Role of LTD4 in the Regulatory Volume Decrease Response in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells

Stimulation with leukotriene D₄ (LTD₄) (3–100 nm) induces a transient increase in the free intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺] _i ) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The LTD₄-induced increase in [Ca²⁺] _i is, however, significantly reduced in Ca²⁺-free medium (2 mm EGTA), and under these conditions stimulation with a low LTD₄ concentration (3 nm) does not result in any detectable increase in [Ca²⁺] _i . Addition of LTD₄ (3–100 nm) moreover accelerates the KCl loss seen during Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) in cells suspended in a hypotonic medium. The LTD₄-induced (100 nm) acceleration of the RVD response is also seen in Ca²⁺-free medium and also at 3 nm LTD₄, indicating that LTD₄ can open K⁺- and Cl⁻-channels without any detectable increase in [Ca²⁺] _i . Buffering cellular Ca²⁺ with BAPTA almost completely blocks the LTD₄-induced (100 nm) acceleration of the RVD response. Thus, the reduced [Ca²⁺] _i level after BAPTA-loading or buffering of [Ca²⁺] _i seems to inhibit the LTD₄-induced stimulation of the RVD response even though the LTD₄-induced cell shrinkage is not necessarily preceded by any detectable increase in [Ca²⁺] _i . The LTD₄ receptor antagonist L649,923 (1 μm) completely blocks the LTD₄-induced increase in [Ca²⁺] _i and inhibits the RVD response as well as the LTD₄-induced acceleration of the RVD response. When the LTD₄ receptor is desensitized by preincubation with 100 nm LTD₄, a subsequent RVD response is strongly inhibited. In conclusion, the present study supports the notion that LTD₄ plays a role in the activation of the RVD response. LTD₄ seems to activate K⁺ and Cl⁻ channels via stimulation of a LTD₄ receptor with no need for a detectable increase in [Ca²⁺] _i . Received: 25 September 1995/Revised: 25 January 1996