Effect of phospholipase A2 inhibitors on the release of arachidonic acid and cell viability in cold-stored hepatocytes

We investigated the effect of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitors on PLA(2) activity and cell viability in cold-stored rat hepatocytes. The cells were radiolabeled with [(3)H] arachidonic acid (AA) and cold stored in the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution containing various PLA(2) inhibitors. PLA(2) activity was determined by measuring the total free (cellular + supernatant) AA by thin-layer chromatography after inhibiting reacylation of free AA with inhibitors of energy production (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone + iodoacetate). Aristolochic acid, chlorpromazine, and quinacrine in the UW solution showed a significant inhibitory effect throughout 48 h cold storage but only at relatively high concentration. PLA(2) activity was also suppressed (58% of control) by trifluoperazine (50 microM), but its effect was limited to only 24 h. In contrast, pretreatment of the cells prior to hypothermic preservation with trifluoperazine (10 to 100 microM) suppressed PLA(2) activity during 48 h storage. Inclusion of calmodulin antagonist W-7 did not affect PLA(2) activity. Thus, the inhibitory activity of these agents appears unrelated to Ca-calmodulin-phospholipid interaction but to have an inhibitory effect on PLA(2) activity. To study the effects of PLA(2) inhibitors on cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was measured in the presence or absence of inhibitors upon rewarming cold-stored cells in Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 2 h at 37 degrees C. None of the inhibitors tested improved cell viability after 48 h storage. Thus, although PLA(2) inhibitors blocked PLA(2) activity, there was no suppression of LDH release. PLA(2) may play a minor role in preservation/reperfusion injury to cold-stored hepatocytes.     

肝细胞生长因子对四氯化碳损伤原代培养大鼠肝细胞的保护…

本工作采用无血清原供培养大鼠肝细胞法,观察了重组人肝细胞生长因子对四氯化碳致大鼠肝细胞损伤的保护作用。结果表明,ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ对ＣＣｌ４染毒肝细胞有明显的保护作用。ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ保护组较ＣＣｌ４染毒组细胞存活率显著升高,细胞内丙氨酸转氨酶,钾离子漏出明显降低。     

肝细胞生长因子对四氯化碳损伤原代培养大鼠肝细胞的保护作用

本工作采用无血清原代培养大鼠肝细胞法,观察了重组人肝细胞生长因子（ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ）对四氯化碳（ＣＣｌ４）致大鼠肝细胞损伤的保护作用。结果表明,ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ对ＣＣｌ４染毒肝细胞有明显的保护作用。ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ保护组较ＣＣｌ４染毒组细胞存活率显著升高,细胞内丙氨酸转氨酶、钾离子漏出明显降低。结果提示,ｒ－ｈＨＧＦ可减轻ＣＣｌ４对肝细胞膜的损伤,提高细胞膜的结构完整性     

肝细胞生长因子对四氯化碳损伤肝细胞的保护作用及相关基因表达

利用无血清原代培养大鼠肝细胞,观察重组人肝细胞生长因子（ｒｈＨＧＦ）对ＣＣｌ４染毒肝细胞的保护作用。结果表明：（１）ｒｈＨＧＦ（５ｎｇ／ｍｌ）预自理后可显著提高ＣＣｌ４（１５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）染毒肝细胞存活率,降低细胞内丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ＡＬＴ）、Ｋ＾＋的漏出;（２）表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ,５０ｎｇ／ｍｌ）和ｒｈＨＧＦ（５ｎｇ／ｍｌ）合用预处理肝细胞,ＣＣｌ４染毒后细胞内ＡＬＴ、Ｋ＾＋漏出较ｒｈＨＧＦ和     

LC-MS/MS methods for the detection of isoprostanes (iPF2alpha-III and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-VI) as biomarkers of CCl4-induced oxidative damage to hepatic tissue

Isoprostanes are formed after peroxidation of arachidonic acid and are promising biomarkers for reactive oxygen species. A LC-MS/MS based method was developed for the quantitation of two isoprostanes (iPF2alpha-III and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-VI) in hepatocytes, tissue and urine samples of rats. A column switching method was used to reduce sample preparation to a minimum. Precision was 9.4% and accuracy was between 96 and 114% for free iPF2alpha-III in tissue at concentrations from 1.9 to 6.1 ng/g. Treatment of rats with CCl4 to induce oxidative stress resulted in a dose-dependent increase (two- to three-fold) of iPF2alpha-III and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-VI in liver and kidney. For both isoprostanes an increase of four- to five-fold was observed in CCl4 treated hepatocytes and six- to eight-fold in CCl4 treated and glutathione depleted hepatocytes. In conclusion, the presented method is sensitive, specific and precise to be applied for the quantitation of iPF2alpha-III and 8,12-iso-iPF2alpha-VI which are shown to increase by CCl4 treatment in vitro and in vivo.     

Stimulation of DNA synthesis and mitosis of hepatocytes in primary cultures of neonatal rat liver by arachidonic acid and prostaglandins

At low concentrations (i.e. 10⁻¹²–10⁻⁹ mol/l) arachidonic acid intensely stimulated both DNA synthetic and mitotic activities of hepatocytes in 4-day-old primary cultures of neonatal rat liver. This effect of arachidonate was completely suppressed by the simultaneous administration to the cultures of a high dose (i.e. 10⁻⁴ mol/l) of indomethacin. A similar, but much weaker proliferogenic activity was exerted on neonatal hepatocytes by quite low concentrations of some of the main products of arachidonic acid metabolism, namely prostaglandins A₁, E₁, and E₂. Although these data support the possibility that arachidonate and prostaglandins are involved in the regulation of hepatocytic proliferative activation, the exact role of prostaglandins remains to be ascertained, because such agents might as well have acted by inducing intracellular surges of known mitogenic compounds, such as cAMP and cGMP.     

Role of exogenous arachidonate in the biosynthesis of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by the calcium ionophore A23187

By using high performance liquid chromatography with simultaneous detection of unlabeled and radiolabeled product of lipoxygenase oxidation of arachidonic acid, the mechanism of exogenous arachidonate involvement in leukotriene synthesis in human neutrophils induced by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 was studied. It was found that after addition of labeled arachidonate the specific radioactivity of the reaction product (leukotriene B4) does not change on a time scale, i.e., the free arachidonic acid exchange between the cell and extracellular space is a very rapid process. Exogenous arachidonic acid was found to be the substrate of the lipoxygenase reaction which acts in parallel with the endogenous one. The dependence of specific radioactivity of leukotriene B4 in added arachidonic acid concentration is described by a hyperbolic curve with saturation. When exogenous arachidonate is used at a concentration of 10.8 +/- 3.9 microM, that of intracellular arachidonic acid increases twofold at the expense of the exogenously added acid.     

CD2 triggering stimulates a phospholipase A2 activity beside the phospholipase C pathway in human T lymphocytes

In previous studies we demonstrated the triggering of the phospholipase C (PLC) pathway during the activation of an Ag-specific human CD4+ T lymphocyte clone by a mitogenic pair of CD2 (X11,D66) mAb. Similar conditions were applied to investigate a possible involvement of a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) acting as an additional alternative pathway during human T cell activation. Our results show that arachidonic acid or its derivatives are released after CD2 triggering. This release is largely independent of PLC activation and is mediated by a PLA2 because: 1) phosphatidylcholine is the preferential source of [3H]arachidonate release; 2) [3H]arachidonic acid release and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis are blocked by two inhibitors of solubilized PLA2, mepacrine, and 4-p-bromophenacylbromide; and 3) we evidenced a PLA2 activity in cell homogenates. Extracellular calcium appears to play a critical role because the effects of CD2 mAb were inhibited in a Ca2(+)-depleted medium. In contrast, protein kinase C is not implicated since PMA, a protein kinase C activator, neither stimulated arachidonic acid release nor modulated CD2-induced arachidonic acid release. Cyclic AMP which has been proved to regulate the activity of the PLC in T lymphocytes does not appear to play an important role in the regulation of PLA2 activity since PGE2 has only a minimal effect on [3H]-arachidonate release. Altogether, these findings suggest that CD2 triggering stimulates a PLA2 activity in T lymphocytes via an extracellular Ca2(+)-dependent PLC protein kinase C independent mechanism.     

Regulation of lung surfactant secretion by phospholipase A2

Arachidonic acid has been shown to stimulate lung surfactant secretion from alveolar epithelial type II cells. To identify the (phospho)lipases responsible for generating arachidonic acid during lung surfactant secretion, the effects of various (phospho)lipase inhibitors on phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion from rat alveolar type II cells were investigated. N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (ACA), a general inhibitor of phsopholipase A2 (PLA2), inhibited ATP-stimulated PC secretion in a dose-dependent manner. ACA also blocked PC secretion from type II cells stimulated by other secretagogues including phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and terbutaline, indicating that PLA2 acts at a late step distal to the generation of second messengers. To determine which PLA2 isoform(s) is involved in lung surfactant secretion, selective inhibitors to different types of PLA2 were used to inhibit PLA2 activity in type II cells. The cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) inhibitor, arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, was found to inhibit ATP-stimulated PC secretion, whereas the secretory PLA2 inhibitors, oleoyloxyethylphosphocholine, aristolochic acid, or p-bromophenacyl bromide, and the Ca2+-independent PLA2 inhibitors, palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone, or haloenol lactone suicide substrate, had no effect. In addition to PLA2, arachidonic acid is released from diacylglycerol (DAG) by DAG and monoacylglycerol lipases. The DAG lipase inhibitor, RHC-80267 also blocked ATP-stimulated PC secretion. The results suggest that both pathways for generating arachidonic acid via cPLA2 and DAG lipase may participate in lung surfactant secretion.     

Role of intracellular calcium and phospholipase A2 in arachidonic acid-induced toxicity in liver cells overexpressing CYP2E1

Liver cells (HepG2 and primary hepatocytes) overexpressing CYP2E1 and exposed to arachidonic acid (AA) were previously shown to lose viability together with enhanced lipid peroxidation. These events were blocked in cells pre-incubated with antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, glutathione ethyl ester), or in HepG2 cells not expressing CYP2E1. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the role of calcium and calcium-activated hydrolases in these CYP2E1-AA interactions. CYP2E1-expressing HepG2 cells treated with AA showed an early increase in cytosolic calcium and partial depletion of ionomycin-sensitive calcium stores. These changes in calcium were blocked by alpha-tocopherol. AA activated phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in CYP2E1-expressing liver cells, and this was inhibited by PLA2 inhibitors or alpha-tocopherol. PLA2 inhibitors prevented the cell death caused by AA, without affecting CYP2E1 activity or lipid peroxidation. AA toxicity and PLA2 activation were inhibited in calcium-depleted cells, but not by removal of extracellular calcium alone. Removal of extracellular calcium inhibited the early increase in cytosolic calcium caused by AA. CYP2E1 overexpressing HepG2 cells exposed to AA showed a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, which was prevented by the PLA2 inhibitors. These results suggest that AA-induced toxicity to CYPE1-expressing cells: (i) is associated with release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores that depends mainly on oxidative membrane damage; (ii) is associated with activation of PLA2 that depends on intracellular calcium and lipid peroxidation; (iii) does not depend on increased influx of extracellular calcium, and (iv) depends on the effect of converging events (lipid peroxidation, intracellular calcium, activation of PLA2) on mitochondria to induce bioenergetic failure and necrosis. These interactions may play a role in alcohol liver toxicity, which requires polyunsaturated fatty acids, and involves induction of CYP2E1.     

High Sensitivity of Glutamate Uptake to Extracellular Free Arachidonic Acid Levels in Rat Cortical Synaptosomes and Astrocytes

By using both synaptosomes and cultured astrocytes from rat cerebral cortex, we have investigated the inhibitory action of arachidonic acid on the high-affinity glutamate uptake systems, focusing on the possible physiological significance of this mechanism. Application of arachidonic acid (1-100 microM) to either preparation leads to fast (within 30 s) and largely reversible reduction in the uptake rate. When either melittin (0.2-1 microgram/ml), a phospholipase A2 activator, or thimerosal (50-200 microM), which inhibits fatty acid reacylation in phospholipids, is applied to astrocytes, both an enhancement in extracellular free arachidonate and a reduction in glutamate uptake are seen. The two effects display similar dose dependency and time course. In particular, 10% uptake inhibition correlates with 30% elevation in free arachidonate, whereas inhibition greater than or equal to 60% is paralleled by threefold stimulation of arachidonate release. In the presence of albumin (1-10 mg/ml), a free fatty acid-binding protein, inhibition by either melittin, thimerosal, or arachidonic acid is prevented and an enhancement of glutamate uptake above the control levels is observed. Our data show that neuronal and glial glutamate transport systems are highly sensitive to changes in extracellular free arachidonate levels and suggest that uptake inhibition may be a relevant mechanism in the action of arachidonic acid at glutamatergic synapses.     

A calcium-independent phospholipase activity insensitive to bromoenol lactone mediates arachidonic acid release by lindane in rat myometrial cells.

Arachidonic acid release is an important regulatory component of uterine contraction and parturition, and previous studies showed that lindane stimulates arachidonic acid release from myometrium. The present study partially characterized the enzyme activity responsible for lindane-induced arachidonic acid release in myometrial cells. Lindane released arachidonic acid from cultured rat myometrial cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. This release was primarily from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, and was independent of intracellular and extracellular calcium. In cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, 85% of radiolabel was recovered as free arachidonate and only 5% was recovered as eicosanoids. Pretreatment with the antioxidants Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, alpha-tocopherol or Trolox did not significantly modify lindane-induced arachidonic acid release. Pretreatment of cells with the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C inhibitor D609, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C inhibitor ET-18-OCH3, or an interrupter of the phospholipase D pathway (ethanol) did not suppress lindane-induced arachidonic acid release. Although these results are consistent with calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activation by lindane, the calcium-independent phospholipase A2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone failed to inhibit lindane-induced arachidonic acid release in myometrial cells, even though bromoenol lactone effectively blocked arachidonic acid release in neutrophils. These results suggest that myometrial cells express a novel, previously unidentified phospholipase that is arachidonate-specific, calcium-independent, insensitive to bromoenol lactone, insensitive to reactive oxygen species activation, shows substrate preference for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol, and is stimulated by lindane. Moreover, the data show that the overwhelming majority of arachidonic acid released remains as arachidonate, but that lindane does not significantly inhibit metabolism of arachidonate to eicosanoids.     

Involvement of different protein kinases and phospholipases A2 in phorbol ester (TPA)-induced arachidonic acid liberation in bovine platelets

The effect of various phospholipase A2 and protein kinase inhibitors on the arachidonic acid liberation in bovine platelets induced by the protein kinase activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was studied. TPA stimulates arachidonic acid release mainly by activating group IV cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), since inhibitors of this enzyme markedly inhibited arachidonic acid formation. However, group VI Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) seems to contribute to the arachidonic acid liberation too, since the relatively specific iPLA2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone (BEL) decreased arachidonic acid generation in part. The pronounced inhibition of the TPA-induced arachidonic acid release by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors GF 109203X and Ro 31-82220, respectively, and by the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB 202190 suggests that the activation of the PLA2s by TPA is mediated via PKC and p38 MAP kinase.     

Regulation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid/Barbiturate Receptor-Gated Chloride Ion Flux in Brain Vesicles by Phospholipase A2: Possible Role of Oxygen Radicals

Preincubation of brain membranes with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has been shown previously to affect the binding characteristics of various recognition sites associated with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor complex. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of PLA2 (from Naja naja siamensis venom) on the functional activity of the GABA receptor/chloride ion channel. PLA2 (0.001-0.02 U/mg protein) preincubation decreased pentobarbital-induced 36Cl- efflux and muscimol-induced 36Cl- uptake in rat cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes. The effect of PLA2 was prevented by EGTA and two nonselective PLA2 inhibitors, mepacrine and bromophenacyl bromide. The removal of free fatty acids by addition of bovine serum albumin both prevented and reversed the effect of PLA2. Products of the catalytic activity of PLA2, such as the unsaturated free fatty acids, arachidonic and oleic acids, mimicked the effect of PLA2. However, the saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid, and lysophosphatidyl choline had no effect on pentobarbital-induced 36Cl- efflux. Because unsaturated free fatty acids are highly susceptible to peroxidation by oxygen radicals, the role of oxygen radicals was investigated. Xanthine plus xanthine oxidase, a superoxide radical generating system, mimicked the effect of PLA2, whereas the superoxide radical scavenger, superoxide dismutase, diminished the effects of PLA2 and arachidonic acid on pentobarbital-induced 36Cl- efflux. Similarly, the effect of PLA2 was also inhibited by methanol (1 mM), a scavenger of the hydroxyl radical, and by catalase. These data indicate that exogenously added PLA2 induces alterations in membrane phospholipids, possibly promoting the generation of oxygen radicals and fatty acid peroxides which can ultimately modulate GABA/barbiturate receptor function in brain.     

Chitosan-induced phospholipase A2 activation and arachidonic acid mobilization in P388D1 macrophages

We have found that chitosan, a polysaccharide present in fungal cell walls, is able to activate macrophages for enhanced mobilization of arachidonic acid in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Studies aimed at identifying the intracellular effector(s) implicated in chitosan-induced arachidonate release revealed the involvement of the cytosolic Group IV phospholipase A2 (PLA2), as judged by the inhibitory effect of methyl arachidonoyl fluorophosphonate but not of bromoenol lactone. Interestingly, priming of the macrophages with lipopolysaccharide renders the cells more sensitive to a subsequent stimulation with chitosan, and this enhancement is totally blocked by the secretory PLA2 inhibitor 3-(3-acetamide)-1-benzyl-2-ethylindolyl-5-oxy-propanesulfonic acid (LY311727). Collectively, the results of this work establish chitosan as a novel macrophage-activating factor that elicits AA mobilization in P388D1 macrophages by a mechanism involving the participation of two distinct phospholipases A2.     

Inhibition studies on the membrane-associated phospholipase A2 in vitro and prostaglandin E2 production in vivo of the macrophage-like P388D1 cell. Effects of manoalide, 7,7-dimethyl-5,8-eicosadienoic acid, and p-bromophenacyl bromide

In order to ascertain the role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the release of arachidonic acid for eicosanoid biosynthesis, we have characterized a Ca2+-dependent PLA2 from P388D1 cells, evaluated inhibitors of its activity, and correlated the effects of these inhibitors on prostaglandin (PG) E2 production in the intact cell. The Ca2+-dependent PLA2 has little preference for the polar head group or sn-2 fatty acid of phospholipids, and we have now found that it will hydrolyze 1-alkyl,2-acyl phospholipids, but it does not show a preference for this substrate over other phospholipids. Inhibitor studies with the Ca2+-dependent PLA2 have shown that arachidonic acid is an effective inhibitor. The analogs of natural fatty acids, eicosatetraynoic acid and octadecyleicosaynoic acid, were ineffective as inhibitors of the P388D1 PLA2. However, 7,7-dimethyl-5,8-eicosadienoic acid was as effective an inhibitor (IC50 = 16 microM) as arachidonic acid. Manoalide and its analog, manoalogue, were found to be good inhibitors of the P388D1 PLA2 (IC50 = 16 and 26 microM, respectively). The irreversible inhibitor of the extracellular PLA2, p-bromophenacyl bromide, was a very poor inhibitor of the P388D1 PLA2, apparent IC50 = 500-600 microM. Quinacrine was also ineffective as an inhibitor as was the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. On the cellular level, the P388D1 cells respond to various stimuli to produce PGD2 and PGE2 as the major cyclooxygenase products with minor production of PGI2 and thromboxane A2. Similar arachidonic acid metabolite profiles were seen for calcium ionophore A23187, melittin, and platelet-activating factor. Manoalide, manoalogue, and 7,7-dimethyl-5,8-eicosadienoic acid, effective inhibitors of the isolated PLA2, inhibited PGE2 production in intact P388D1 cells 40-85% in the concentration range studied. In contrast, p-bromophenacyl bromide, which is ineffective as an inhibitor of the P388D1 PLA2, did not significantly effect PGE2 production in the concentration ranges used. These results demonstrate that there may be important differences between the intracellular P388D1 PLA2 and the more commonly studied extracellular forms of PLA2. These differences are also observed in the intact cell studies and emphasize the need for the evaluation of inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo using the isolated enzyme and intact cell. This is the first example of studies aimed at correlating the inhibition of a purified intracellular PLA2 with inhibition of prostaglandin production in the intact cell from which it is derived.     

Synergistic release of arachidonic acid from platelets by activators of protein kinase C and Ca2+ ionophores. Evidence for the role of protein phosphorylation in the activation of phospholipase A2 and independence from the Na+/H+ exchanger

The protein kinase C activators phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), mezerein, oleoylacetylglycerol, and (-)-indolactam V, although without direct effect on arachidonic acid release, greatly enhance the release of platelet arachidonic acid caused by the Ca2+ ionophores A23187 and ionomycin. In contrast, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate and (+)-indolactam V, which lack the ability to activate kinase C, do not potentiate arachidonate release. Release of arachidonic acid occurs without activation of phospholipase C and is therefore mediated by phospholipase A2. Synergism between PMA and A23187 is not affected by inactivation of the Na+/H+ exchanger with dimethylamiloride. The time course and dose-response for the effect of PMA at 23 degrees C closely correlate with the phosphorylation of a set of relatively "slowly" phosphorylated proteins (P20, P35, P41, P60), but not the rapidly phosphorylated P47 protein. P20 is myosin light chain, and P41 is probably Gi alpha, but the other proteins have not been positively identified. Depletion of metabolic ATP stores by antimycin A plus 2-deoxyglucose abolishes both protein phorphorylation and the potentiation of arachidonate release by PMA, but does not prevent fatty acid release by the ionophores. Similarly, the kinase C inhibitors H-7 and staurosporine produce, respectively, partial and complete inhibition of PMA-potentiated arachidonic acid release and protein phosphorylation, without affecting the direct response to ionophores. These results indicate that protein phosphorylation, mediated by kinase C, promotes the phospholipase A2 dependent release of arachidonic acid in platelets when intracellular Ca2+ is elevated by Ca2+ ionophores.     

Free-radical metabolism of carbon tetrachloride in rat liver mitochondria. A study of the mechanism of activation.

Alterations in liver mitochondria as consequence of rat poisoning with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) have been reported over many years, but the mechanisms responsible for causing such damage are still largely unknown. Isolated rat liver mitochondria incubated under hypoxic conditions with succinate and ADP were found able to activate CCl4 to a free-radical species identified as trichloromethyl free radical (CCl3) by e.s.r. spectroscopy coupled with the spin-trapping technique. The incubation of mitochondria in air decreased free-radical production, indicating that a reductive reaction was involved in the activation of CCl4. However, in contrast with liver microsomes (microsomal fractions), mitochondria did not require the presence of NADPH, and the process was not significantly influenced by inhibitors of cytochrome P-450. The addition of inhibitors of the respiratory chain such as antimycin A and KCN decreased free-radical formation by only 30%, whereas rotenone displayed a greater effect (approx. 84% inhibition), but only when preincubated for 15 min with mitochondria not supplemented with succinate. These findings suggest that the mitochondrial electron-transport chain is responsible for the activation of CCl4. A conjugated-diene band was observed in the lipids extracted from mitochondria incubated with CCl4 under anaerobic conditions, indicating that stimulation of lipid peroxidation was occurring as a result of the formation of free-radical species.     

Arachidonate mobilization is coupled to depletion of intracellular calcium stores and influx of extracellular calcium in differentiated U937 cells

We have previously reported that dimethylsulfoxide-differentiation of U937 cells induced significant A23187-stimulatable arachidonate mobilization, consistent with characteristics of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (Rzigalinski, B.A. and Rosenthal, M.D. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1223, 219–225). The present report demonstrates that differentiated cells attained higher elevations of intracellular free calcium in response to A23187 and thapsigargin, consistent with enhancement of the capacitative calcium influx pathway. Differentiation induced a significant increase in the size of the intracellular calcium stores, as well as in the capacity for store-activated calcium influx. Alterations in the capacitative calcium influx pathway were coupled to differentiation-induced activation of cPLA₂ and mobilization of arachidonate in response to thapsigargin and fMLP stimulation. Although cPLA₂ activity is often associated with influx of extracellular calcium, arachidonate mobilization in response to thapsigargin or fMLP was not simply a consequence of calcium influx. Assessment of intracellular free calcium elevations during thapsigargin or fMLP-induced stimulation suggest that a low level of arachidonic acid release was initiated upon release of intracellular store calcium. This initial release of arachidonate was unaffected by inhibition of calcium influx with nickel, EGTA, or SKF96365. Arachidonate release was observed when extracellular calcium was replaced with extracellular strontium, suggesting activation of the cytosolic PLA₂ rather than secretory PLA₂. Inhibition of PLA₂ with prostaglandin B oligomer prevented both thapsigargin and fMLP-stimulated influx of extracellular calcium. Furthermore, exogenous free arachidonate stimulated influx of extracellular calcium in differentiated U937 cells. These results suggest that cPLA₂-mediated release of free arachidonate may participate in the formation of a calcium influx factor which controls influx of extracellular calcium through store-controlled channels in the plasma membrane.     

Phospholipase A2 activity in the rat uterus: Modulation by steroid hormones

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme which provides free arachidonic acid for the synthesis of prostaglandins (PG), has been studied in the rat uterus under various experimental conditions. Uterine PLA2 activity increased 14 fold in hypophysectomized rats implanted with Silastic capsules containing estradiol-17β as compared to those treated with oil vehicle. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the PLA2 activity induced by estrogen by 78%. Hypophysectomized animals treated with progesterone (2mg/day) for 5 days had low levels of uterine PLA2 activity but a single injection of estradiol (10ug/rat) given 24 h after the last injection of progesterone increased activity 5 fold within 12 h. Administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide in the rats treated with progesterone, before and after injection of estradiol, prevented the stimulating action of the estrogen on PLA2 activity. If the estrogen was given at the time of the last injection of progesterone, PLA2 activity did not increase until 24 h later and the level was much less than when progesterone was absent. The results are consistent with the view that estrogen stimulates uterine prostaglandin production because of its effect upon PLA2; this effect can be greatly reduced by a glucocorticoid. Progesterone may modulate the PLA2 stimulating effect of estrogen in order to direct the production of specific PGs by regulating the amount of arachidonic acid available for PG synthetase.