Dissociation of the Stellate Morphology from Intracellular Cyclic AMP Levels in Cultured Rat Brain Astroglial Cells: Effects of Ganglioside GMl and Lysophosphatidylserine

Secondary microcultures of newborn rat cerebrum astroglial (AG) cells, maintained in a serum-free, chemically defined medium, were treated with various agents known to elevate intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Earlier studies had shown these drugs to induce a process-bearing (stellate) morphology in the AG cells, a response that was antagonized by the presence of gangliosides. One millimolar dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP), 10 microM forskolin, 12 nM cholera toxin, and 30 microM isoproterenol all raised intracellular cAMP levels, from basal values of 3 pmol/10(6) cells to 30-30,000 pmol/10(6) cells, depending on the agent tested. dBcAMP caused the greatest elevation, and forskolin the least. The timing and/or the level of the AMP response did not precisely correlate with those of the stellation response. Values of ED50 with the four agents, as determined for the cAMP response, were always higher than stellation ED50 values in all treatments, and ED50 did not correlate with the maximal levels of cyclic AMP induced by the four agents. The capacity of ganglioside GM1 to block the stellation response to the four agents was not accompanied by a similar capacity to block the cAMP responses. Lysophosphatidylserine (lysoPS) had the capacity to induce AG cell stellation as well, without altering the basal level of cAMP. Both lysoPS and gangliosides, therefore, may act directly on the cellular machinery underlying the stellation response without involving changes in intracellular AMP.     

Cholera toxin stimulates division of 3T3 cells.

Cholera toxin was used in an attempt to inhibit epidermal growth factor stimulated 3T3 cell division. Instead, cholera toxin alone at low concentrations (10(-10) M), was able to stimulate cell division and could augment EGF stimulated cell division. The mitogenic effect of cholera toxin can occur despite a dramatic increase in the intracellular levels of cAMP in 3T3 cells. Cholera toxin stimulated mitogenesis could not be mimicked by choleragenoid, the binding but inactive subunit of cholera toxin, or by other agents which elevate cAMP levels in 3T3 cells.     

Changes in cAMP phosphodiesterase activity and cAMP concentration during mouse preimplantation development.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity and cAMP amounts were measured in mouse preimplantation embryos at the 1-cell, 2-cell, 8-cell/morula, and mid-blastocyst stages. PDE activity remained constant between the 1-cell and 2-cell stages. It decreased by the 8-cell stage and continued to decrease by the mid blastocyst stage to about 14% of the 1- and 2-cell values. By contrast, cAMP amounts remained essentially constant at 0.05 fmole/embryo (0.3 microM) from the 1-cell to the blastocyst stage and increased to 0.175 fmole in the fully expanded blastocyst that was close to hatching. Measurements of embryo volume indicated that intracellular volume remained essentially constant up to the blastocyst stage. The morphological changes in cell shape that accompany differentiation of the trophectoderm and that are coupled with blastocoel expansion decreased the intracellular volume. This decrease resulted in an increase in the cAMP concentration to about 0.4 microM by the mid-blastocyst stage. Previous studies indicate that either cAMP or TGF-alpha/EGF can stimulate the rate of blastocoel expansion. Although TGF-alpha/EGF can elevate cAMP levels in other cell types, TGF-alpha, at a concentration that maximally stimulates the rate of blastocoel expansion, did not elevate cAMP in blastocysts. Thus, it was unlikely that elevation of cAMP is the mechanism by which TGF-alpha stimulates the rate of blastocoel expansion.     

Gangliosides stimulate dome formation in cultured canine kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK)

The effect of exogenous gangliosides on the occurrence of domes in MDCK cell cultures was investigated in view of the involvement of both dome formation and gangliosides in cell growth, differentiation and transepithelial transport. Dome formation was increased by gangliosides in medium free of fetal calf serum. Among the gangliosides tested, GM3 and GD3 isolated from porcine kidney were most active, increasing the dome number 12-17-fold. Since gangliosides from kidney were more active than those from brain and erythrocytes, the hydrophobic moiety as well as sialic acid might be involved in this activity. These results indicate that tissue-specific molecules of gangliosides function as inducers or mediators of dome formation. The mechanism probably involves adenylate-cyclase or another transmembrane biosignal-transducing system.     

Calcium mediated neurohumoral inhibition of chicken enterocyte Na influx: role of phosphatidylinositol metabolites.

Carbachol (CCH), serotonin (5HT), divalent ionophore A23187, cAMP, and certain neuropeptides, i.e. substance P (SP), inhibit the initial rate of uptake (influx) of 22Na into isolated chicken villus enterocytes. All these agents also increase cytosolic Ca. However, the increases stimulated by CCH, 5HT, and cAMP are not blocked by chelation of extracellular Ca, whereas those of A23187 and SP are. Only CCH and 5HT stimulate hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositides to form inositol phosphates. CCH and 5HT also stimulate incorporation of [32P]-PO4 into membrane polyphosphoinositides. These studies suggest that at least three mechanisms exist to increase cytosolic Ca in chicken enterocytes and thereby inhibit Na influx. Certain neurohumoral agents such as SP open a plasma membrane permeability for Ca, permitting extracellular Ca to enter the cell down its electrochemical gradient. These agents do not stimulate phosphatidylinositol breakdown. CCH and 5HT stimulate phosphatidylinositol breakdown and via the formation of inositol trisphosphate release Ca from intracellular stores. A third mechanism exists for cAMP which mobilizes Ca from intracellular stores, but does not involve the metabolism of membrane phosphatidylinositols.     

Evidence for a role for cellular alkalinization in the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-mediated initiation of motility in bovine caput spermatozoa

Bicarbonate ion, the local anesthetics procaine and dibucaine, and the ionophores monensin and nigericin have been shown to markedly increase the ability of agents that elevate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels to initiate motility in bovine caput spermatozoa. A number of other weak bases, including theophylline, D-600 and dipyridamole, elevate cAMP levels maximally in caput sperm at low levels but induce motility only at high levels. These compounds thus appear to have a dual role in the initiation of motility, i.e., they elevate both cAMP levels and internal pH. Confirmation of this view was provided by the demonstration that bicarbonate ion and procaine permit initiation of motility by theophylline, D-600 and dipyridamole at markedly reduced levels. Also, forskolin (a neutral adenylate cyclase activator) elevates cyclic AMP levels in caput sperm but initiates motility only in the presence of bicarbonate or procaine, and the membrane-permeant cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP is capable of inducing motility only in the presence of bicarbonate. Thus, motility in caput sperm is induced only under conditions that elevate both intracellular cAMP and pH, whereas caudal sperm motility is stimulated by an elevation of either cAMP or pH. These data suggest that the epididymal development of motility requires a maturational increase in internal pH. This suggestion was confirmed by direct measurement of the internal pH of caput and caudal sperm; the internal pH of the former was found to be 5.84 +/- 0.1 and the latter 6.27 +/- 0.05.     

The involvement of cAMP in lymphocyte capping

We have observed that agents that are known to elevate intracellular levels of cAMP such as N⁶,O²-dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (dbcAMP) and theophylline cause a remarkable stimulatory effect on the lymphocyte receptor mobility phenomenon. Increased intracellular concentration of cAMP enhances not only antibody-induced but also Con A-induced lymphocyte capping events in T-lymphoma cells. In addition, we have noted that N²,O²-dibutyryl guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (dbcGMP) does not stimulate but actually slightly inhibits the receptor movement. Furthermore, we have determined cAMP levels to increase greater than twofold during ligand-induced capping using a radioimmunoassay. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that cyclic adenylic monophosphoric acid (and not cGMP) is specifically involved in the redistribution of lymphocyte membrane proteins induced by both antibody and Con A.     

Lysosomotropic agents and inhibitors of cellular transglutaminase stimulate dome formation, a differentiated characteristic of MDCK kidney epithelial cell cultures

Dome formation is a manifestation of transepithelial fluid transport in cell culture, a differentiated characteristic of transporting epithelia. A dramatic increase in numbers of domes in confluent MDCK kidney epithelial cell cultures was noted after addition of Friend cell inducers such as hexamethylane bisacetamide (HMBA) (Lever, 1979b). In the present study, we show that primary amines such as methylamine, ethylamine, and dansyl cadaverine also stimulate dome formation. These compounds largely prevented the marked decrease in numbers of spontaneously occurring domes which occurred when cultures were switched from medium containing 10% serum to medium containing serum concentrations below 0.2%. Many of these primary amines are not only lysosomotropic agents but also potent inhibitors of transglutaminase activity when assayed in MDCK cell extracts, at concentrations correlating with those effective in stimulation of dome formation. Other lysosomotropic agents such as chloroquine and secondary and tertiary amines stimulated dome formation yet did not inhibit transglutaminase. Induction of domes by HMBA differed in several properties from that stimulated by amines and did not involve fluctuations in transglutaminase activity. These findings suggest that lysosomal functions modulate serum stimulation of dome formation in epithelial cells by a pathway distinct from that triggered by HMBA.     

Role for cyclic adenosine monophosphate in modulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein secretion by muscle cells

The modulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP) secretion is an important variable affecting muscle cell metabolism, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously shown that secretion of IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 by L6 and BC₃H-1 muscle cells was stimulated by treatment with either insulin, IGF-I, or IGF-II. Herein, these cells were used to further identify mechanisms involved in controlling IGFBP secretion. Agents that elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations (dcAMP, forskolin, isoproterenol, and prostaglandin [PGE₁]) increase secretion of IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 from L6 cells. Similar increases in IGFBP secretion were found by treatment with either insulin, IGF-I, or dcAMP. The effects of dcAMP and either insulin or IGF-I were additive, but the effects of insulin and IGF-I were not additive. These results suggest that insulin/IGF-I and dcAMP are acting via distinct mechanisms to stimulate IGFBP secretion. Indomethacin, which blocks endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, and progesterone, which decreases intracellular cAMP levels, decreased IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 secretion. IGFBP-5 secretion by BC₃H-1 cells was increased by either insulin or IGF-I. Agents which elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations did not increase IGFBP-5 secretion. Additionally, these agents were not synergistic with either insulin or IGF-I. However, indomethacin and progesterone depressed IGFBP-5 secretion by BC₃H-1 cells. In summary, there appear to be at least two intracellular signaling mechanisms controlling IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 secretion by L6 and BC₃H-1 muscle cells. IGFBP secretion by L6 cells is stimulated by both insulin/IGF-I and cAMP-dependent pathways, whereas IGFBP-5 secretion by BC₃H-1 cells is stimulated only by the insulin/IGF pathway. IGFBP secretion by both cell lines can be decreased by agents which depress cAMP levels. Our results suggest that two divergent but synergistic pathways modulate IGFBP production and these mechanisms can potentially modulate IGF activity during muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. J. Cell. Physiol. 174:293–300, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Interrelationships among prostaglandins, vasopressin and cAMP in renal papillary collecting tubule cells in culture

To determine the influence of prostaglandins on cAMP metabolism in renal papillary collecting tubule (RPCT) cells, intracellular cAMP levels were measured after incubating cells with prostaglandins (PGs) alone or in combination with arginine vasopressin (AVP). PGE1, PGE2 and PGI2, but not PGD2 or PGF2 alpha, increased intracellular cAMP concentrations. At maximal concentrations (10(-5) M) the effects of PGE2 plus PGI2 (or PGE1), but not of PGI2 plus PGE1, were additive suggesting that at least two different PG receptors may be present in RPCT cell populations. Bradykinin treatment of RPCT cells caused an accumulation of intracellular cAMP which was blocked by aspirin and was quantitatively similar to that observed with 10(-5) M PGE2. PGs, when tested at concentrations (e.g. 10(-9) M) which had no independent effect on intracellular cAMP levels, did not inhibit the AVP-induced accumulation of intracellular cAMP in RPCT cells. These results indicate that PGs do not block AVP-induced accumulation of intracellular cAMP in RPCT cells at concentrations of PGs which have been shown to inhibit the hydroosmotic effect of AVP on perfused collecting tubule segments. However, at higher concentrations of PGs (e.g. 10(-5) M), the effects of AVP plus PGE1, PGE2, PGI2 or bradykinin on intracellular cAMP levels were not additive. Thus, under certain conditions, there is an interaction between PGs and AVP at the level of cAMP metabolism in RPCT cells.     

Signal transduction during human natural killer cell activation: inositol phosphate generation and regulation by cyclic AMP

NK cells mediate both direct cytotoxicity against a variety of tumor cells and indirect (FcR-dependent) cytotoxicity against antibody-coated targets. When cloned human NK cells (CD16+/CD3-) were exposed to NK-sensitive targets for 30 min, the level of inositol phosphates rose two to five times above background. The rise in inositol phosphates induced by NK-sensitive targets was paralleled by an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). A panel of tumor cells that were resistant to NK cell lysis did not stimulate significant levels of inositol phosphate production and did not induce an elevation of intracellular free calcium. Ligation of the FcR (CD16) with the mAb 3G8 also triggered phosphoinositide turnover. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that stimulation by either susceptible target cells or by FcR ligation led to rapid (less than 1 min) generation of the Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger, inositol trisphosphate, with slower accumulation of inositol bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of the cAMP-dependent second messenger pathway strongly inhibits NK cell-mediated cytotoxic functions. Treatment of NK effector cells with forskolin to elevate intracellular cAMP levels resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by both NK-sensitive targets and 3G8-mediated FcR ligation. These results suggest that phosphoinositide turnover represents a critical early event in the human NK cell cytolytic process. Moreover, the potent inhibitory effect of cAMP on NK cell cytotoxicity may be explained by the uncoupling of NK receptors from phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis.     

Regulation of Na+, K+-ATPase activity in MDCK kidney epithelial cell cultures: Role of growth state,cyclic AMP,and chemical inducers of dome formation and differentiation

Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was monitored in MDCK kidney epithelial cell monolayers and in cell extracts as a function of cell density, cAMP elevation, and exposure to hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) and dimethylsulfoxide (Me₂SO). Ouabain-sensitive Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase and ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake activities, and the number of [³H]-ouabain binding sites were maximal in subconfluent cultures and decreased accompanying the development of a confluent monolayer. A sodium pump density of 8 × 10⁷ pumps/cell was estimated for subconfluent cultures, declining to 9 × 10⁵ pumps/cell at confluence. Previous studies have shown that dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt₂cAMP), 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX), or the differentiation inducers HMBA and Me₂SO, which also caused cAMP elevation, all stimulated dome formation, a visible manifestation of active transepithelial Na⁺ and water transport (Lever, 1979). In the present study, all of these inducers were found to elevate intracellular Na⁺ content, implicating this variable in control of induction of dome formation. Operationally, inducers could be divided into two classes. HMBA and Me₂SO partially inhibited ouabain-sensitive ⁸⁶Rb⁺ influx. Ouabain, at a concentration that caused partial sodium pump inhibition and increased intracellular Na⁺ content, was also effective as an inducer. The second class, exemplified by IBMX and Bt₂cAMP caused a furosemide-sensitive increase in intracellular Na⁺ content. This class of inducers stimulated ouabain-sensitive ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake, presumably by substrate effects due to increased Na⁺ levels. The Na⁺ or ATP activation of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity assayed in cell-free extracts, the affinity of the transport system for Rb⁺ in intact cells and intracellular ATP levels were unchanged by inducer treatment. Elevation of intracellular Na⁺ concentration, either by cAMP-stimulated, furosemide-sensitive mechanisms or by partial inhibition of the sodium pump may stimulate the induction of dome formation in MDCK cells.     

Involvement of second messenger systems in stimulation of angiotensin converting enzyme of bovine endothelial cells.

We have demonstrated previously that a variety of agents including corticosteroids, thyroid hormone, cationophores, methylxanthines, and analogues of cAMP--all of which have diversified functions in various tissues--elevate cellular angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity of bovine endothelial cells in culture. In addition to these agents, we have now found that direct and receptor-mediated stimulators of adenylate cyclase, i.e., forskolin and cholera toxin, increase cellular ACE activity after 48 h incubation in culture. In an attempt to search out a more unifying concept of these stimulatory effects, we have further investigated the roles of second messengers in the stimulatory actions. Ca2+ ionophore A23187 produced significant increases in both intracellular Ca2+ and ACE of endothelial cells. In contrast to Ca2+ ionophore, agents that transiently mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular reserves such as bradykinin, acetylcholine, and ATP have no effect on the level of cellular ACE. Representative agents that elevate cellular cAMP (e.g., isobutyl methylxanthine [IBMX] and dibutyryl cAMP) elevated cellular ACE, but the slightly increased [Ca2+]i produced by these agents did not reach statistical significance. While IBMX, cholera toxin, and forskolin elevated cellular cAMP, other ACE stimulatory agents (hormones and cationophores) had no effect on cAMP. Ca2+ ionophore and the agents that elevated intracellular cAMP potentiated the effect of dexamethasone, thyroid hormone, and aldosterone in elevating cellular ACE activity. Increases in ACE activity produced by all stimulants were inhibited by the presence of 10-50 nM ouabain in the culture medium. Inhibition of ACE elevation by oubain was reversed by increasing the extracellular [K+], thereby implicating Na+, K(+)-ATPase in the ACE regulatory mechanism. These results support the presence of multiple independent mechanisms for the regulation of cellular ACE. In addition to possible involvement of intracellular Ca(2+)- and cAMP-dependent pathways, ACE is also increased by corticosteroids and thyroid hormone through mechanisms unrelated to Ca2+ and cAMP.     

Cyclic AMP-independent processes mediate Kirsten sarcoma virus-induced changes in collagen production and other properties of cultured cells

Previous studies suggested that the decreased collagen production observed in Kirsten sarcoma virus (Ki-MSV)-transformed BALB 3T3 cells could be reversed by treating cells with Bt2cAMP. We examined the relationship between intracellular cAMP, collagen production, and other properties in NRK and BALB 3T3 cells transformed by Ki-MSV. Two 3T3 transformants (Ki-3T3-234 and Ki-3T3Cl1) had lower cAMP levels than nontransformed cells. The level in a temperature-sensitive transformant, tsKi-3T3-714, was similar to the level in its parent, 3T3-714, and when it was shifted to a temperature nonpermissive for transformation (40 degrees C), intracellular cAMP did not increase although the growth and morphological properties were normal. The relative rate of collagen production also increased to the normal level. These results indicate that transformation-induced changes were regulated independently of cAMP. Further observations supported this conclusion. Intracellular cAMP in a flat revertant of Ki-3T3Cl1 was lower, rather than higher, than in the transformant, although the relative rate of collagen production was higher. Treatment of Ki-3T3-234 and tsKi-3T3-714 with cholera toxin plus isobutylmethylxanthine increased intracellular cAMP concentrations to 2-20 times the level in untreated cells, levels much higher than in nontransformed 3T3. In spite of this, collagen production was not increased by these agents in tsKi-3T3-714 and it was only partially restored in Ki-3T3-234 relative to the level in the nontransformed cells. In contrast, these agents inhibited growth on a substratum or in soft agar and produced a flattened morphology in both lines. Similarly, collagen production in transformed NRK cells (K-NRK) was only 3% of normal but treatment with Bt2cAMP or cholera toxin plus isobutylmethylxanthine increased production to only one-third the normal level while increasing cAMP to four times the normal level. We conclude that in Ki-MSV-transformed BALB 3T3 cells, changes in cAMP may be secondary effects and not related to maintenance of the transformed phenotype. The high levels of cAMP induced by exogenous agents may act on similar targets as those affected by transformation, but reversal of the transformed phenotype by these agents probably occurs by a different mechanism than that originally used to impose the changes.     

cAMP regulates vasopressin-induced AQP2 expression via protein kinase A-independent pathway

The regulation of AVP-induced AQP2 expression was investigated in the present study. AVP administration induced AQP2 expression in a dose-dependent manner in association with an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration. PKA activity was stimulated by AVP but PKA inhibitors did not block the upregulation of AQP2 expression. However, AVP also activated both ERK and CREB pathways, and ERK inhibitor attenuated the upregulation of AQP2 expression. These results therefore indicate that the effect of AVP stimulation to upregulate AQP2 expression involves a PKA-independent pathway.     

The role of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in the density-dependent regulation of growth and tyrosinase activity of B-16 melanoma cells.

Incubation of cultured B-16 melanoma cells with 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine (MIX) produced a sustained rise in intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) which preceded an increase in the specific activity of tyrosinase (EC 1.10.3.1). Cultures of two clones of melanoma cells, one having a mean population doubling time twice that of the other, showed density-dependent inhibition of growth. The tyrosinase activity of each line increased progressively during logarithmic growth, reaching maximal values shortly after the cultures achieved confluence. Intracellular cAMP levels fell during logarithmic growth, being minimal in confluent cultures. The stimulatory effects of MIX and confluence on tyrosinase activity were additive. Cells plated at high density had a lower tyrosinase activity than cells allowed to achieve a similar density by successive division from sparsely planted cultures although the intracellular cAMP levels of such cultures were not different. We support the observations of other investigators that agents which increase intracellular cAMP concentrations can both inhibit cell division and stimulate tyrosinase activity. There are, however, mechanisms for increasing tyrosinase activity and inhibiting cell division which are expressed as B-16 melanoma cells approach confluence and which are not mediated by an increase in intracellular cAMP concentrations.     

cAMP regulates vasopressin-induced AQP2 expression via protein kinase A-independent pathway

The regulation of AVP-induced AQP2 expression was investigated in the present study. AVP administration induced AQP2 expression in a dose-dependent manner in association with an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration. PKA activity was stimulated by AVP but PKA inhibitors did not block the upregulation of AQP2 expression. However, AVP also activated both ERK and CREB pathways, and ERK inhibitor attenuated the upregulation of AQP2 expression. These results therefore indicate that the effect of AVP stimulation to upregulate AQP2 expression involves a PKA-independent pathway.     

Curosurf modulates cAMP accumulation in human monocytes through a membrane-controlled mechanism

The cellular mechanisms by which pulmonary surfactant exerts its effects, including anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory effects, have remained elusive. To address the issue of whether plasma membrane modifications represent a target for these mechanisms, we designed an experimental protocol involving the determination of changes in cAMP levels under membrane-dependent or -independent stimulatory pathways. The effects of a modified natural porcine surfactant, Curosurf, and the major surfactant protein A were evaluated on resting and stimulated cAMP levels of human monocytes. We found that agents that elevate intracellular cAMP exhibit different susceptibilities toward a preexposure to Curosurf. The rise in cAMP induced by membrane-active agents such as cholera toxin or the diterpene forskolin was significantly inhibited by monocyte preexposure to Curosurf. In contrast, the rise in cAMP induced by the membrane-permeant phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine or by the Bordetella pertussis toxin adenylate cyclase-hemolysin was unaffected by Curosurf. Surfactant protein A did not affect either cAMP levels or the inhibitory capacity of Curosurf. We suggest that a plasma membrane-associated event affecting the mechanism underlying the effects of cholera toxin or forskolin is involved in the inhibition of cAMP accumulation caused by Curosurf.     

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 amplifies cytokine-dependent induction of arginase in macrophages

Arginase is greatly elevated in asthma and is thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of this disease. As inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), the predominant PDE in macrophages, elevate cAMP levels and reduce inflammation, they have been proposed for use in treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As cAMP is an inducer of arginase, we tested the hypothesis that a PDE4 inhibitor would enhance macrophage arginase induction by key cytokines implicated in asthma and other pulmonary diseases. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with IL-4 or transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, with and without the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram. IL-4 and TGF-beta increased arginase activity 16- and 5-fold, respectively. Rolipram alone had no effect but when combined with IL-4 and TGF-beta synergistically enhanced arginase activity by an additional 15- and 5-fold, respectively. The increases in arginase I protein and mRNA levels mirrored increases in arginase activity. Induction of arginase II mRNA was also enhanced by rolipram but to a much lesser extent than arginase I. Unlike its effect in RAW 264.7 cells, IL-4 alone did not increase arginase activity in human alveolar macrophages (AM) from healthy volunteers. However, combining IL-4 with agents to induce cAMP levels induced arginase activity in human AM significantly above the level obtained with cAMP-inducing agents alone. In conclusion, agents that elevate cAMP significantly enhance induction of arginase by cytokines. Therefore, consequences of increased arginase expression should be evaluated whenever PDE inhibitors are proposed for treatment of inflammatory disorders in which IL-4 and/or TGF-beta predominate.