e. protein kinase C- as well as G-protein-mediated regulation. Synergistic activation occurs when both pathways are simultaneously stimulated. We conclude that full activation of PLD requires protein kinase C, increased Ca2+ and a GTP-binding protein. Evidence for cytosolic components that may also be involved in obtaining full activation of PLD is also presented.