Prevention of thromboxane B2-induced hepatocyte plasma membrane bleb formation by certain prostaglandins and a proteinase inhibitor

Isolated hepatocytes incubated in the presence of thromboxane B2 developed many plasma membrane blebs which are a characteristic feature of toxic or ischaemic cell injury. When hepatocytes were incubated in the presence of both thromboxane B2 and the non-lysosomal proteinase inhibitor, leupeptin, were also well protected from the formation of blebs. This implies that thromboxane B2 is able to activate non-lysosomal proteinases which appear to attack certain cytoskeletal proteins. The data presented are consistent with thromboxane B2 acting as an intermediary in a proposed mechanism of cell injury and death in which elevated cytosolic free Ca2+ levels activate phospholipase A2 and the arachidonic acid cascade.     

Mitochondrial glutathione status during Ca2+ ionophore-induced injury to isolated hepatocytes

In this study the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, was used to determine the effects of disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis on cellular thiols. Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with varying concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ and A23187 to induce accumulation or loss of cellular Ca2+. These treatments resulted in loss of mitochondrial and cytosolic glutathione (GSH), loss of protein-thiols, and cell injury. This injury was dependent on the concentrations of ionophore and extracellular Ca2+. A correlation was found between cell injury and the loss of mitochondrial GSH, while the loss of cytosolic glutathione preceded both these events. The time course of protein-thiol loss appeared secondary to the loss of non-protein thiols. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol and diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine both totally prevented A23187-induced cell injury and loss of mitochondrial GSH, and thus protected the cells from the effects of mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, cell injury as well as the loss of mitochondrial GSH were only partially prevented by antioxidant treatment. The mitochondrial Ca2+ channel blocker, ruthenium red, protected hepatocytes from A23187-induced injury in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Leupeptin, an inhibitor of Ca2+-activated proteases, and dibucaine, a phospholipase inhibitor, did not affect cytotoxicity. Our results indicate that the level of mitochondrial GSH may be important for cell survival during ionophore-induced perturbation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis.     

The formation of plasma membrane blebs in hepatocytes exposed to agents that increase cytosolic Ca2+ is mediated by the activation of a non-lysosomal proteolytic system

Exposure of isolated hepatocytes to extracellular ATP, cystamine or ionophore A23187 was associated with an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, a stimulation of intracellular proteolysis, and the appearance of plasma membrane blebs which preceded the loss of cell viability. Both bleb formation and cell killing were prevented when inhibitors of Ca2+-activated neutral proteases, such as antipain or leupeptin, were included in the incubation medium, whereas inhibitors of lysosomal proteases had no effect. Thus, the activation of a Ca2+-dependent, non-lysosomal proteolytic system appears to be responsible for the plasma membrane blebbing and, ultimately, the cytotoxicity associated with treatment of hepatocytes with agents that disrupt intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.     

On the mechanism by which hormones induce the release of Ca2+ from mitochondria in the liver cell.

1. The abilities of dinitrophenol, NaCl, Ruthenium Red and the Ca2+-selective ionophore A23187 to release 45 Ca2+ from isolated hepatocytes and liver mitochondria (incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.1 microM-free Ca2+, Mg2+, ATP and phosphate ions) were compared with the action of adrenaline on 45Ca2+ release from isolated hepatocytes. The effects of adrenaline were most closely described by those of the ionophore A23187. 2. In isolated hepatocytes, a release of 45Ca2+ and stimulation of O2 utilization similar to that induced by adrenaline was observed in the presence of 500 and 20 microM-arachidonic acid respectively. The effect of arachidonic acid on 45Ca2+ release was not specific for this unsaturated fatty acid. 3. Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, including indomethacin and eicosa-5,811,14-tetraynoic acid, did not block the effects of adrenaline on 45Ca2+ or glucose release from isolated hepatocytes. 4. The ability of adrenaline to stimulate 45Ca2+ release from isolated hepatocytes was rapidly reversed after the subsequent addition of phenoxybenzamine to the cell suspension, and was completely blocked by 0.5 mM-dibucaine. 5. The results are consistent with the action of a Ca2+-selective ionophore in the mechanism by which adrenaline induces the release of Ca2+ from mitochondria in the liver cell and indicate that it is unlikely that arachidonic acid or a metabolite of arachidonic acid is involved in this process.     

Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and not calcium influx promotes phorbol ester-stimulated thromboxane A2 synthesis in human platelets.

Phorbol esters, potent activators of protein kinase C (PKC), greatly enhance the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites (TXA2, HETES, HHT) by Ca2+ ionophores in human platelets. In this paper, we report the relationship between intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and external calcium influx into platelets and the ability of PMA plus A23187 to promote thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesis. The enhanced levels of TXA2 due to the synergistic stimulation of the platelets with A23187 and phorbol esters are not affected significantly by the presence of external Ca2+ or the calcium-chelator EGTA. PKC inhibitors, staurosporine and sphingosine, abolished phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) potentiation of TXA2 production which strongly supports the role of PKC in the synergism. Platelet aggregation is more sensitive to PMA and external calcium than TXA2 formation. PMA increased TXA2 production as much as 4-fold at low ionophore concentrations. The A23187-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was reduced by pretreatment of human platelets with phorbol esters, both in the presence and absence of EGTA, and staurosporine reversed this inhibitory effect. These results indicate that the synergistic stimulation of TXA2 production by A23187 and phorbol esters is promoted by intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and not by external calcium influx. Our data also suggest that PKC is involved in the regulation of Ca2+ mobilization from some specific intracellular stores and that PKC may also stimulate the Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipase A2 at suboptimal Ca2+i concentrations.     

cAMP dependent inhibition of thromboxane A2, prostacyclin and PGF2 alpha synthesis in mouse hepatocytes

The role of cAMP dependent regulation in thromboxane A2, prostacyclin and PGF2 alpha synthesis (measured by radioimmunoassay) was investigated in isolated mouse hepatocytes and in microsomal membranes prepared from these cells. In isolated hepatocytes N6,O2-dibutyryl cAMP inhibited the formation of all the three derivatives, while calcium ionophore A 23187 stimulated their synthesis. Addition of the dissociated catalytic subunit of cAMP dependent protein kinase and ATP to microsomal membranes inhibited the production of TXA2, PGI2 and PGF2 alpha by about 50% and this inhibition was counteracted by the combined addition of heat stable inhibitor protein of cAMP dependent protein kinase. It is concluded that in parenchymal liver cells cAMP dependent phosphorylation is directly involved in the inhibition of prostanoid synthesis.     

Intracellular uptake and alpha-amylase and lactate dehydrogenase releasing actions of the divalent cation ionophore A23187 in dissociated pancreatic acinar cells.

Intracellular uptake of A23187 and the increased release of amylase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) accompanying ionophore uptake was studied using dissociated acinar cells prepared from mouse pancreas. Easily detected changes in the fluorescence excitation spectrum of A23187 upon transfer of the ionophore from a Tris-buffered Ringer's to cell membranes were used to monitor A23187 uptake. Uptake was rapid in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ (t1/2=1 min) and much slower in the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+ (t1/2=20 min). Cell-associated ionophore was largely intracellular as indicated by fluorescence microscopy, lack of spectral sensitivity to changes in extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+, and by equivalent interaction of ionophore with membranes of whole and sonicated cells. A23187 (10 micronm) increased amylase release 200% in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the absence of Ca2+ (but in the presence of Mg2+) A23187 did not increase amylase release. A23187 (10 micronm) also produced Ca2+ -dependent cell damage, as judged by increased LDH release, increased permeability to trypan blue, and by disruption of cell morphology. The cell damaging and amylase releasing properties of A23187 were distinguished by their time course and dose-response relationship. A23187 (1 micronm) increased amylase release 140% without increasing LDH release or permeability to trypan blue.     

Ionophore A23187-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation of human platelets: possible synergism between Ca2+ mobilization and protein kinase C activation.

Addition of ionophore A23187 to washed human platelets caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in the phosphotyrosyl content of 135, 124 and 76 kDa proteins. Platelets loaded with intracellular Ca2+ chelator 5,5'-dimethyl-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid before addition of A23187 exhibited no protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. Replenishment of such platelets with extracellular CaCl2 restored A23187-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. Upon stimulation with A23187, both aspirin and ADP scavengers-treated platelets exhibited protein-tyrosine phosphorylation without phosphoinositide hydrolysis and protein kinase C activation. These data show (a) that A23187 stimulates protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by the elevation of intracellular Ca2+, and (b) that A23187-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation is independent of formation of endoperoxides/thromboxane A2, released ADP, phosphoinositide hydrolysis and protein kinase C activation. Furthermore, a synergistic effect of A23187 and protein kinase C activators in stimulating protein-tyrosine phosphorylation is suggested.     

Effects of vasopressin and La3+ on plasma-membrane Ca2+ inflow and Ca2+ disposition in isolated hepatocytes. Evidence that vasopressin inhibits Ca2+ disposition.

Vasopressin caused a 40% inhibition of 45Ca uptake after the addition of 0.1 mM-45Ca2+ to Ca2+-deprived hepatocytes. At 1.3 mM-45Ca2+, vasopressin and ionophore A23187 each caused a 10% inhibition of 45Ca2+ uptake, whereas La3+ increased the rate of 45Ca2+ uptake by Ca2+-deprived cells. Under steady-state conditions at 1.3 mM extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+o), vasopressin and La3+ each increased the rate of 45Ca2+ exchange. The concentrations of vasopressin that gave half-maximal stimulation of 45Ca2+ exchange and glycogen phosphorylase activity were similar. At 0.1 mM-Ca2+o, La3+ increased, but vasopressin did not alter, the rate of 45Ca2+ exchange. The results of experiments performed with EGTA or A23187 or by subcellular fractionation indicate that the Ca2+ taken up by hepatocytes in the presence of La3+ is located within the cell. The addition of 1.3 mM-Ca2+o to Ca2+-deprived cells caused increases of approx. 50% in the concentration of free Ca2+ in the cytoplasm [( Ca2+]i) and in glycogen phosphorylase activity. Much larger increases in these parameters were observed in the presence of vasopressin or ionophore A23187. In contrast with vasopressin, La3+ did not cause a detectable increase in glycogen phosphorylase activity or in [Ca2+]i. It is concluded that an increase in plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow does not by itself increase [Ca2+]i, and hence that the ability of vasopressin to maintain increased [Ca2+]i over a period of time is dependent on inhibition of the intracellular removal of Ca2+.     

Ca2+ requirement of prostanoid but not of superoxide production by rat Kupffer cells

The release of the prostanoids prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane induced by zymosan and phorbol ester in cultured rat Kupffer cells was found to depend on the extracellular concentration of Ca2+ to some extent. Prostanoid formation following the addition of the calcium ionophore A 23187 was totally inhibited when calcium ions were withdrawn from the medium whereas the prostanoid synthesis from added arachidonic acid was independent of Ca2+. A half-maximal rate of PGE2 release by cells treated with zymosan, phorbol ester or A23187 was obtained at 0.6-0.7 microM free extracellular Ca2+ and greater than or equal to 100 microM free Ca2+ was required to stimulate PGE2 formation maximally. The calmodulin antagonist R24571 partially inhibited the release of PGE2 elicited by zymosan and A23187 but not by phorbol ester or arachidonic acid. Verapamil and nifedipine, two calcium channel blockers, had no effect on the formation of PGE2 irrespective of the stimulus. TMB 8 [3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)-octyl ester] an intracellular calcium antagonist, inhibited the synthesis of PGE2 induced by zymosan and phorbol ester. The superoxide formation following the addition of zymosan and phorbol ester was not influenced by removal of calcium ions from the medium or by addition of the various calcium antagonists. The data presented here suggest that Ca2+-dependent reactions are involved in the synthesis of prostanoids induced by zymosan and phorbol ester and that both extracellular Ca2+ and mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores are needed to induce maximally the production of prostanoids in cultured rat Kupffer cells.     

Participation of the microtubular-microfilamentous system on intracellular Ca2+ transport and acid secretion in dispersed parietal cells

Biphasic responses of amino[14C]pyrine accumulation and oxygen consumption were registered by gastrin stimulation in dispersed parietal cells from guinea pig gastric mucosa, and this was mimicked with the calcium ionophore A23187. The characteristics of these phases (first phase and second phase) were distinguished by the differences in the requirements of extracellular Ca2+. The first phase evoked by gastrin or ionophore A23187 was independent of extracellular Ca2+, whereas the second phase was not. In the first phase, fluorescence of a cytosolic Ca2+ indicator (quin2-AM) increased with the stimulation of ionophore A23187 and carbamylcholine chloride in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. In addition, an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ induced by ionophore A23187, but not by carbamylcholine chloride was also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that Ca2+ pool(s) in parietal cells might be present in the intracellular organelle. Cytochalasin B and colchicine, but not oligomycin, could eliminate this cytosolic Ca2+ increase induced by A23187 in a Ca2+-free medium. On the other hand, in a Ca2+-free medium, addition of ATP after pretreatment with digitonin could diminish the cytosolic Ca2+ increase brought about by A23187. This was also observed with oligomycin-treated cells, but not with cytochalasin B-treated cells. Similarly, subcellular fractionation of a parietal cell which had been pretreated with cytochalasin B or colchicine in an intact cell system reduced the rate of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. These observations indicate that intracellular Ca2+ transport in dispersed parietal cells may be regulated by the microtubular-microfilamentous system. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the possibility of the existence of intracellular Ca2+ transport mediated by gastrin or ionophore A23187 and regulated by the microtubular-microfilamentous system in parietal cells.     

Leukotriene C4 is an essential 5-lipoxygenase intermediate in A23187-induced macrophage cytostatic activity against P815 tumor cells

Resident peritoneal macrophages incubated with 3.5 x 10(-7) M Calcium ionophore A23187 in tumor cell growth medium (TGM) release large amounts of leukotriene (LT)E4 and an unidentified 5-lipoxygenase product, whereas A23187-stimulated macrophages produce in serum free medium LTD4, predominately. LTC4 and 3H-LTC4 incubated for 20 min at 37 degree C in serum containing TGM, convert into LTE4 and 3H-LTE4, respectively. Thus, LTC4 released from A23187-stimulated macrophages is an intermediate in TGM which rapidly converts into LTE4, probably because of the presence of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and cystenylglycinase in TGM. Macrophages express antitumor cytostatic activity towards P815 cells (49-53%) in a cocultured ratio (macrophage: tumor cell) 2:1 when stimulated with 3.5 x 10(-7) M A23187 in TGM. The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor AA861 reverses the cytostatic activity by 42-58% and it inhibits also the formation of A23187-induced 5-lipoxygenase products from macrophages. Restoration of 38% macrophage- antitumor cytostatic activity by exogenous LTC4 (10(-8) M) indicates that LTC4 is an essential 5-lipoxygenase intermediate in the pathway of required signals underlying A23187-induced macrophage antitumor cytostatic activity. Macrophages not stimulated by A23187 do not express cytostatic activity in the presence of LTC4. This implies that besides LTC4, increased cytosolic [Ca2+] is required for A23187 induction of macrophage cytostatic activity.     

influence of Ca channel blockers on the positive inotropic effect of ionophore A23187 in the myocardium

Calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-5) M) increases the force of contraction of the frog atrium up to 27 + 4.8%. The calcium antagonists d-600 (5 X 10- M), Zn2+ (2 X 10(-5) M), Mn2+ (2 X 10(-4) M) decrease the force of contraction 50, 10 and 20%, respectively, and inhibit the positive inotropic effect of ionophore A23187. Inhibition of the ionophore effect by the blockers is determined by the ability of D-600, Zn2+ and Mn2+ to form complexes with the ionophore. Besides, the affinity of these blockers to the ionophore is higher than that of Ca2+. It is assumed that Zn2+, Mn2+ and D-600 possess higher affinity to ionophore A23187 as compared with myocardial Ca-channels. Fenigidin interacts with Ca-channels to a larger degree than with ionophore A23187.     

The effect of intracellular calcium ions on adrenaline-stimulated adenosine 3'':5''-cyclic monophosphate concentrations in pigeon erythrocytes, studied by using the ionophore A23187.

1. The bivalent cation ionophore A23187 was used to increase the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ in pigeon erythrocytes to investigate whether the increase in cyclic AMP content caused by adrenaline might be influenced by a change in intracellular Ca2+ in intact cells. 2. Incubation of cells with adrenaline, in the concentration range 0.55--55 muM, resulted in an increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP over a period of 60 min. The effect of adrenaline was inhibited by more than 90% with ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) in the presence of 1 mM-Ca2+. This inhibition could be decreased by decreasing either the concentration of the ionophore or the concentration of extracellular Ca2+, and was independent of the concentration of adrenaline. 3. The effect of ionophore A23187 depended on the time of incubation. Time-course studies showed that maximum inhibition by ionophore A23187 was only observed when the cells were incubated with the ionophore for at least 15 min before the addition of adrenaline. 4. The inhibition by ionophore A23187 depended on the concentration of extracellular Ca2+. In the absence of Mg2+, ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) inhibited the effect of adrenaline by approx. 30% without added Ca2+, by approx. 66% with 10 muM-Ca2+ and by more than 90% with concentrations of added Ca2+ greater than 30 muM. However, even in the presence of EGTA [ethanedioxybis(ethylamine)tetra-acetate](0.1--10 mM), ionophore A23187 caused an inhibition of the cyclic AMP response of at least 30%, which may have been due to a decrease in cell Mg2+ concentration. 5. The addition of EGTA after incubation of cells with ionophore A23187 resulted in a partial reversal of the inhibition of the effect of adrenaline. 6. Inclusion of Mg2+ (2 mM) in the incubation medium antagonized the inhibitory action of ionophore A23187. This effect was most marked when the ionophore A23187 was added to medium containing Mg2+ before the addition of the cells. 7. The cellular content of Mg2+ was decreased by approx. 50% after 20 min incubation with ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) in the presence of Ca2+ (1 mM) but no Mg2+. When Mg2+ (2 mM) was also present in the medium, ionophore A23187 caused an increase of approx. 80% in cell Mg2+ content. Ionophore A23187 had no significant effect on cell K+ content. 8. Ionophore A23187 caused a decrease in cell ATP content under some conditions. Since effects on cyclic AMP content could also be shown when ATP was not significanlty lowered, it appeared that a decrease in ATP in the cells could not explain the effect of ionophore A23187 on cyclic AMP. 9. Ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM), with 1 mM-Ca2+, did not enhance cyclic AMP degradation in intact cells, suggesting that the effect of ionophore A23187 on cyclic AMP content was mediated through an inhibition of adenylate cyclase rather than a stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. 10. It was concluded that in intact pigeon erythrocytes adenylate cyclase may be inhibited by intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ in the range 1-10 muM.     

Effects of Ca2+ and ionophore A23187 on protein synthesis in intact rabbit reticulocytes

1. Amino acid incorporation in intact rabbit reticulocytes was unaffected by depletion of Ca2+ with EGTA. 2. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 strongly inhibited incorporation in reticulocytes incubated in 1 mM Ca2+ but not in EGTA. Polysomal profiles and average ribosomal transit times of cells treated with Ca2+ ionophore at 1 mM Ca2+ were characteristic of translational elongation block. 3. The behavior of reticulocytes with respect to Ca2+ and A23187 contrasts with that of nucleated cells possessing endoplasmic reticulum in which protein synthesis is inhibited at translational initiation by either Ca2+ depletion or by exposure to Ca2+ ionophore.     

Prostaglandin thromboxane, and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid production by ionophore-stimulated rat serosal mast cells.

Production of several metabolites of arachidonic acid by purified rat serosal mast cells in response to stimulation with the ionophore A23187 was assessed by stable isotope dilution assay using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds quantified were prostaglandins D2, E2, F2 alpha, 6-keto-F1 alpha, thromboxane B2, and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid. Mast cells incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 min without ionophore produced measurable quantities of all metabolites assayed. 4 microM A23187 resulted in substantial increased synthesis of all metabolites compared to control cells. Of the metabolites quantified, prostaglandin D2 and prostacyclin were the major products derived from arachidonic acid in ionophore-stimulated rat mast cells.     

Calcium depletion blocks proteolytic cleavages of plasma protein precursors which occur at the Golgi and/or trans-Golgi network. Possible involvement of Ca(2+)-dependent Golgi endoproteases.

The effects of calcium depletion on the proteolytic cleavage and secretion of plasma protein precursors were investigated in primary cultured rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. When the cells were incubated with A23187, the calcium-specific ionophore, in a medium lacking CaCl2, precursors of serum albumin and the third and fourth components of complement, C3 and C4, respectively, were found to be released into the medium. The addition of ionomycin or EGTA to the medium inhibited the processing of pro-C3 as well. Blocking the secretory pathway either at the mixed endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi in the presence of brefeldin A or at the endoplasmic reticulum/tubular-vesicular structure at a reduced temperature caused accumulation of pro-C3 within hepatocytes or HepG2 cells, indicating that the cleavage of the precursor occurs at a later stage of the secretory pathway. Once the blockade was released by incubating the cells either in the brefeldin A-free medium or at 37 degrees C, the secretion of plasma proteins resumed, irrespective of the presence of A23187. However, the processing of pro-C3 was almost completely inhibited in the presence of A23187, with only the precursor being released into the medium, implying that a decline in Ca2+ levels within the cell modulates the activity of a Golgi endoprotease responsible for the cleavage of pro-C3. When incubated with isolated Golgi membranes, pro-C3 secreted from Ca(2+)-depleted cells was cleaved in vitro into their subunits in the presence of Ca2+ but not in its absence, pointing to the involvement of a Ca(2+)-dependent Golgi endoprotease in the processing of pro-C3. These results collectively suggest that calcium depletion blocks the proteolytic cleavages of plasma protein precursors presumably by exhausting a Ca2+ pool available to the Ca(2+)-dependent processing enzyme(s) located at the Golgi and/or trans-Golgi network.     

Potentiation of PGE1-induced increase in cyclic AMP by chemotactic peptide and Ca2+ ionophore through calmodulin-dependent processes

The interaction between prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in cAMP production in guinea pig neutrophils was investigated. Both PGE1 and fMLP increased the cAMP content in neutrophils. At low concentrations of PGE1 (less than 10 nM), the effects of fMLP and PGE1 in stimulating cAMP accumulation were additive, but at high concentrations of PGE1, their effects were synergistic. The effects of PGE1 and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 instead of fMLP on cAMP accumulation were also synergistic. The synergy did not appear to be related to change in cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity, because it was still marked in the presence of isobutyl-3-methyl-1-xanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Studies on the time course of PGE1-induced cAMP accumulation showed that cAMP production ceased within 5 min after the addition of high concentrations of PGE1. The period of cAMP production could not be prolonged by combined treatment with PGE1 and fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The synergy was found to be caused through Ca2+-dependent processes, because depletion of the medium of Ca2+ and addition of the Ca2+ antagonist TMB-8 inhibited the synergistic increase in cAMP. Moreover, the calmodulin antagonist W-7 also effectively inhibited the synergistic increase in cAMP. These results suggest that the potentiation of PGE1-induced cAMP production by fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187 is catalyzed by calmodulin-dependent processes. However, the synergistic increase in cAMP production was not inhibited by arachidonic acid cascade inhibitors such as indomethacin, BW755C, or nordihydroguiaretic acid, and a combination of PGE1 and a protein kinase C activator, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), did not cause synergistic increase in cAMP. Marked increase in cAMP was also induced by a combination of cholera toxin and fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187, but not by a combination of forskolin and fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The synergistic increase in cAMP was not sustained in isolated membranes. On the contrary, PGE1-induced cAMP production in isolated membranes was suppressed by their pretreatment with fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore A23187. These data suggest that the synergistic effects of PGE1 and fMLP or Ca2+ ionophore in increasing the cAMP level are due to potentiation of PGE1-induced cAMP production by Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent processes.     

Differential potentiation of arachidonic acid release by rat alpha2 adrenergic receptor subtypes

CHO transfectants expressing the three subtypes of rat alpha2 adrenergic receptors (alpha2AR): alpha2D, alpha2B, alpha2C were studied to compare the transduction pathways leading to the receptor-mediated stimulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the corresponding cell lines CHO-2D, CHO-2B, CHO-2C. The alpha2B subtype stimulated the arachidonic acid (AA) release after incubation of the cells with 1 microM epinephrine, whereas alpha2D and alpha2C gave no stimulation. Calcium ionophore A23187 (1 microM) increased the release by a factor of 2-4 in the three strains. When cells were incubated with both epinephrine and Ca2+ ionophore, the AA release differed greatly between cell lines with strong potentiation in CHO-2B (2-3 times greater than Ca2+ ionophore alone), moderate potentiation in CHO-2D, and no potentiation in CHO-2C. The three cell lines each inhibited adenylylcyclase with similar efficiencies when 1 microM epinephrine was used as the agonist. The potentiation depended on both alpha2AR and Gi proteins since yohimbine and pertussis toxin inhibited the process. Pretreatment of CHO-2B cells with MAFP which inhibits both cytosolic and Ca2+-independent PLA2, reduced the release of AA induced by epinephrine+Ca2+ ionophore to basal value, whereas bromoenol lactone, a specific Ca2+-independent PLA2 inhibitor, had no effect. Preincubation of the cells with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA gave a dose-dependent inhibition of the arachidonic acid (AA) release. In CHO cells expressing the angiotensin II type 1 receptor, coupled to a Gq protein, the agonist (10-7 M) produced maximal AA release: there was no extra increase when angiotensin and Ca2+ ionophore were added together. There was no increase in the amount of inositol 1,4, 5-triphosphate following stimulation of CHO-2B, -2C, -2D cells with 1 microM epinephrine. Epinephrine led to greater phosphorylation of cPLA2, resulting in an electrophoretic mobility shift for all three cell lines, so inadequate p42/44 MAPKs stimulation was not responsible for the weaker stimulation of cPLA2 in CHO-2C cells. Therefore, the stimulation of cPLA2 by Gi proteins presumably involves another unknown mechanism. The differential stimulation of cPLA2 in these transfectants will be of value to study the actual involvement of the transduction pathways leading to maximal cPLA2 stimulation.     

A comparative study of thromboxane and prostacyclin release from ex vivo and cultured bovine vascular endothelium

Thromboxane B2, 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1 alpha, and Prostaglandin E2 release have been quantitated from cultured adult bovine endothelial cell monolayers and from ex Vivo vascular segments employing specific radioimmunoassays and thin layer chromatography. Release of all three prostaglandins was demonstrable from both endothelial cell systems under basal conditions and following exposure to the ionophore A23187 and arachidonic acid. In culture, the quantity of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha released was diminished compared to amounts released from the vessel segments while thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2 release were similar in the two endothelial model systems. However, the amount of thromboxane B2 assayed was small and the quantity of thromboxane A2 it represents is probably of little in vivo significance compared to prostacyclin.