Inhibition by nicardipine of endothelin-mediated inositol phosphate formation and Ca2+ mobilization in smooth muscle cell

We have investigated the effects of endothelin on phosphoinositide metabolism and Ca2+ mobilization in cultured A10 cells. Endothelin stimulated a significant increase in inositol phosphate formation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. IP3 was significantly elevated by 30 sec and reached a 2.0-fold above control at 1 min. The EC50 for endothelin was 0.5 nM. The initiation of inositol phosphate formation was independent of extracellular Ca2+, and the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, did not stimulate IP3 formation. However, the sustained elevation of inositol phosphates was partially inhibited by incubating cells in buffer lacking Ca2+ or in buffer containing nicardipine. Endothelin mobilized both intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ reaching a peak intracellular concentration of 350 +/- 11 nM by 1 min when cells were bathed with Ca2+-complete buffer. Intracellular Ca2+ remained 2-fold above baseline for at least 15 min. In contrast, when cells were exposed to endothelin in Ca2+-free buffer, the peak value of [Ca2+]i was 195 +/- 20 nM and returned to baseline by 2 min. Nicardipine completely blocked the influx of extracellular Ca2+ but did not interfere with the mobilization of intracellular stores. We conclude that endothelin produces a rapid and sustained elevation in inositol phosphate formation. The rapid production of IP3 is consistent with the time course for mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. Elevated cytosolic Ca2+ levels are maintained by the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through a nicardipine-sensitive Ca2+ channel and are involved in the sustained formation of inositol phosphates. These data provide an explanation for the sustained, nicardipine-inhibitable contraction of coronary artery strips induced by endothelin.     

Potassium depletion selectively inhibits sustained diacylglycerol formation from phosphatidylinositol in angiotensin II-stimulated, cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Potassium depletion decreases blood pressure in vivo and blunts the pressor response to angiotensin II (ang II) without down-regulating the receptor. In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, the ang II-induced signaling sequence is biphasic with rapid hydrolysis of the polyphosphoinositides producing an early (15 s) diacylglycerol (DG) peak and a transient rise in inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and more delayed phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis resulting in sustained DG formation (peak at 5 min). Exposure of intact vascular smooth muscle cells to low potassium growth medium for 24 h or acutely potassium-depleting cells with nigericin causes selective, marked inhibition of late DG formation (5-min peak inhibited by 60 +/- 8% and 84 +/- 7%, respectively). The early cell response, namely polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, inositol bis- and trisphosphate production and the 15-s DG peak, is not affected. Analysis of 125I-ang II-binding data reveals no significant differences in either receptor number or binding affinity (Kd) in potassium-depleted cells. Together with its marked inhibitory effect on sustained ang II-induced DG formation, acute potassium depletion effectively blocks internalization of 125I-ang II: there is no significant internalization of the ligand after 5 min at 37 degrees C versus 64 +/- 7% internalization in control cells. Thus, potassium depletion does not alter ang II binding or initial membrane signaling in rat aortic smooth muscle but blocks ligand internalization and selectively and markedly inhibits the development of direct PI hydrolysis and sustained diacylglycerol formation. These findings suggest a role for ligand-receptor processing in generating the sustained cell response and potentially explain the lower blood pressure and decreased pressor response to ang II seen in hypokalemic states in vivo. Furthermore, the ability of K+ depletion to alter secondary signal generation may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the K+ dependence of a variety of cell functions.     

Sustained diacylglycerol formation from inositol phospholipids in angiotensin II-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin II acts on cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells to stimulate phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositides and subsequent formation of diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates. In intact cells, angiotensin II induces a dose-dependent increase in diglyceride which is detectable after 5 s and sustained for at least 20 min. Angiotensin II (100 nM)-stimulated diglyceride formation is biphasic, peaking at 15 s (227 +/- 19% control) and at 5 min (303 +/- 23% control). Simultaneous analysis of labeled inositol phospholipids shows that at 15 s phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) decline to 52 +/- 6% control and 63 +/- 5% control, respectively, while phosphatidylinositol (PI) remains unchanged. In contrast, at 5 min, PIP2 and PIP have returned toward control levels (92 +/- 2 and 82 +/- 4% control, respectively), while PI has decreased substantially (81 +/- 2% control). The calcium ionophore ionomycin (15 microM) stimulates diglyceride accumulation but does not cause PI hydrolysis. 4 beta-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, inhibits early PIP and PIP2 breakdown and diglyceride formation, without inhibiting late-phase diglyceride accumulation. Thus, angiotensin II induces rapid transient breakdown of PIP and PIP2 and delayed hydrolysis of PI. The rapid attenuation of polyphosphoinositide breakdown is likely caused by a protein kinase C-mediated inhibition of PIP and PIP2 hydrolysis. While in vascular smooth muscle stimulated with angiotensin II inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation is transient, diglyceride production is biphasic, suggesting that initial and sustained diglyceride formation from the phosphoinositides results from different biochemical and/or cellular processes.     

Stimulation of phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides by endothelin in cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells

Incubation of the [3H] inositol-labeled cultured rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with either endothelin or angiotensin II caused a rapid formation of inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphates (IP1, IP2 and IP3, respectively). Time courses of the endothelin- and angiotensin II-induced formation of these inositol phosphates were similar. The maximal levels of IP1, IP2 and IP3 formation induced by endothelin were about 50%, 25% and 40%, respectively, of those induced by angiotensin II. The doses of endothelin necessary for the half maximal and maximal extents of the formation of IP1 were about 1 nM and 100 nM, respectively. Protein kinase C-activating 12-Q-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibited the endothelin-induced formation of IP1 with the half maximal extent of inhibition seen at 3 nM. The inhibitory action of TPA was mimicked by another protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, but not by 4 alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, known to be inactive for this enzyme. These results indicate that endothelin causes the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides, though to a lesser extent than angiotensin II, in cultured VSMCs and suggest that protein kinase C modulates the signaling mechanism of endothelin to the phospholipase C.     

Activation of multiple signal transduction pathways by endothelin in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells

Cellular responses to the vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin, have been investigated in quiescent cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMC). Endothelin caused intracellular alkalinization and activation of the protein synthetic enzyme S6-kinase, but such responses were not associated with any mitogenic effects of endothelin on hVSMC. In myo-[3H]inositol-prelabelled hVSMC endothelin elicited a rapid increase in inositol bis- and tris-phosphates and concomitant hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositol lipids. In [3H]arachidonate-prelabelled hVSMC endothelin promoted production of diacylglycerol, the early kinetics of which parallelled polyphosphoinositol lipid hydrolysis. Such phospholipase C activation by endothelin was sustained in hVSMC with accumulation of inositol polyphosphates being markedly protracted and the decay of diacylglycerol slow. Endothelin promoted extracellular release of [3H]arachidonate-labelled material from hVSMC which derived via deacylation of both phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. This process was inhibited by phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase inhibitors, but insensitive to phospholipase C and cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Endothelin-induced activation of phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 signal transduction pathways (EC50 approximately 5-8 nM for both) in hVSMC apparently proceed in an independent parallel manner rather than a sequential one.     

Endothelin stimulates phospholipase C in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from bovine and rat thoracic aortae and from human omental vessels have been examined for cellular responses to endothelin. In myo-[3H]-inositol-prelabelled cells endothelin induced a rapid (within 30 sec) and protracted increase of [3H]-inositol content in inositol bis- and tris-phosphates. Concomitantly, significant polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis occurred within 30 sec. Accumulation of [3H]-inositol monophosphate and hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol were delayed. In cells prelabelled with [3H]-arachidonic acid endothelin promoted rapid production of [3H]-diacylglycerol which decayed slowly toward control values after reaching maximum levels (1-2 min). Half-maximally effective concentrations of endothelin for all these cellular responses were comparable (approximately 3-7 nM) and not significantly different between the vascular cell isolates. The involvement of the phospholipase C-signal transduction pathway in mediating endothelin-induced vasoconstriction is invoked.     

Multiple sources of 1,2-diacylglycerol in isolated rat pancreatic acini stimulated by cholecystokinin. Involvement of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis

Changes in the cellular content of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) in isolated rat pancreatic acini in response to agonist stimulation were studied using a sensitive mass assay. When acini were stimulated by 10 nM COOH-terminal cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK8), the increase in DAG was biphasic, consisting of an early peak at 5 s and a second, larger, gradual increase that was maximal by 15 min. The basal level of DAG in acini was 1.04 nmol/mg of protein, which was increased to 1.24 nmol/mg of protein at 5 s and 2.76 nmol/mg of protein at 30 min. In comparison, the increase in DAG stimulated by 30 pM CCK8, a submaximal concentration for amylase release, was monophasic, increasing without an early peak but sustained to 60 min. Other Ca2+-mobilizing secretagogues such as carbamylcholine and bombesin increased DAG in acini, whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide, which acts to increase cAMP, had no effect. Phorbol ester and Ca2+ ionophore also stimulated DAG production. Analysis of the mass level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) showed that the generation of 1,4,5-IP3 stimulated by 10 nM CCK8 peaked at 5 s, a finding consistent with the early peak of DAG. The basal level was 4.7 pmol/mg of protein, which was increased to 144.6 pmol/mg of protein at 5 s by 10 nM CCK8. The levels of 1,4,5-IP3 then returned toward basal in contrast to the gradual and sustained increase of DAG. The dose dependencies of 1,4,5-IP3 and DAG formation at 5 s with respect to CCK8 were almost identical. This suggests that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis is a major source of the early increase in DAG but not of the sustained increase in DAG. Therefore, a possible contribution of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis to DAG formation was examined utilizing acini prelabeled with [3H]choline. CCK8 (1 nM) maximally increased [3H]choline metabolite release by 133% of control at 30 min. Separation of these metabolites by thin layer chromatography showed that the products of CCK8-stimulated release were almost entirely phosphorylcholine, indicating the activation of a phospholipase C specific for phosphatidylcholine. By comparison, 1 nM CCK8 stimulated [3H]ethanolamine metabolite release from [3H]ethanolamine-labeled acini by only 22% of control. These data suggest that CCK stimulates both phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis; the latter may contribute to the sustained generation of DAG and hence the maintained activation of protein kinase C.     

Specific G proteins mediate endothelin induced contraction

Endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide which has recently been localized in the gastrointestinal tract. We have investigated the transmembrane signaling properties of endothelin in isolated smooth muscle cells of the rabbit rectosigmoid. Endothelin induced a dose dependent contraction of smooth muscle cells in a range of 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶M. In normal buffer, contraction peaked at 30 sec and was sustained for up to 8 min. Incubation in 0Ca/2mM EGTA abolished the sustained contraction induced by endothelin, but had no effect on the initial transient contraction. Preincubation of saponin treated cells with G protein antisera had no effect on control cell length. Preincubation of saponin treated isolated smooth muscle cells with specific G protein antisera (rabbit antisera) for Go or Gs for 60 minutes did not inhibit contraction induced by endothelin. Preincubation with an antiserum to Gi₃ inhibited the initial transient contraction induced by endothelin and preincubation with an antiserum to Gi₁₋₂ inhibited the sustained phase of the endothelin induced contraction. Our data indicate that: 1) Endothelin induces a direct sustained contraction of smooth cells from the rectosigmoid; 2) The transmembrane signalling of endothelin is through two specific GTP binding components that are Gi, one for the initial transient contraction, and the other for the sustained phase of the contraction.     

Evidence that Na+/H+ exchange regulates angiotensin II-stimulated diacylglycerol accumulation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin II stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cells results in initial, rapid diacylglycerol (DG) formation from the polyphosphoinositides accompanied by intracellular acidification, as well as a more sustained DG accumulation which is accompanied by a prolonged intracellular alkalinization. To determine whether intracellular pH (pHi) modulates DG accumulation, NH4Cl and potassium acetate were used to alter pHi and DG formation was measured. NH4Cl (10 mM) increased pHi from 7.15 +/- 0.05 to 7.34 +/- 0.02 pH units and markedly enhanced the sustained (5 min), but not the initial (15 s), phase of DG formation in response to 100 nM angiotensin II (65 +/- 13% increase). Conversely, intracellular acidification with Na+-free buffer and potassium acetate (20 mM) decreased pHi to 6.93 +/- 0.08 and reduced subsequent angiotensin II-induced sustained DG formation by 82 +/- 9%. In intact cells, inhibition of angiotensin II-stimulated alkalinization by incubation in Na+-free buffer or by addition of the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor dimethylamiloride (10 microM) decreased the ability of the cell to sustain DG formation, suggesting that active Na+/H+ exchange is necessary for continued DG formation. Thus, it seems that sustained, angiotensin II-induced diacylglycerol accumulation is regulated by intracellular alkalinization secondary to Na+/H+ exchange in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Endothelin inhibits adenylate cyclase and stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis in adult cardiac myocytes.

We have assessed the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on transmembrane signaling in adult rat ventricular myocytes. ET-1 stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis with an EC50 of 0.3-0.8 nM. This stimulation is linear for up to 30 min in the presence of a protease inhibitor, is additive with the effects of other stimulators of phosphoinositide hydrolysis, is not inhibited by the Ca2+ entry blocker, nifedipine, and is insensitive to pertussis toxin. ET-1 also reduces cyclic AMP production in myocytes in response to isoproterenol and forskolin (EC50, 1 nM). This cyclic AMP-lowering effect of ET-1 is sensitive to pertussis toxin, can be demonstrated directly in assays of adenylate cyclase activity of myocyte membranes, and seems to be mediated by Gi. These data indicate that the effects of endothelin on adult cardiac myocytes involve multiple signaling pathways, including enhanced activity of the inositol phosphate pathway and a decrease in cyclic AMP-mediated responses, neither of which seems likely to account for the positive contractile effects of endothelin.     

Correlation of receptor sequestration with sustained diacylglycerol accumulation in angiotensin II-stimulated cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiotensin II stimulates sequential phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of initially the polyphosphoinositides and subsequently phosphatidylinositol (PI) in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells resulting in biphasic, sustained formation of diacylglycerol (DG). The mechanisms underlying this delayed induction of sustained DG accumulation are unknown but may be related to cellular events including processing of the angiotensin II receptor-ligand complex. In the present study, we characterized the kinetics of angiotensin II receptor sequestration and studied the effects of interventions which interfere with receptor processing on the pattern of angiotensin II-induced DG formation and phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Conversion of the angiotensin II receptor to an acid-resistant form was temperature-dependent, with half-times of 1.5 min at 37 degrees C and 7 min at 19 degrees C. Reducing the temperature to 25 or 19 degrees C caused a marked temporal separation between the two phases of DG accumulation. There was a close temporal correlation between the effect of temperature on receptor sequestration and on sustained DG accumulation. Furthermore, phenylarsine oxide (5 min, 10 microM), which inhibited angiotensin II receptor internalization, also selectively inhibited the sustained phase of DG accumulation (81 +/- 6% inhibition). Monensin and chloroquine, which interfere with receptor processing through the lysosomal-degradative pathway, had no effect on angiotensin II-induced DG formation in these cells, suggesting that the processing event important to hormonally induced sustained DG accumulation occurs early in the internalization pathway, probably at the level of the plasma membrane. Moreover, the acid-resistant state of the angiotensin II receptor-ligand complex retained its ability to signal, since removal of the surface signal by competitive antagonism with Sar1-Ile8-angiotensin II or acid-wash only slowly reversed accumulation of DG and depression of total cell calcium. These experiments support our previous observation that the initial and sustained phases of angiotensin II-induced diacylglycerol formation in vascular smooth muscle are differentially controlled and suggest that an early event in the cellular processing of the angiotensin II-receptor complex is essential to maintenance of DG accumulation.     

Leukotriene C4-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat basophilic leukemia cell.

Leukotriene C4 (LTC4), one of the major constituents of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis, induced a dose-dependent hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in [3H]inositol-prelabeled rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. The EC50 for LTC4 to elicit the half maximum accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (IPs) was around 20 nM. The increase in the formation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was detectable at 2 min after the stimulation and progressed up to 30 min. Accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1) was observed only during the late phase of 5-30 min in the presence of LiCl. When cells were stimulated with LTC4 and LTD4 together, there was no additive accumulation in [3H]IPs. Pretreatment of cells with either LTC4 or LTD4 resulted in a decrease in production of [3H]IPs on further stimulation with the same agonist. The desensitization appeared to be heterologous since pretreatment of cells with LTC4 attenuated the responsiveness to LTD4. Conversely, pretreatment with LTD4 also diminished the responsiveness to LTC4 markedly. These results suggest that both LTC4- and LTD4-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides are mediated through the same effector in RBL-1 cells.     

Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) augments chemoattractant-induced diglyceride generation in human neutrophils but inhibits phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Implications for the mechanism of PMA priming of the respiratory burst

Pretreatment ("priming") of neutrophils with a non-activating concentration (2 nM) of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) augments superoxide (O2-) production in response to the chemoattractant formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP). We initially examined the effect of sphinganine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme), on activation of primed neutrophils. In both primed and unprimed cells activation by fMLP was blocked, and inhibition occurred at identical concentrations, supporting a common inhibited site. PMA also augmented (about 2-fold) fMLP-induced generation of sn-1,2-diglyceride (DG), the level of which correlated with O2- generation. In contrast to its effects on DG, PMA diminished by about 50% the magnitude of the fMLP-stimulated rise in cytosolic Ca2+. Thus, PMA priming dissociates the fMLP-stimulated Ca2+ increase from DG and O2- generation. The effect of PMA on Ca2+ levels appeared to be due in part to lowered levels of inositol trisphosphate. Lowering of inositol phosphate levels correlated with inhibition of fMLP-induced hydrolysis of inositol-containing phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. PMA did not inhibit (and in fact augmented at early time points) formation of [32P] phosphatidic acid in response to fMLP, indicating that the increase in DG was not due to inhibition of cellular diglyceride kinase. Thus, the data suggest that PMA enhances fMLP-stimulated DG generation concomitant with switching the source of DG from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to an alternative lipid(s). Increased DG and inhibition of activation by sphinganine are consistent with a role for protein kinase C in activation of the respiratory burst in PMA-primed neutrophils.     

Lipid kinases and Ca(2+) signaling in Trypanosoma cruzi stimulated by a synthetic peptide

The synthetic peptide carrying residues 1-40 of chicken alpha(D)-globin, which promotes differentiation in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote, stimulated PPtdIns-k, DAG-k, and PA-k activities in a dose-dependent manner. A biphasic behavior only for PPtdIns-k and DAG-k was demonstrated by changes in [(32)P]PPtdIns and PtdOH levels, the earlier phase peaking at 3 min with a return to basal levels by 6 min and then a second phase with a sustained increase in time. This behavior was not observed for PA-k; the DGPP levels peaked at 6 min and were sustained in time. PMA pretreatment only abolished the first peak of PPtdIns-k, DAG-k activities, and InsPs/InsP(3) levels. There was also a transient elevation in intracellular calcium concentration, but this variation was modified only 50% by PMA. The results suggest that peptide 1-40 induces activation of the inositol cycle through lipid kinase activation in a biphasic manner. In this response, the early increase of enzymatic activities would be regulated by PKC and the InsP(3) may only be responsible, in part, for the calcium signaling.     

Platelet-activating factor-induced homologous and heterologous desensitization in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations were monitored in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) using the Ca2+-sensitive dye fura II. Superfusion of VSMC with platelet-activating factor (S-PAF; 1-100 nM) increased cytosolic Ca2+ in a dose-dependent manner. The response was transient and returned to base line even though the agonist was still present. A second, higher dose of PAF did not elicit a response. The inactive optical isomer, R-PAF, was ineffective suggesting that the S-PAF response is specific and receptor-mediated. Pretreatment of VSMC with PAF attenuated angiotensin II-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization but not vasopressin-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization. Treatment of VSMC with PAF (10 nM) stimulated inositol trisphosphate and inositol tetrakisphosphate formation above control by 260 +/- 15% and 195 +/- 11%, respectively. Diacylglycerol levels also rose during PAF stimulation and remained increased over 15 min. Pretreatment of VSMCs with phorbol-12,13-myristate acetate (10 nM) for 30 min abolished both the PAF- and angiotensin II-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+, but not the vasopressin-induced increase. Pretreatment of VSMC with dioctanoylglycerol (10 microM) abolished the S-PAF-, angiotensin II-, and vasopressin-induced elevation in cytosolic Ca2+. We propose that this desensitization is possibly mediated by diacylglycerol formed in response to PAF.     

Effects of endothelin on sodium transport mechanisms: potential role in cellular Ca2+ mobilization

The effects of endothelin on cellular Ca2+ mobilization were examined in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Endothelin (10(-8)M) induced a rapid transient increase of [Ca2+]i from 77 +/- 3 to 104 +/- 5 nM (p less than .05) in VSMC. Preincubation (60 min) with endothelin (2 x 10(-6)M) increased basal [Ca2+]i from 77 +/- 3 to 105 +/- 8 nM (p less than .05). Preincubation with endothelin also enhanced vasopressin (10(-7)M)-stimulated peak levels of [Ca2+]i (528 +/- 20 nM vs 969 +/- 21 nM, p less than .01). Endothelin (10(-7)M) induced an intracellular alkalinization (7.18 +/- 0.03 vs 7.37 +/- 0.04, p less than .01) which was blocked by pretreatment with amiloride. The biphasic effects of endothelin on [Ca2+]i were similar to those of an endogenous inhibitor of Na-K-ATPase that we examined in a previous study. Therefore, we examined the effects of endothelin on Na-K-ATPase in an enzyme preparation from hog cerebral cortex. At high concentrations, endothelin (10(-5)M) inhibited Na-K-ATPase in vitro. Thus, endothelin may exert its vasoconstrictor effects at least in part via alterations of cellular Ca2+ mobilization in VSMC. While the rapid transient increase of [Ca2+]i appears to reflect intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, the sustained effect on [Ca2+]i may be related to an increase of intracellular sodium mediated by inhibition of Na-K-ATPase and/or more likely by stimulation of the Na+/H+-antiport.     

Epidermal growth factor and bombesin differ strikingly in the induction of early responses in Swiss 3T3 cells

Swiss 3T3 cells express receptors for both the polypeptide epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the tetradecapeptide bombesin and respond mitogenically to these substances. These cells thus provide a system to analyze potential signal transduction pathways involved in mitogenic stimulation. Here we have determined and compared the early ionic responses elicited by EGF and bombesin and their relation to diacylglycerol (DG) and inositolphosphate (InsPn) production. Whereas EGF fails to cause any significant change in intracellular Ca2+, bombesin effectively induces prompt and transient Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores. Further support of the idea that these receptors utilize distinct signalling pathways comes from the measurements of cytoplasmic pH (pHi). As in most target cells, EGF induces a delayed (1 min) but sustained intracellular alkalinization that reaches a new steady state after approximately 10 min. Bombesin, in contrast, elicits a biphasic response; within seconds, a rapid but transient rise in pHi is observed, followed by a further slower sustained alkalinization. Inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger prevents both EGF as well as bombesin-induced alkalinization. However, under these conditions, bombesin evokes a rapid and sustained acidification related to the Ca2+ response. Apparently, bombesin initiates a Ca2(+)-dependent acidifying process immediately after binding of the hormone to its receptor. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that the bombesin-induced alkalinization depends on protein kinase C activation whereas the EGF response does not. Determination of the total DG and InsPn accumulation revealed that EGF is ineffective in stimulating phospholipase C-mediated production of these second messengers. In contrast, bombesin causes a rapid DG and InsPn production coinciding with the Ca2+ response and the first phase of the rise in pHi followed by a slower DG accumulation coinciding with the second alkalinization phase. Our results show that in Swiss 3T3 cells the bombesin receptor activates the hydrolysis of inositol lipids as a mechanism of signal transduction, which consequently causes changes in Ca2+i and pHi. Clearly, the EGF receptor utilizes different pathways to evoke mitogenesis and stimulates Na+/H+ exchange independently of DG production and protein kinase C activation.     

Endothelin-3 stimulates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production and Ca2+ influx to produce biphasic dopamine release from rat striatal slices

Summary 1. Real-time monitoring of dopamine (DA) release from rat striatal slices demonstrated that endothelin (ET)-3 (0.1–10M) produced a biphasic DA release consisting of transient and sustained components. When extracellular Ca²⁺ was removed, the sustained but not transient response remarkably decreased.2. ET-3 (1–10M) stimulated an increase in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), which also consisted of two components. The external Ca²⁺ depletion inhibited primarily the sustained component of the Ca²⁺ response to ET-3.3. ET-3 increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) concentrations in striatal slices. This response peaked at 10 to 20 sec and returned to the basal level 2 min after stimulation, an event which was in good accord with a prompt and transient phase of both cytosolic Ca²⁺ activity and DA release evoked by ET-3.4. Thus, ET-3 produces a transient and a sustained release of DA from striatal slices by stimulating intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization via IP3 formation and extracellular Ca²⁺ influx, respectively.     

Angiogenin activates phospholipase C and elicits a rapid incorporation of fatty acid into cholesterol esters in vascular smooth muscle cells

Angiogenin activates the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells to yield a transient (30 s) peak of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) and inositol trisphosphate. Within 1 min, the DG level falls below that of the control and remains so for at least 20 min. A transient increase in monoacylglycerol indicates that depletion of DG may be the consequence of hydrolysis by DG lipase. In addition to these changes in second messengers, a rapid increase in incorporation of radiolabeled tracer into cellular cholesterol esters is observed. Stimulated cholesterol ester labeling is inhibited by preincubation with either the DG lipase inhibitor RHC 80267 or the acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor Sandoz 58035. Cells prelabeled with [3H]arachidonate show a sustained increase in labeling of cholesterol esters following exposure to angiogenin. In contrast, cells prelabeled with [3H]oleate show only a transient elevation that returns to the basal level by 5 min. This suggests initial cholesterol esterification by oleate followed by arachidonate that is released by stimulation of the PLC/DG lipase pathway.     

Antigen-induced biphasic diacylglycerol formation in RBL-2H3 cells: the late sustained phase due to phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis is dependent on protein kinase C

Exposure to antigen (Ag) caused a biphasic 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) production in [3H]myristic acid-labeled RBL-2H3 cells; the early, small transient phase and the second large sustained phase. The accumulation of phosphatidic acid (PA) or phosphatidylethanol (PEt) in the presence of ethanol was paralleled by the second-phase DG generation. Ag-induced formation of phosphocholine and choline in [3H]choline-labeled cells suggested the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) by phospholipases C and D. Treatment with phorbol myristate (PMA) or A23187 caused increases in [3H]DG and water-soluble [3H]choline metabolites. In protein kinase C (PKC) down-regulated cells, PEt formation was markedly reduced. In these cells DG production induced by Ag and A23187 was largely suppressed, thus indicating that PKC would play an important regulatory role for PC hydrolysis. However, because the A23187 treatment showed significant accumulation of water-soluble choline metabolites in PKC down-regulated cells, an increase in intracellular Ca2+ is another factor regulating PC hydrolysis. Taken together, these results may indicate that PC hydrolysis in response to Ag is dependent on PKC and Ca2+.