Elicitor-induced activation of phospholipases plays an important role for the induction of defense responses in suspension-cultured rice cells

Biphasic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor in rice cells was associated with the activation of phopholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD). The activation of both enzymes was observed for the first phase of ROS generation, but only the activation of PLD was evident for the second response. Activation of PLD was associated with its recruitment to the membrane. Enzymatic products of these phospholipases, diacylglycerol (DG) and phosphatidic acid (PA), could induce ROS generation by themselves. Moreover, the addition of these lipids compensated the inhibition of the second phase of ROS generation by cycloheximide, indicating the involvement of the synthesis of PLD or related proteins in the second phase of ROS generation. DG and PA also induced the expression of elicitor-responsive genes in the absence of the elicitor. They could not induce phytoalexin biosynthesis by themselves but greatly enhanced the elicitor-induced phytoalexin accumulation. Further, the inhibition of PLD by 1-butanol inhibited the elicitor-induced phytoalexin accumulation, indicating the involvement of PLD and its reaction product, PA, in the induction of phytoalexin biosynthesis. These results indicated the importance of phospholipid signaling, especially by PLD and its product PA, in plant defense responses.     

Recognition of N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor by rice protoplasts

The response by rice protoplasts to N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor was examined by monitoring the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of the two early-responsive genes, EL2 and EL3. Freshly prepared rice protoplasts produced a high level of ROS in the absence of the elicitor, and did not show further increase of the ROS generation in response to N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor. By incubating protoplasts for 1 d, the background level decreased and the induction of ROS production and the induction of mRNAs for the two genes were observed. The structural requirements of N-acetylchitooligosaccharides for elicitor-activity, as well as the effects of inhibitors of protein kinase (K-252a), protein phosphatase (calyculin A) and protein synthesis (cycloheximide) on the ROS production and gene expression were very similar to those observed in suspension-cultured rice cells, indicating that rice protoplasts retain the machinery for the recognition of, and initial signaling from, N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor.     

Rice receptor for chitin oligosaccharide elicitor does not couple to heterotrimeric G-protein: Elicitor responses of suspension cultured rice cells from Daikoku dwarf (d1) mutants lacking a functional G-protein α-subunit

We present evidence that the rice receptor for N -acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor does not couple to heterotrimeric G-protein (G-protein), one of the most important signal transducers from the cell surface to down-stream effectors in various cellular responses of many organisms. Using mutant rice cells lacking functional G-protein α-subunit, cellular responses of suspension-cultured rice cells derived from Daikoku dwarf ( d1 ) mutants that were shown to contain mutations in the coding region of the G-protein α-subunit (Fujisawa et al. 1999) to N -acetylchitooligosaccharide (oligochitin) elicitor were compared with those of the corresponding parent cell lines. All the elicitor-induced cellular responses, such as medium alkalinization, generation of reactive oxygen species, expression of early responsive genes, PAL and PR genes, and production of phytoalexin, were basically identical in the mutant and wild type cell lines. Considering the reported presence of a single copy gene for the G-protein α-subunit in many plant species including rice, these results strongly support the above conclusion.     

The phosphatidylcholine pathway of diacylglycerol formation stimulated by phorbol diesters occurs via phospholipase D activation

Agonist-induced degradation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) is of interest as this pathway of diacylglycerol (DG) generation may provide added opportunities for the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC). In REF52 cells [3H]myristic acid is preferentially incorporated into PC; this, coupled with the use of [3H]choline, allows for quantitation of both the water-soluble and the lipid products generated when PC is degraded. In cells prelabeled with [3H]choline, TPA stimulated a time-dependent release, into the medium, of choline and not phosphocholine or glycerophosphocholine. Treatment of [3H]myristic acid-labeled cells with either phorbol diesters, sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, or vasopressin elicited the formation of labeled phosphatidate (PA) and DG. The temporal pattern of PC hydrolysis in cells treated with TPA is indicative of a precursor (PA)-product (DG) relationship for an enzymatic sequence initiated by phospholipase D. Adding propranolol, a phosphatidate phosphohydrolase inhibitor, eliminated TPA-induced DG formation, whereas PA generation was unaffected. From these data we conclude that TPA elicits DG formation from PC by the sequential actions of phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase.     

Elicitation of suspension-cultured tomato cells triggers the formation of phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol pyrophosphate

Phosphatidic acid (PA) and its phosphorylated derivative diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) are lipid molecules that have been implicated in plant cell signaling. In this study we report the rapid but transient accumulation of PA and DGPP in suspension-cultured tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cells treated with the general elicitors, N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetylchitotetraose, xylanase, and the flagellin-derived peptide flg22. To determine whether PA originated from the activation of phospholipase D or from the phosphorylation of diacylglycerol (DAG) by DAG kinase, a strategy involving differential radiolabeling with [(32)P]orthophosphate was used. DAG kinase was found to be the dominant producer of PA that was subsequently metabolized to DGPP. A minor but significant role for phospholipase D could only be detected when xylanase was used as elicitor. Since PA formation was correlated with the high turnover of polyphosphoinositides, we hypothesize that elicitor treatment activates phospholipase C to produce DAG, which in turn acts as substrate for DAG kinase. The potential roles of PA and DGPP in plant defense signaling are discussed.     

Phospholipid metabolism in bradykinin-stimulated human fibroblasts. II. Phosphatidylcholine breakdown by phospholipases C and D; involvement of protein kinase C

Bradykinin (BK) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) both stimulate the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in human fibroblasts, resulting in the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and diacylglycerol (DG) (Van Blitterswijk, W.J., Hilkmann, H., de Widt, J., and Van der Bend, R.L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 10337-10343). Stimulation with BK resulted in the rapid and synchronous formation of [3H]choline and [3H]myristoyl-PA from the correspondingly prelabeled PC, indicative of phospholipase D (PLD) activity. In the presence of ethanol or n-butanol, transphosphatidylation by PLD resulted in the formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol or - butanol, respectively, at the cost of PA and DG formation. This suggests that PC-derived DG is generated via a PLD/PA phosphohydrolase pathway. A more pronounced but delayed formation of these products was observed by PMA stimulation. The Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin also activated PLD and accelerated (synergized) the response to PMA. Both [3H] choline and [3H]phosphocholine were released into the extracellular medium in a time- and stimulus-dependent fashion, without apparent changes in the high intracellular levels of [3H]phosphocholine. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporin and 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methylglycerol inhibited BK- and PMA-induced activation of PLD. Down-regulation of PKC by long-term pretreatment of cells with phorbol ester caused a dramatic drop in background [3H]choline levels, while subsequent stimulation with BK, ionomycin, or PMA failed to increase these levels and failed to induce transphosphatidylation. From these results we conclude that PLD activation is entirely mediated by (downstream of) PKC. Unexpectedly, however, BK stimulation of these PKC-depleted cells caused a marked generation of DG from PC within 15 s, which was not seen in BK-stimulated control cells, suggesting PC breakdown by a phospholipase C (PLCc). We conclude that cells stimulated with BK generate DG via both the PLCc and the PLD/PA hydrolase pathway, whereas PMA stimulates mainly the latter pathway. BK stimulation of normal cells leads to activation of PKC and, by consequence, to attenuation of the level of PLCc-generated DG and to stimulation of the PLD pathway, whereas the reverse occurs in PKC-down-regulated cells.     

Phosphatidic acid that accumulates in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated Balb/c 3T3 cells is a potential mitogenic signal.

We developed a monoclonal antibody specific to phosphatidic acid (PA). Using this antibody, a novel method to quantify trace amounts of PA was achieved. With the method, PA can be measured in the range of 20-500 pmol. We applied this method to quantify changes in PA levels in Balb/c 3T3 cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor. PA contents were very low in quiescent cells and dramatically increased with time up to 15 min. On the other hand, a biphasic diacylglycerol (DG) increase was found. The early phase showed a transient small peak of DG at 30 s followed by a decrease to 1 min. In the second phase, DG accumulated gradually but very markedly up to 15 min. Treatment with propranolol, a PA phosphohydrolase inhibitor, enhanced the accumulation of PA and inhibited the formation of DG in the second phase. However, R59022, a DG kinase inhibitor, did not influence the accumulation of DG or PA, suggesting that platelet-derived growth factor stimulates mainly phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phospholipids rather than phospholipase C-catalyzed hydrolysis in the second phase. PA, even after contaminating lyso-PA was removed, could stimulate DNA synthesis, although lyso-PA was 25 times more potent. Moreover, phospholipase D was found to be a much stronger mitogen than phospholipase C. Phospholipase D treatment caused a biphasic accumulation of PA. PA levels reached a maximum at 1 h, and then decreased between 1 and 2 h; finally, there was a gradual elevation up to 10 h. In this case, there was no significant DG accumulation. On the other hand, phospholipase C treatment induced only DG accumulation without any significant change in PA. These results indicate that PA accumulation, rather than an increase in DG, correlates well with mitogenesis.     

Phospholipase C signaling involvement in macrotubule assembly and activation of the mechanism regulating protoplast volume in plasmolyzed root cells of Triticum turgidum

The role of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) signaling in the macrotubule-dependent protoplast volume regulation in plasmolyzed root cells of Triticum turgidum was investigated. At the onset of hyperosmotic stress, PI-PLC activation was documented. Inhibition of PI-PLC activity by U73122 blocked tubulin macrotubule formation in plasmolyzed cells and their protoplast volume regulatory mechanism. In neomycin-treated plasmolyzed cells, macrotubule formation and protoplast volume regulation were not affected. In these cells the PI-PLC pathway is down-regulated as neomycin sequesters the PI-PLC substrate, 4,5-diphosphate-phosphatidyl inositol (PtdInsP(2)). These phenomena were unaffected by R59022, an inhibitor of phosphatidic acic (PA) production via the PLC pathway. Taxol, a microtubule (MT) stabilizer, inhibited the hyperosmotic activation of PI-PLC, but oryzalin, which disorganized MTs, triggered PI-PLC activity. Taxol prevented macrotubule formation and inhibited the mechanism regulating the volume of the plasmolyzed protoplast. Neomycin partly relieved some of the taxol effects. These data suggest that PtdInspP(2) turnover via PI-PLC assists macrotubule formation and activation of the mechanism regulating the plasmolyzed protoplast volume; and the massive disorganization of MTs that is carried out at the onset of hyperosmotic treatment triggers the activation of this mechanism.     

Phosphatidylinositol- and phosphatidylcholine-dependent phospholipases C are involved in the mechanism of action of atrial natriuretic factor in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells

We have investigated the involvement of specific phospholipase systems and their possible mutual relationship with the mechanism by which atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) increases phosphatidate (PA) and diacylglycerol (DAG) in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC), one of the major targets of this hormone. Our results indicate that ANF initially stimulates a phosphatidylinositol-dependent phospholipase C (PI-PLC) with a significant increase of DAG, enriched in arachidonate, and inositol trisphosphate (IP₃) and then a phosphatidylcholine-dependent phospholipase C (PC-PLC) with formation of DAG, enriched in myristate, and phosphocholine (Pcho). Moreover, ANF stimulates PA formation at an intermediate stage between early and late DAG formation. The transphosphatidylation reaction, as well as its labeling ratio, demonstrate that phosphatidylcholine-dependent phospholipase D (PC-PLD) is not involved. Our experiments with R59022, a DAG kinase (DAGK) inhibitor, indicate that such an increase may be due to the phosphorylation of DAG derived from phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis. Our results show that phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA) plays a significant role in late DAG formation and that Pcho is released concomitantly, suggesting there is a relationship between the two phospholipase Cs (PLCs) that occurs through a protein kinase C (PKC) translocation from cytosol to the plasma membrane. These findings are confirmed by the use of PKC inhibitors calphostin, H7, and staurosporine. The involvement of membrane phospholipid hydrolysis and the ensuing production of second messengers might explain the vasorelaxant effect of ANF. J. Cell. Physiol. 170:272–278, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Phosphatidic acid production in chitosan-elicited tomato cells, via both phospholipase D and phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase, requires nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) and the lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA) are involved in plant defense responses during plant-pathogen interactions. NO has been shown to be involved in the induction of PA production in response to the pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) xylanase in tomato cells. It was shown that NO is critical for PA production induced via phospholipase C (PLC) in concerted action with diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) but not for the xylanase-induced PA via phospholipase D (PLD). In order to study whether this is a general phenomenon during PAMP perception or if it is particular for xylanase, we studied the effect of the PAMP chitosan in tomato cell suspensions. We observed a rapid NO production in tomato cells treated with chitosan. Chitosan induced the formation of PA by activating both PLD and PLC/DGK. The activation of either phospholipase-mediated signaling pathway was inhibited in cells treated with the NO scavenger cPTIO. This indicates that NO is required for PA generation via both the PLD and PLC/DGK pathway during plant defense response in chitosan elicited cells. Responses downstream PA were studied. PLC inhibitors neomycin and U73122 inhibited chitosan-induced ROS production. Differences between xylanase and chitosan-induced phospholipid signaling pathways are discussed.     

Rapid protein kinase C-dependent activation of phospholipase D leads to delayed 1,2-diglyceride accumulation

We have shown previously that the major source of diglyceride (DG) formed following muscarinic receptor (mAChR) stimulation of 1321N1 astrocytoma cells is phosphatidylcholine (PC) rather than the phosphoinositides (Martinson, E. A., Goldstein, D., and Brown, J. H. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14748-14754). We have also noted that there is a delay of several minutes before significant DG accumulation is observed. In the present work, we examine the time course and mechanism of PC hydrolysis in response to mAChR stimulation. Treatment of 1321N1 cells with carbachol results in increases in radiolabeled choline, phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt), metabolites that are products of phospholipase D (PLD) action on PC. These products are all formed within 15 s of mAChR stimulation and reach a plateau within 30-60 s. The time course of PEt formation suggests that PLD is no longer activated after several minutes of mAChR stimulation. Thus there is a discrepancy between the rapid and transient activation of PLD and the delayed accumulation of DG. It appears that most of the DG is formed through the action of PLD, since propranolol (which inhibits the conversion of PA to DG) and down-regulation of protein kinase C (which prevents activation of PLD by carbachol) both markedly inhibit DG production. Using a protocol in which cells are stimulated with carbachol for only one minute (a period during which PLD and PA formation are maximally activated), we show that DG mass continues to increase following removal of agonist. We suggest that the rapid and transient activation of PLD results in delayed accumulation of DG due to the relatively slow conversion of PA to DG by PA phosphatase.     

Phosphatidic acid accumulation is an early response in the Cf-4/Avr4 interaction

The Cladosporium fulvum (Cf)-4 gene of tomato confers resistance to the fungus C. fulvum, expressing the corresponding avirulence (Avr)4 gene, which codes for an elicitor protein. Little is known about how such mechanisms work, but previous studies have shown that elicitor recognition activates Ca(2+) signalling and protein kinases, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK). Here, we provide evidence that a new signalling component, the lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA), is produced within a few minutes of AVR4/Cf-4 interaction. Using transgenic tobacco cells expressing the tomato Cf-4-resistance gene as a model system, phospholipid signalling pathways were studied by pre-labelling the cells with (32)P(i) and assaying for the formation of lipid signals after challenge with the fungal elicitor AVR4. A dramatic rapid response was an increase in (32)P-PA, together with its metabolic product diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP). AVR4 increased the levels of PA and DGPP in a Cf-4(+)-, time- and dose-dependent manner, while the non-matching elicitor AVR9 did not trigger any response. In general, PA signalling can be triggered by two different pathways: via phospholipase D (PLD), which generates PA directly by hydrolysing structural phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine (PC), or via PLC, which generates diacylglycerol (DAG) that is subsequently phosphorylated to PA by DAG kinase (DGK). To determine the origin of the AVR4-induced PA formation, a PLD-specific transphosphatidylation assay and a differential (32)P-labelling protocol were used. The results clearly demonstrated that most PA was produced via the phosphorylation of DAG. Neomycin and U73122, inhibitors of PLC activity, inhibited AVR4-induced PA accumulation, suggesting that the increase in DGK activity was because of increased PLC activity producing DAG. Lastly, evidence is provided that PLC signalling and, in particular, PA production could play a role in triggering responses, such as the AVR4-induced oxidative burst. For example, PLC inhibitors inhibited the oxidative burst, and when PA was added to cells, an oxidative burst was induced.     

High-affinity binding proteins for N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor in the plasma membranes from wheat,barley and carrot cells: conserved presence and correlation with the responsiveness to the elicitor

Binding experiments as well as affinity labeling with an (125)I-labeled 2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamino derivative of N-acetylchitooctaose revealed the presence of high-affinity binding sites/proteins for N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor in the plasma membrane preparation from suspension-cultured carrot cells, barley cells and wheat leaves. Their binding specificity corresponded with the elicitor activity of N-acetylchitooligosaccharides and related sugars in these plant cells/tissues, and was similar to that reported for the binding site/protein previously reported for suspension-cultured rice cells. The molecular size of the binding proteins identified in carrot, barley and wheat was slightly smaller than that of rice. These plant cells were shown to respond to N-acetylchitooligosaccharides and generate reactive oxygen species, induced medium alkalinization, or previously shown to initiate lignification (wheat leaves, Barber et al. (1989) Physiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 34: 3). No elicitor-binding protein nor the elicitor-induced cellular responses was detected for a cell line of tobacco BY-2 (BY-2T). On the other hand, another cell line of tobacco BY-2 (BY-2N) showed the presence of elicitor-binding protein and also elicitor-induced medium alkalinization. Thus, there was a good correlation between the existence of high-affinity binding proteins for the elicitor and elicitor-induced cellular responses among tested plant cells. These results indicated the wide distribution of N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor-binding protein among various plants and added further support for the function of these plasma membrane proteins in the perception of the elicitor signal.     

Identification of a high-affinity binding protein for N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor in theplasma membrane from rice leaf and root cells

Presence of a high-affinity binding protein for N-acetylchitooligosaccharide (fragments of chitin) elicitor in the plasma membrane from rice leaf and root cells was shown by affinity labeling experiments with an ¹²⁵I-labeled N-acetylchitooligosaccharide derivative. Binding studies also showed that binding site in the leaf cells has a high affinity to highly elicitor-active, larger chitin fragments but much lower or no affinity to less elicitor-active or elicitor-inactive oligosaccharides. The amount of the binding protein in the leaf cells was slightly smaller than that in the suspension-cultured cells but much larger compared to that in the root cells. These results indicate the possible- involvement of the elicitor binding protein in the perception of the elicitor signal in intact rice plant.     

Phospholipase A2 in auxin and elicitor signal transduction in cultured parsley cells (Petroselinum crispum L.)

Signal-activated phospholipase A₂ cleavesphosphatidylcholine (PC) into free fatty acids and LPC, respectively.Using bis-BODIPY-PC as an indicator substrate for phospholipaseA₂ which is taken up by parsley cells, active auxins atconcentrations as low as 1 M and a fungal elicitor induced fattyacid-accumulation. Nordihydroguajaretic acid inhibited the accumulationof fatty acid induced by the elicitor. In addition to this, theelicitor, but not auxin, decreased the pool size of diacylglycerol,which seemed to originate from a PC-splitting phospholipase C, whichwould be a new enzyme in plant signal transduction. However, thiselicitor is known to rapidly increase cytosolic calcium in parsley cellsand this activates phospholipase C. Thus, activation of phospholipase Cshould lead to an increase of diacylglycerol and not to a decrease whichmight indicate a discrepancy between animal and plant phospholipidsignal transduction.     

Vasopressin-induced polyphosphoinositide and phosphatidylcholine degradation in fibroblasts. Temporal relationship for formation of phospholipase C and phospholipase D hydrolysis products

Cultured fibroblasts (REF52 cells) were employed to investigate phospholipid degradation in response to vasopressin (VP) treatment. There have been few studies in fibroblasts which characterize the pattern and relationship of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and non-phosphoinositide hydrolysis elicited by VP. Here we demonstrate that VP-induced PIP2 hydrolysis is closely accompanied by phosphatidylcholine (PC) degradation by phospholipase D. Cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid showed rapid formation and diminution of [3H]diacylglycerol (DG) (5-15s) when treated with VP; this was accompanied by a reduction in polyphosphoinositide radioactivity. Radiolabeled inositol trisphosphate was generated with a similar time frame. In cells prelabeled with [3H]myristic acid, which is predominantly incorporated into cellular PC, VP elicited the generation of [3H]myristoyl phosphatidate (PA) as early as 15 s, in the absence of an increase in labeled DG. In the presence of ethanol the pattern of [3H]myristoyl phosphatidylethanol (PEt) formation coincided with [3H]myristoyl-PA formation in the absence of ethanol. PEt was similarly formed, in response to VP treatment, in cells prelabeled with 1-O-[3H]hexadecyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The formation of PC-derived [3H]myristoyl-DG was characterized by a lag period of approximately 1 min, after which DG increased steadily over a 10-min period. Biphasic formation of DG was observed in cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, and the formation of [3H]PA occurred in an uninterrupted fashion. Two protein kinase C agonists, phorbol diester and dioctanoylglycerol, elicited the formation of [3H]myristoyl-PEt. The inclusion of staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, blocked VP-induced [3H]myristoyl-PEt formation by 88%. These data demonstrate that VP elicits the coordinated hydrolysis of PIP2 by phospholipase C and PC hydrolysis by phospholipase D. This event results in the prolonged generation of PA and biphasic formation of DG. From the time courses shown, we hypothesize that the early generation of PA, heretofore ascribed to products of the polyphosphoinositide cycle, are in part derived from PC by phospholipase D.     

Identification of a putative voltage-gated Ca2+ channel as a key regulator of elicitor-induced hypersensitive cell death and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in rice

Elicitor-triggered transient membrane potential changes and Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane are thought to be important during defense signaling in plants. However, the molecular bases for the Ca2+ influx and its regulation remain largely unknown. Here we tested effects of overexpression as well as retrotransposon (Tos17)-insertional mutagenesis of the rice two-pore channel 1 (OsTPC1), a putative voltage-gated Ca(2+)-permeable channel, on a proteinaceous fungal elicitor-induced defense responses in rice cells. The overexpressor showed enhanced sensitivity to the elicitor to induce oxidative burst, activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), OsMPK2, as well as hypersensitive cell death. On the contrary, a series of defense responses including the cell death and activation of the MAPK were severely suppressed in the insertional mutant, which was complemented by overexpression of the wild-type gene. These results suggest that the putative Ca(2+)-permeable channel determines sensitivity to the elicitor and plays a role as a key regulator of elicitor-induced defense responses, activation of MAPK cascade and hypersensitive cell death.     

Resveratrol inhibits the formation of phosphatidic acid and diglyceride in chemotactic peptide- or phorbol ester-stimulated human neutrophils

Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, Res) is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in grape berry skins and red wine. It has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the effect of Res on the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA) and diglyceride (DG), in human neutrophils stimulated by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We measured the masses of PA and DG by using a nonradioactive method. Our results showed that Res inhibited the formation of PA in a concentration dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 42.4 and 60.9 microM in fMLP- and PMA-stimulated cells, respectively. Res also suppressed the formation of phosphatidylethanol (PEt), thereby implying inhibition of phospholipase D (PLD) activity. In addition, Res inhibited the formation of both diacylglycerol (DAG) and ether-linked acylglycerol (EAG) induced by fMLP and by PMA. Our results suggest that Res inhibition of PLD activity may contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects.     

Activation of the human neutrophil by calcium-mobilizing ligands. II. Correlation of calcium, diacyl glycerol, and phosphatidic acid generation with superoxide anion generation

Calcium and protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) have been proposed to act as signals in triggering superoxide anion (O2-) generation by neutrophils. We have probed the adequacy and necessity of calcium and diacylglycerol (DG), activators of protein kinase C, in eliciting O2- generation and degranulation. Activation of neutrophils by the ligand 10(-7) M fMet-Leu-Phe triggered elevation of cytosolic calcium (fura-2) and a rapid, biphasic increase in labeled DG in [14C]glycerol and [3H]arachidonate prelabeled cells. Buffering of the fMet-Leu-Phe-induced elevation of cytosolic calcium with MAPTAM (a cell permeant EGTA analogue) inhibited O2- generation by 90% and degranulation by 50%, concordant with a role of calcium in signaling. However, buffering the increase in calcium also decreased DG. Since phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown in response to fMet-Leu-Phe was not inhibited and phosphatidic acid levels were enhanced in MAPTAM pretreated cells, the removal of calcium may enhance further DG metabolism. Thus, a requirement for calcium could not be differentiated from a requirement for DG, and the profound inhibition of O2- generation in the presence of MAPTAM may reflect removal of DG. Four stimuli, fMet-Leu-Phe, 10(-7) M leukotriene B4, 100 micrograms/ml concanavalin A, and 200 nM ionomycin elevated cytosolic calcium and triggered release of specific granules, but only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered substantial O2- generation. Nevertheless, all four stimuli significantly increased labeled DG. Therefore, elevated DG and elevated calcium may be necessary but do not appear adequate to elicit O2- generation. Only fMet-Leu-Phe and concanavalin A triggered generation of phosphatidic acid (PA) together with DG. Correlation of O2- generation with PA may reflect a requirement for PA per se or for a specific pool of DG that can be further metabolized to PA.     

Complementary action of jasmonic acid on salicylic acid in mediating fungal elicitor-induced flavonol glycoside accumulation of Ginkgo biloba cells

The antagonistic action between jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) in plant defence responses has been well documented. However, their relationship in secondary metabolite production is largely unknown. Here, we report that PB90, a protein elicitor from Phytophthora boehmeriae , triggers JA generation, SA accumulation and flavonol glycoside production of Ginkgo biloba cells. JA inhibitors suppress not only PB90-triggered JA generation, but also the elicitor-induced flavonol glycoside production. However, the elicitor can still enhance flavonol glycoside production even though the JA generation is totally inhibited. Over-expression of SA hydrolase gene NahG not only abolishes SA accumulation, but also suppresses the elicitor-induced flavonol glycoside production when JA signalling is inhibited. Interestingly, expression of NahG does not inhibit the elicitor-induced flavonol glycoside accumulation in the absence of JA inhibitors. Moreover, JA levels are significantly enhanced when SA accumulation is impaired in the transgenic cells. Together, the data suggest that both JA and SA are involved in PB90-induced flavonol glycoside production. Furthermore, we demonstrate that JA signalling might be enhanced to substitute for SA to mediate the elicitor-induced flavonol glycoside accumulation when SA signalling is impaired, which reveals an unusual complementary relationship between JA and SA in mediating plant secondary metabolite production.