Phospholipase A2 activation in human neutrophils. Differential actions of diacylglycerols and alkylacylglycerols in priming cells for stimulation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe

Both 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerols are formed during stimulation of human neutrophils (PMN), and both can prime respiratory burst responses for stimulation by the chemotactic peptide, N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP); however, mechanisms of priming are unknown. Arachidonic acid (AA) release through phospholipase A2 activation and metabolism by 5-lipoxygenase are important activities of PMN during inflammation and could be involved in the process of primed stimulation. Therefore, we have examined the ability of diacyl- and alkylacylglycerols to act as priming agents for AA release and metabolism in human neutrophils. After prelabeling PMN phospholipids with [3H]AA, priming was tested by incubating human PMN with the diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), or its alkylacyl analog, 1-O-delta 9-octadecenyl-2-acetylglycerol (EAG) before stimulating with fMLP. fMLP (1 microM), OAG (20 microM), or EAG (20 microM) individually caused little or no release of labeled AA. However, after priming PMN with the same concentrations of either OAG or EAG, stimulation with 1 microM fMLP caused rapid (peak after 1 min) release of 6-8% of [3H]AA from cellular phospholipids; total release was similar with either diglyceride. Priming cells with OAG also enhanced conversion of released AA to leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) upon subsequent fMLP stimulation, but AA metabolites were not increased in EAG-primed PMN. If fMLP was replaced with the calcium ionophore A23187 (which directly causes release of AA and production of LTB4 and 5-HETE), priming by both diglycerides again enhanced release of [3H]AA, but only OAG priming increased lipoxygenase activity. Indeed, EAG pretreatment markedly reduced LTB4 and 5-HETE production. Thus, both diglycerides prime release of AA from membrane phospholipids but have opposite actions on the subsequent metabolism of AA.     

Phorbol myristate acetate receptors in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Resting or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-pretreated neutrophils were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and were fractionated on Percoll density gradients to identify the subcellular location of PMA receptors. Receptors were found in the cytoplasm of resting cells; neither primary nor secondary granules bound [3H]PMA, and the few binding sites located in non-granule membrane fractions appeared to reflect cytosolic contamination. Contrastingly, PMA-pretreated cells lost cytosolic receptors; greater than 80% of PMA-binding sites were associated with non-granule membranes. Protein kinase C activity similarly shifted from cytosol to membranes after PMA treatment. Indeed, protein kinase C and PMA receptors co-sedimented on Percoll gradients, co-eluted from Ultragel AcA 44 columns loaded with neutrophil cytoplasm, and were identically influenced by various phospholipids. Finally, PMA, mezerein, diacylglycerol, and dialkylglycerol activated protein kinase C with potencies that paralleled their respective abilities to stimulate neutrophil aggregation responses and inhibit [3H]PMA binding to whole cells or cytosol. These results fit a model of stimulus-response coupling wherein exogenous PMA or endogenous diacylglycerol solvate in cellular membranes. Cytosolic protein kinase C binds to the intramembranous ligand, forming an active, membrane-associated complex that phosphorylates nearby elements involved in triggering aggregation and other responses.     

The diacylglycerols dioctanoylglycerol and oleoylacetylglycerol enhance prostaglandin synthesis by inhibition of the lysophosphatide acyltransferase.

Prostanoids are synthesized by resident macrophages upon stimulation with diacylglycerols. Oleoylacetylglycerol and dioctanoylglycerol induced prostaglandin E and thromboxane synthesis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Both diacylglycerols inhibited the lysophosphatide acyltransferase, which is the key enzyme in the reacylation of arachidonic acid. By this mechanism the pool of free arachidonic acid available for prostanoid synthesis is increased. Both diacylglycerols were able to inhibit the membrane-bound lysophosphatide acyltransferase by a direct interaction independent of protein kinase C. Thus lysophosphatide acyltransferase could be shown to be a new target of these diacylglycerols, known as activators of protein kinase C.     

Phorbol esters stimulate phosphate accumulation synergistically with A23187 in cultured renal tubular cells

The effects of phorbol esters and diacylglycerol on phosphate accumulation in the cultured mouse kidney cells were investigated to assess the possible role of Ca2+-activated, phospholipid dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) on the renal phosphate handling. 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated phosphate accumulation dose-dependently. TPA-induced phosphate accumulation was synergistically enhanced with A23187. 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate did not stimulate the phosphate accumulation, while 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate stimulated it. Additionally, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol exhibited a stimulatory effect on phosphate accumulation. These data indicated that protein kinase C is one of possible regulators of phosphate transport at the renal tubules.     

Ascorbic acid transport and accumulation in human neutrophils

The transport, accumulation, and distribution of ascorbic acid were investigated in isolated human neutrophils utilizing a new ascorbic acid assay, which combined the techniques of high performance liquid chromatography and coulometric electrochemical detection. Freshly isolated human neutrophils contained 1.0-1.4 mM ascorbic acid, which was localized greater than or equal to 94% to the cytosol, was not protein bound, and was present only as ascorbic acid and not as dehydroascorbic acid. Upon addition of ascorbic acid to the extracellular medium in physiologic amounts, ascorbic acid was accumulated in neutrophils in millimolar concentrations. Accumulation was mediated by a high affinity and a low affinity transporter; both transporters were responsible for maintenance of concentration gradients as large as 50-fold. The high affinity transporter had an apparent Km of 2-5 microns by Lineweaver-Burk and Eadie-Hofstee analyses, and the low affinity transporter had an apparent Km of 6-7 mM by similar analyses. Each transporter was saturable and temperature dependent. In normal human blood the high affinity transporter should be saturated, whereas the low affinity transporter should be in its linear phase of uptake.     

Guanine nucleotides stimulate NADPH oxidase in membranes of human neutrophils

In the chain of events by which chemotactic peptides stimulate NADPH oxidase-catalyzed superoxide formation in human neutrophils, the involvements of a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein (N-protein), mobilization of intracellular calcium and protein kinase C stimulation have been proposed. Superoxide formation was studied in membranes from human neutrophils; NADPH oxidase was stimulated by arachidonic acid in the presence of neutrophil cytosol. Fluoride and stable GTP analogues, such as GTP gamma S and GppNHp, which all activate N-proteins, enhanced NADPH oxidase activity up to 4-fold. GDP beta S inhibited the effect of GTP gamma S. These data suggest that NADPH oxidase is regulated by an N-protein, independent of an elevation of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration.     

Phorbol ester induces inhibition of arachidonate incorporation into phospholipids in human neutrophils

PMA is known to enhance calcium ionophore A-23187 induced arachidonate release in human neutrophils. Mechanism of enhancement by PMA is not clear. We have found that neutrophils pretreated with PMA showed significant reduction in labeled arachidonate uptake. Decrease in arachidonate uptake following PMA treatment was attributed, at least in part, to inactivation of arachidonoyl CoA synthase and arachidonoyl CoA lysophosphatide acyltransferase, two key enzymes involved in arachidonate incorporation into phospholipids. These results suggest that PMA may induce protein kinase C activation which in turn may cause inactivation of the two enzymes involved in incorporation of arachidonate resulting in greater availability of arachidonate which is liberated by A-23187 for oxygenation and release into extracellular space. Abbreviations: PMA, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PDD, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate; TXB2, thromboxane B2; LTB4, leukotriene B4; PC, phosphatidylcholine; LPC, lysophosphatidylcholine; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide.     

Anthrax toxin components stimulate chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Effects of the three-component toxin of Bacillus anthracis on chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were investigated in an effort to determine the basis of the reported antiphagocytic effect of the toxin. The three toxin components, edema factor (EF), protective antigen (PA), and lethal factor (LF), were tested alone and in various combinations for their effect on PMN chemotaxis under agarose to formyl peptides and zymosan-activated serum. No component was active alone; combinations of EF + PA, LF + PA, and EF + LF + PA markedly stimulated chemotaxis (directed migration), but had little or no effect on unstimulated random migration. The toxin components were not themselves chemoattractants. EF in combination with PA had previously been identified as an adenylate cyclase in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We found that EF + PA produced detectable cyclic adenosine 3'-5'monophosphate (cAMP) in PMN, but the level of cAMP was less than 1% of that produced in CHO cells by EF + PA, and in PMN by other bacterial adenylate cyclases. LF + PA (which stimulated chemotaxis to an equivalent extent) had no effect on cAMP levels. Thus, the enhancement of chemotaxis by anthrax toxin (at least by LF + PA) does not seem to be related to adenylate cyclase activity.     

Phorbol esters stimulate the transport of anionic amino acids in cultured human fibroblasts

The effect of phorbol esters on the transport of amino acids has been evaluated in cultured human fibroblasts. The activity of the Na(+)-dependent system XAG- for anionic amino acids is selectively and markedly stimulated by phorbol esters. The effect is maximal within 15 min; it is attributable to an increase in transport maximum (Vmax) and not prevented by inhibitors of protein synthesis. The half-maximal stimulation is observed at concentrations of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate lower than 100 nM. Prolonged incubations in the presence of 1 microM phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate lower the binding of the ligand to its receptor with a loss of the stimulatory effect on transport. The results presented indicate that the stimulation of amino acid transport through system XAG- by phorbol esters requires the activation of protein kinase C.     

Phorbol ester tumor promoters specifically stimulate choline phospholipid metabolism in human leukemic cells

Human hairy cell leukemia (HCL) cells in culture showed a marked increase in both [1-14C]acetate and [14C]choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine (PC) when treated with a 10 nM concentration of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for 3 h. Dramatic morphological changes occurred and synthesis of most phospholipids was stimulated. However, the most dramatic increase was seen in the [14C]acetate labeling of both long- and short-chain fatty acid-containing sphingomyelins (from 200-425% of control levels), sphingomyelin being especially enriched in HCL cells. Negligible incorporation of [14C]choline into sphingomyelin was observed and phospholipase inhibitor (U10029A) studies indicated that PC was the major source of sphingomyelin choline. These changes were most clearly seen by autoradiography of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography plates. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) blasts, which did not respond morphologically to TPA, showed no increased phospholipid synthesis under the same conditions and increases in sphingomyelin synthesis were modest. Other non-TPA-responding leukemic cells were similarly refractive. However, one out of four acute monomyelocytic leukemic (AMMoL) cells studied responded morphologically in a manner identical to HCL cells and exhibited the same dramatic increase in sphingomyelin synthesis. Data are presented which suggest that TPA may also stimulate PC phospholipase C activity in addition to activating the calcium-dependent protein kinase by mimicking diacylglycerol.     

Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and 1-oleyl-2-acetyldiacylglycerol stimulate inositol trisphosphate dephosphorylation in human platelets

Inositol trisphosphate (IP3) is formed in response to specific agonists that cause activation of phospholipase C and degradation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. IP3 is a second messenger that releases Ca2+ from the dense tubular system to the cytosol in stimulated platelets. Our present information indicates that [3H]IP3 is dephosphorylated to [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP) by human platelets treated with 0.05-0.10% Triton X-100. This dephosphorylation of [3H]IP3 to [3H]IP2 and [3H]IP is also observed when platelets are permeabilized by electrical stimulation or by 20 micrograms/ml saponin. These detergents or electropermeabilization allow IP3 to access cytosolic IP3 phosphatase. Pretreatment of intact platelets with phorbol dibutyrate and 1-oleyl-2-acetyldiacylglycerol for 30 s, at concentrations that maximally activate protein kinase C, stimulates the conversion of IP3 to IP2 and IP. This suggests a role for protein kinase C in the regulation of IP3 degradation.     

Phorbol esters and dioctanoylglycerol block anti-IgM-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the murine B cell lymphoma WEHI-231

Cross-linking of membrane IgM (mIgM) on both normal resting B cells and on the murine B cell lymphoma WEHI-231 activates the phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway. The initial event in this pathway is the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP2), which results in the generation of two second-messengers: inositol trisphosphate (InsP3), which can cause the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and diacylglycerol (DG), which activates protein kinase C. In examining the effects of exogenous activation of protein kinase C on WEHI-231 cells, we found that phorbol esters blocked some of the biologic effects of anti-IgM on WEHI-231 cells. The mechanism of this effect was investigated. Phorbol ester treatment of WEHI-231 cells blocked the ability of anti-IgM to stimulate production of inositol phosphates and accumulation of phosphatidic acid, the phosphorylated product of DG. Phorbol esters also blocked the ability of anti-IgM to cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+. Thus, it is clear that phorbol esters block anti-IgM-stimulated PtdInsP2 hydrolysis in WEHI-231 cells. In addition, a synthetic DG, dioctanoylglycerol (diC8), also blocked anti-IgM-stimulated inositol phosphate production and the anti-IgM-stimulated rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+. The ability of phorbol esters and diC8 to block mIgM-mediated signaling may reflect a feedback inhibition mechanism by which activated protein kinase C limits the magnitude and duration of receptor signaling.     

Phorbol esters stimulate cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate accumulation in hamster spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation

Phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), induced a 20- to 50-fold increase (ED50: 2 microM) in cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels in spermatozoa incubated in capacitation medium for short periods of time (30 min). Similar results were obtained with 1-oleoyl 2-acetylglycerol (OAG), whereas 1, 2 diolein, 1-oleoyl glycerol, or 4 alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate had no effect. When extracellular Ca2+ was complexed by [ethylenebis(oxyethyleneitrilo)] tetraacetic acid (EGTA), a 50% reduction of maximal stimulation was observed, and 90% inhibition was seen after chelation of both extra- and intracellular Ca2+ with EGTA and 2-[[2-[bis [(carbonyl) methyl] amino]-5-methylphenoxy] methyl]-6-methoxy-8-[bis[(carbonyl) methyl] amino] quinoline acetoxy methyl (Quin 2). The acrosome reaction was not affected by similar concentration of PMA or OAG at different periods of incubation. These results suggest the involvement of protein kinase C activity in the regulation of cAMP levels in sperm during capacitation. This stimulation is dependent on intracellular Ca2+ and probably is not linked to the process of the acrosome reaction.     

Diacylglycerol accumulation and superoxide anion production in stimulated human neutrophils

Exogenous diacylglycerols stimulate neutrophil superoxide anion production, suggesting that endogenous diacylglycerols may function as second messengers for this biological response. We have measured the diacylglycerol mass in human neutrophils stimulated by fMet-Leu-Phe, ionomycin, and concanavalin A and have correlated the kinetics and magnitude of the diacylglycerol response with those for superoxide anion production. For each stimulus, no increase in diacylglycerol mass was detected prior to the onset of superoxide anion generation. However, large sustained increases in diacylglycerol concentration (260-2000% of basal levels) occurred in parallel with the rise in superoxide anion. The cessation or continuation of diacylglycerol accumulation and superoxide anion production also correlated. The diacylglycerol response was proportional to the stimulus concentration and correlated with the concentration dependence for superoxide anion. Pretreatment of neutrophils with cytochalasin B enhanced both superoxide anion and diacylglycerol responses with all three stimuli. These data support the hypothesis that diacylglycerol functions as a modulator of superoxide anion generation causing a sustained or augmented respiratory burst.     

Phorbol diesters promote beta-adrenergic receptor phosphorylation and adenylate cyclase desensitization in duck erythrocytes

Preincubation of duck erythrocytes with tumor promoting phorbol diesters or catecholamines leads to attenuation of adenylate cyclase activity. 12-0-Tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate treatment induced a 38% and 30% desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, respectively. In contrast, the inactive phorbol diester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, was without effect in promoting adenylate cyclase desensitization. The catecholamine isoproterenol induced a 51% desensitization. Incubation of 32Pi labeled erythrocytes with TPA promoted a 3- to 4-fold increase in phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor as did incubation with isoproterenol. Treatment of the cells with both TPA and isoproterenol together resulted in desensitization and receptor phosphorylation which were no greater than those observed with either agent alone. These data suggest a potential role for protein kinase C in regulating beta-adrenergic receptor function.     

Intracellular production of reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils following activation by the soluble stimuli FMLP, dioctanoylglycerol and ionomycin.

The stimuli, sn-1, 2-dioctanoylglycerol; (DG8) the calcium specific ionophore, ionomycin, and the chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) can interact with normal human neutrophils and activate their superoxide/hydrogen peroxide generating NADPH-oxidase. In response to the peptide as well as DG8, the neutrophils produced both superoxide (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Since interaction between the cells and ionomycin was not associated with any notable superoxide production and hydrogen peroxide was induced only in the presence of azide, a potent inhibitor of the hydrogen peroxide-consuming enzymes catalase and myeloperoxidase, we conclude that this stimulus can generate oxygen metabolites intracellularly. Since the DG8-induced production of hydrogen peroxide was increased in the presence of azide, whereas the FMLP-induced response was largely unaffected, we concluded that the three stimuli differ in their capacity to generate oxygen metabolites intracellularly. The use of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol (DG10) as stimulating agent did not result in any detectable activation of the NADPH-oxidase. However, preincubation caused an increased (primed) response during stimulation with the chemotactic peptide FMLP. The response of primed neutrophils to FMLP proceeds with a time-course different from that seen in normal cells. From the results presented on FMLP-induced activity in the presence of azide, we conclude that FMLP causes normal cells to produce oxygen radicals which are released from the cells. However, the primed cells are also capable of generating oxygen metabolites that are retained inside the cells. In fact, measurement of the intracellularly generated metabolites discloses this to be the predominant part of the response.     

Intracellular accumulation of potent amiloride analogues by human neutrophils

The mechanism of uptake of a series of amiloride derivatives by human neutrophils was investigated using [14C]amiloride and the 14C-labeled 5-(1-hexahydroazepinyl)-6-bromo analogue (BrMM) which is approximately 500-fold more potent than the parent compound at inhibiting Na+/H+ exchange. At an external concentration of 2 microM, the influx of BrMM at 37 degrees C was rapid, reaching a steady state by approximately 20 min. The rate of BrMM uptake (approximately 25 mumol/liter.min) was approximately 90-fold faster than for the same concentration of amiloride, a finding which correlates with differences in lipid partitioning of the two compounds. Uptake was unrelated to specific binding to Na+/H+ exchange transport sites: influx of either drug was nonsaturable whereas amiloride- and BrMM-mediated inhibition of Na+/H+ countertransport obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Ki values of approximately 75 and approximately 0.2 microM. Entry occurred exclusively via the neutral (uncharged) forms (pK'a 8.40-8.55). Influx was markedly pH-dependent: it was enhanced by extracellular alkalinization and reduced by acidification. Influx was, however, insensitive to large changes in membrane voltage, thereby implying the protonated (charged) species to be impermeant. About 75% of the total intracellular pool of amiloride, but only approximately 25% of BrMM, is contained within the lysosomes, an expected consequence of the partitioning and subsequent trapping of a weak base within this strongly acidic subcellular compartment. With BrMM, there was a relative approximately 60-fold enrichment in the internal/external water concentration ratio of the drug; the value for amiloride was much less, approximately 4. This disparity is consistent with substantial binding of BrMM to internal constituents, presumably to proteins and/or nucleic acids. Thus, it is important to recognize that potentially large intracellular accumulations of potent analogues can occur that are not directly involved in inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange. These findings sound a cautionary note in the interpretation of results using these drugs in all cells, especially those of small size with high surface-to-volume ratios.     

Biosynthesis of paf-acether. X. Phorbol myristate acetate-induced paf-acether biosynthesis and acetyltransferase activation in human neutrophils

We tested the hypothesis that protein kinase C might play a role in the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (paf-acether) in human neutrophils. PMA but not its inactive analog 4-alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate induced lyso paf-acether production, followed by acetyltransferase activation, leading to paf-acether synthesis and release. Moreover, PMA was twice as powerful compared to opsonized zymosan (OPZ). 1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol also induced acetyltransferase activation and paf and lyso paf production. The paf-acether formed by PMA or OPZ stimulation was composed of alkyl chains C16:0 (84.3 +/- 5% and 80.7 +/- 3.5%, respectively, and C18:0 (15.7 +/- 5% and 19.3 +/- 3.5%, respectively, means +/- SEM) as assessed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection. The inhibitor of protein kinase C, D-sphingosine, markedly decreased paf and lyso paf production and acetyltransferase activation in PMA- as well as OPZ-stimulated neutrophils. These results strongly suggest the involvement of protein kinase C in signal transduction during cell stimulation, leading to the paf biosynthesis.