Possible influence of lysophospholipase on the production of 1-acyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine in macrophages.

The rate of production of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF) and 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (acylPAF) was measured in macrophages following the incorporation of [3H]acetate. Upon activation by A23187, guinea pig alveolar macrophages incorporated [3H]acetate into PAF, but a little radioactivity was found in acylPAF. However, labeling of acylPAF and PAF with [3H]acetate was greatly enhanced in A23187-stimulated alveolar macrophages that had been pretreated with phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride (PMSF). [3H]PAF was predominantly converted to 1-[3H]alkyl-2-acyl glycerophosphocholine, but [14C]acylPAF rapidly hydrolyzed to 14C-labeled free fatty acid by the incubation with lysates prepared from macrophages. The deacetylation of [14C]acylPAF and [3H]PAF by acetylhydrolase and also the hydrolysis of [14C]lysoPC by lysophospholipase were strongly inhibited in macrophages that had been pretreated with PMSF, while PMSF failed to inhibit the activities of acetyltransferase and acyltransferase. The relative proportions of PAF and acylPAF were quite different in different types of cells. In contrast to alveolar macrophages, peritoneal macrophages, neutrophils and spleen cells from guinea pigs incorporated 2-4 times more [3H]acetate into acylPAF than into PAF. The presence of high levels of acylPAF in peritoneal macrophages was confirmed by GLC-MS analysis. The activities of lysophospholipase, acetylhydrolase and acetyltransferase were measured in alveolar and peritoneal macrophages to determine whether the preferential formation of acylPAF as compared to PAF in peritoneal macrophages was due to differences in these activities between alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. The activity of acetylhydrolase of peritoneal macrophages was almost the same as that in alveolar macrophages. The activity of acetyltransferase in peritoneal macrophages was about half of that in alveolar macrophages. However, the activity of lysophospholipase in peritoneal macrophages was one-sixth of that in alveolar macrophages. These results suggest that lysophospholipase is one of the primary factors involved in the control of the production of acylPAF in activated cells, and that it acts by modulating the availability of lysoPC for the synthesis of acylPAF. Furthermore, high levels of activity of lysophospholipase allow the preferential formation of PAF, via the rapid hydrolysis of lysoPC which would act as a competitive inhibitor of the incorporation of acetate into lysoPAF.     

Meconium enhances platelet-activating factor and tumor necrosis factor production by rat alveolar macrophages

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) frequently results in inactivation of surfactant, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) and respiratory failure among newborn infants. Inflammation and inflammatory mediators play an important role in MAS. Since alveolar macrophages are thought to be very important cells in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases, we evaluated whether meconium could stimulate rat alveolar macrophages to generate platelet-activating factor (PAF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in vitro. We also examined the response to A23187 (calcium ionophore), 1-0-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (synthetic PAF) and dexamethasone on meconium-induced release of PAF and TNF-alpha. PAF and TNF-alpha concentrations from supernatant fluid were measured after high-performance liquid chromatography purification by specific radioimmunoassay, and TNF-alpha concentrations were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results showed that alveolar macrophages exposed to meconium could enhance PAF and TNF-alpha production in a dose (0.1, 1, 5 and 10%, P<0.01)-dependent way. In the presence of A23187, the capability of meconium to stimulate PAF production was further enhanced in the supernatant fluids. Furthermore, treatment with synthetic PAF significantly increased the generation of TNF-alpha in response to meconium. On the other hand, dexamethasone effectively inhibited both PAF and TNF-alpha production stimulated by 5% meconium (P<0.01, P<0.01; respectively). We suggest that alveolar macrophages and PAF, TNF-alpha play an important role in the pathogenesis of lung injury and severe complications in MAS. Furthermore, the protective effect of glucocorticoids in MAS could be due, at least in part, to a suppression of PAF and TNF-alpha generation.     

Evidence for a platelet-activating factor receptor on human alveolar macrophages.

In this report we demonstrate evidence which strongly suggests that human alveolar macrophages possess receptor for the platelet activating factor (PAF). We investigated the effects of PAF by measuring (a) the intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i, using the fura-2 method in single isolated cells and (b) the production of superoxide anion. PAF increased [Ca2+]i in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 1 x 10(-8) M), whereas lyso-PAF had no effect. The initial increase of [Ca2+]i was followed by a slow decrease to a sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i significantly above basal values. While the initial rise in [Ca2+]i was only slightly reduced in Ca(2+)-free medium (1 mM EGTA), the sustained phase was totally abolished. The sustained calcium increase was also blocked after preincubation of AM with the calcium-channel blocker nitrendipine. PAF increased the production of superoxide anion (O2-) by human alveolar macrophages in a dose- dependent manner. The effects of PAF on [Ca2+]i and (O2-) could be blocked by the PAF-specific antagonist WEB 2086 dose dependently, indicating a receptor-mediated event.     

Platelet activating factor is a potent stimulant of the production of active oxygen species by human monocyte-derived macrophages

Platelet activating factor (PAF; C16), 1-O-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) stimulated the production of active oxygen species by human monocyte-derived macrophages in culture. An optimal response was observed at a concentration of 13 microM PAF with half-maximal stimulation at 5 microM. The generation of superoxide ion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in response to PAF was inhibited specifically by a PAF-antagonist (1-O-Hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho (N,N,N,-trimethyl) hexanolamine; such generation varied with the degree of maturation of cultured monocytes into macrophages. Production of active oxygen species increased progressively to reach a maximal level between days 4 to 6 of culture and remained maximal to day 12, after which it decreased progressively. Phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan also stimulated generation of O2- and H2O2. PAF was however distinguished by its potent capacity to stimulate O2- and H2O2 production even at late stages of macrophage maturation (18 days), at which time both PMA and zymosan lacked significant effect. These findings suggest that PAF is a factor of potential relevance to the inflammatory role of the macrophage in atherogenesis.     

Zinc hydroxide stimulates superoxide production by rat alveolar macrophages.

The effect of zinc hydroxide on superoxide (O2-) production by rat alveolar macrophages was determined by chemiluminescence and by cytochrome c reduction. Zinc ions had no effect on the chemiluminescence of unstimulated alveolar macrophages. By contrast, zinc hydroxide (ZnOH2), a neutralized form of zinc ions, increased the chemiluminescence level and O2- release. Increased O2- release was inhibited by pertussis toxin, isoquinoline sulfonamide and pretreatment with EGTA. These findings indicate that zinc hydroxide formation from zinc compounds can stimulate the O2- production by alveolar macrophages by receptor-mediated and Ca(2+)-dependent process.     

Modulation of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis Growth in Cultured Mouse Macrophages by Prostaglandins and Platelet Activating Factor

The role of endogenously synthesized PAF and prostaglandins on the infection of mouse macrophages by Letsbmanta (L.) amazonensis was investigated, as well as the possible correlation between the effects of these inflammatory mediators with nitric oxide production. It was found that pretreatment of macrophages with 10(-5) M of the PAF antagonists, BN-52021 or WEB-2086, increased macrophage infection by 17 and 59%, respectively. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 mug/ml), induced a significant inhibition which was reversed by addition of PGE (10-3 M) to the culture medium. These results suggested that the infection of macrophages by leisbmanla is inhibited by PAF and enhanced by prostaglandins and that these mediators are produced by macrophages during this infection. This was confirmed by addition of these mediators to the culture medium before infection; PAF (10(-6), 10(-9) and 10(-12)M) reduced significantly the infection whereas PGE(2) (10(-5) M) induced a marked enhancement. This effect of exogenous PAF on macrophage infection was reversed by the two PAF antagonists used in this study as well as by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, L-arginine methyl ester (100 mM). Taken together the data suggest that endogenous production of PAF and PGE(2) exert opposing effects on Lesbmana-macrophage interaction and that nitric oxide may be involved in the augmented destruction of parasites induced by PAF.     

PAF metabolism in resident and activated alveolar macrophages: role of protein kinase C

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) metabolism was studied in resident and activated alveolar macrophages. Macrophages were obtained from normal Sprague-Dawley rats and from rats previously injected with complete Freund's adjuvant. Macrophages were attached and stimulated for 90 min. Then, cell PAF was extracted and quantitated by thin-layer chromatography. We found that in both resident and activated macrophages, calcium ionophore A23187 was a potent stimulus for PAF production while phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was not. PMA and ionophore acted synergistically to increase PAF content in resident macrophages. This synergism was not observed in activated macrophages. To examine if this difference between resident and activated macrophages was due to a difference in PAF degradation, we assayed acetylhydrolase, the PAF-degrading enzyme. We found that ionophore stimulated acetylhydrolase activity in activated macrophages, but not in resident macrophages. Furthermore, PMA potentiated the ionophore effect in activated macrophages. This synergism was less obvious in resident cells. We conclude that PAF metabolism is different in activated and resident alveolar macrophages. Protein kinase C may play an important role in acetylhydrolase regulation in these cells.     

Platelet-activating factor and prostaglandin E2 impair esophageal ACh release in experimental esophagitis

ACh is a neurotransmitter in cat esophageal circular muscle, as atropine nearly abolishes contraction of in vitro circular muscle strips in response to electric field stimulation (EFS) (5, 12). Experimental esophagitis reduced EFS- but not ACh-induced contraction of esophageal circular muscle, suggesting that esophagitis impairs neurotransmitter release. Because IL-1beta and IL-6 are produced in esophagitis and reproduce these changes in normal esophageal muscle (12), we examined the role of IL-1beta and IL-6 in this motor dysfunction. IL-1beta, IL-6 (12), H2O2, PGE2, and platelet-activating factor (PAF) were elevated in esophagitis specimens. Normal muscle incubated (2 h) in IL-1beta and IL-6 had increases in H2O2, PGE2, and PAF levels. H2O2 contributed to increased PGE2 and PAF, as the increase was partially (60-80%) reversed by the H2O2 scavenger catalase. EFS-induced [3H]ACh release from muscle strips significantly (42%) decreased in esophagitis and after 2 h incubation in PGE2 and in PAF C-16. Similarly, EFS-induced but not ACh-induced muscle contraction decreased in esophagitis and after incubation in PGE2 and PAF C-16. Finally, in normal muscle strips treated with IL-1beta electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contraction was partially restored by indomethacin or by the PAF antagonist CV3988 and was completely restored by the combination of CV3988 and indomethacin, whereas in strips treated with IL-6, EFS-induced contraction was partially restored by the PAF antagonist CV3988 and not affected by indomethacin. We conclude that IL-1beta-induced production of H2O2 causes formation of PGE2 and PAF that inhibit ACh release from esophageal cholinergic neurons without affecting ACh-induced contraction of esophageal circular muscle. IL-6 causes production of H2O2, PAF, and other unidentified inflammatory mediators.     

Respiratory burst in alveolar macrophages of diabetic rats

Bactericidal ability of alveolar macrophages is depressed in rats with diabetes mellitus. To define the mechanism of this abnormality, we measured the parameters of respiratory burst in alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes, and neutrophils of rats 8 wk after the induction of diabetes by streptozocin. Superoxide anion (O2-.) generation during basal conditions and after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was measured as superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction. NADPH, the principal substrate for NADPH-oxidase-dependent O2-. generation, was measured in the alveolar macrophages and quick-frozen lungs by the enzyme-cycling method. O2-. generation after PMA was significantly lower in the alveolar macrophages of diabetics than in the controls (14.4 +/- 2.0 nmol.10(6) cells-1.20 min-1 vs. 26.2 +/- 1.9, P less than 0.05). Conversely the peripheral blood monocytes of diabetics demonstrated an enhanced O2-. production after PMA stimulation. There was no significant difference in the neutrophil O2-.-generation between the groups. The alveolar macrophage NADPH (control 0.44 +/- 0.15 nmol/10(6) cells vs. diabetic 0.21 +/- 0.04, P less than 0.05) and lung tissue NADPH levels (control 81.4 +/- 16.3 nmol/g dry wt vs. diabetic 35.8 +/- 20.5, P less than 0.05) were significantly lower in the diabetics than in the controls. These data indicate that the O2-.-generating capacity of alveolar macrophages is markedly depressed in diabetes, whereas their precursors, monocytes, are primed to generate O2-. with PMA stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Radiation effects on oxidative metabolism in young and aged rat alveolar macrophages.

The effect of ionizing radiation on metabolic functions of alveolar macrophages (AM) have been well studied. However, variations associated to age have not been established yet. The aim of this work was to perform a comparative study on irradiated alveolar macrophages from young and aged rat lungs. Cell viability and occurrence of apoptosis as well as production of nitric oxide (NO), generation of superoxide anion (O2*-) and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed in vitro after exposure to gamma-irradiation with 10, 25, 50 and 75 Gy. Cell viability decreased only in the aged population at the higher doses. Morphological features of apoptosis were clearly evidenced in irradiated alveolar macrophages from aged animals although the DNA fragmentation assay for apoptosis showed no differences for either of the populations studied. NO production and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) levels showed a dose-dependent modulation. Low radiation doses inhibited the production of NO and decreased TRAP levels whereas higher doses enhanced the NO production and increased the TRAP levels in both macrophage populations. Generation of O2*- was always higher in the aged population for all the doses assayed. We conclude that in vitro young alveolar macrophages exhibited higher radioresistance over the whole range of doses as compared to the aged macrophage population. Our results show that the aging process markedly affects the radioresistance of phagocytic cells. Therefore, immune defense and inflammatory response of lungs from aged patients should be considered when planning radiotherapy protocols.     

Hyperoxia alters effect of calcium on rat alveolar macrophage superoxide production

The effect of hyperoxia on the Ca2+ dependence of stimulated superoxide anion radical (O2-.) production (the respiratory burst) of rat alveolar macrophages was investigated. Enhancement of the concanavalin A (con A)-stimulated respiratory burst by extracellular Ca2+ was suppressed by O2 exposure. Similarly, the inhibitory effect of verapamil on the con A-stimulated respiratory burst was reduced by O2 exposure. O2 exposure also inhibited con A stimulation that was independent of Ca2+ entry. Exposure to O2 also caused a decline in O2-. production stimulated by either A23187 or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). With A23187 stimulation, extracellular Ca2+ was essential for either air-exposed (control) or O2-exposed cells. With PMA, stimulation was independent of extracellular Ca2+ for either air or O2-exposed macrophages and verapamil did not inhibit. Free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in control and O2-exposed alveolar macrophages. Hyperoxic exposure did not alter [Ca2+]i in unstimulated cells. In controls, con A stimulated an immediate increase in [Ca2+]i followed by a rapid decrease and a second rise and fall. The second elevation was suppressed by verapamil or ethyleneglycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid or O2 exposure. The results of both the respiratory burst assays and measurement of con A-stimulated changes in [Ca2+]i suggest that Ca2+ entry involved in stimulus-response coupling is suppressed in cellular O2 toxicity.     

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) enhances tumor necrosis factor production by alveolar macrophages. Prevention by PAF receptor antagonists and lipoxygenase inhibitors

The effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on TNF production by rat alveolar macrophages (AM) and the role of endogenous leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in this regulation were examined. When AM were cultured with PAF alone, no change in TNF production was observed. However, the concomitant addition of PAF and muramyl dipeptide to AM cultures markedly enhanced (2- to 3-fold) TNF production in a concentration-dependent fashion with peak effect at 10(-10)M PAF. This enhancement occurred when muramyl dipeptide and PAF were present together at the initiation of the 24-h culture. Stimulation of TNF production by PAF was blocked by specific, but structurally different PAF receptor antagonists, BN 52021, CV3988 and WEB 2086. Additionally, the stereoisomer of PAF, [S]PAF, and the biologically inactive precursor/metabolite of PAF, lyso-PAF failed to induce significant enhancement in TNF production. In parallel, addition of PAF to AM triggered LTB4 release in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by nordihydro-guaiaretic acid or AA-861 blocked the PAF-induced augmentation of both TNF and LTB4 production. This was partially reversed by addition of exogenous LTB4. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF enhances TNF production by interaction with a specific putative receptor and by subsequent induction of endogenous 5-lipoxygenase activity in AM.     

Constitutive NADPH oxidase and increased mitochondrial respiratory chain activity regulate chemokine gene expression

Alveolar macrophages, which generate high levels of reactive oxygen species, especially O(2)(*-), are involved in the recruitment of neutrophils to sites of inflammation and injury in the lung, and the generation of chemotactic proteins triggers this cellular recruitment. In this study, we asked whether O(2)(*-) generation in alveolar macrophages had a role in the expression of chemokines. Specifically, we hypothesized that O(2)(*-) generation is necessary for chemokine expression in alveolar macrophages after TNF-alpha stimulation. We found that alveolar macrophages have high constitutive NADPH oxidase activity that was not increased by TNF-alpha, but TNF-alpha increased the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In addition, the mitochondrial respiratory chain increased O(2)(*-) generation if the NADPH oxidase was inhibited. O(2)(*-) generation was necessary for macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) gene expression, because inhibition of NADPH oxidase or the mitochondrial respiratory chain or overexpression of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase significantly inhibited expression of MIP-2. TNF-alpha activated the ERK MAP kinase, and ERK activity was essential for chemokine gene expression. In addition, overexpression of the MEK1-->ERK pathway significantly increased IL-8 expression, and a small interfering RNA to the NADPH oxidase inhibited ERK- and TNF-alpha-induced chemokine expression. Collectively, these results suggest that in alveolar macrophages, O(2)(*-) generation mediates chemokine expression after TNF-alpha stimulation in an ERK-dependent manner.     

Phospholipase A2-mediated superoxide production of murine peritoneal macrophages induced by chrysotile stimulation

In the present study, we investigated how chrysotile-stimulated macrophages generate superoxide using murine peritoneal macrophages, with special attention to the modulatory role of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). We examined the effects of the following inhibitors and antagonists for signaling molecules on the superoxide anion (O(-)(2)) production of chrysotile-stimulated macrophages: p-bromophenacyl bromide (pBPB) and mepacrine for PLA(2); islet-activating protein (IAP) for G-protein; H-7 for protein kinase C (PKC); AA861 for 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO); indomethacin for cyclo-oxygenase (COX); ETYA for both 5-LO and COX; hexanolamine PAF for platelet-activating factor (PAF). The PLA(2) and PKC inhibitors effectively inhibited the chrysotile-induced superoxide anion production of macrophages, but not the G-protein inhibitor, the 5-LO and COX inhibitors, and the PAF antagonist. We also examined the effects of the PLA(2) inhibitors on macrophages stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) which directly activates PKC. The two structurally different PLA(2) inhibitors showed differential effects on the PMA-induced superoxide generation: pBPB inhibited it but mepacrine did not. These results suggested that (1) PLA(2) and PKC modulate the chrysotile-induced O(2) production, and (2) two different kinds of PLA(2) work upstream and downstream of PKC, but (3) G-protein, 5-LO and COX metabolites, and PAF have no modulatory role in the reaction.     

Biochemical properties of macrophage fractions and their relation to the mechanism of superoxide production

Guinea pig alveolar macrophages are separable by density gradient centrifugation into three subpopulations whose capacity for biological activity (e.g. O2- production and chemotaxis) varies directly with buoyant density [(1983) J. Reticuloendothel. Soc. 33, 157-164]. This study demonstrates that the activity per cell of various other enzymes remains constant among the subpopulations. When normalized for cell volume, enzyme activity diminishes with decreasing buoyant density. Intracellular calcium mobilization, linked to formyl peptide and concanavalin A-stimulated O2- production, similarly diminishes. Formyl peptide receptor distribution and affinity remain constant. Decreased responsiveness of lower density cells is probably due to lower concentration of enzyme(s) involved in the transduction of signal distal to ligand recognition (or binding).     

Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis genes in response to light in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

As we had found previously that thapsigargin, an endomembrane Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, induces production of intracellular platelet-activating factor (PAF) [Br. J. Pharmacol. 116 (1995) 2141], we decided to investigate the possible roles of intracellular PAF in nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation of thapsigargin-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages. When rat peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with thapsigargin, the level of inhibitory protein of NF-kappaB-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) was decreased and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB was increased. The thapsigargin-induced activation of NF-kappaB was inhibited by the PAF synthesis inhibitor SK&F 98625 and the PAF antagonist E6123. Structurally unrelated PAF antagonists such as E5880 and L-652,731 also inhibited the thapsigargin-induced activation of NF-kappaB. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-kappaB was also suppressed by these drugs. In a culture of rat peritoneal macrophages, exogenously added PAF did not induce degradation of IkappaB-alpha. These findings suggest that the intracellular PAF produced by the stimulation with thapsigargin or LPS is involved in activation of the NF-kappaB pathway.     

Phospholipase A2-mediated release of arachidonic acid in stimulated guinea pig alveolar macrophages: interaction with lipid mediators and cyclic AMP

The stimulation of cultured guinea pig alveolar macrophages by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine, or by the phospholipid inflammatory mediator platelet activating factor (PAF) induced an increase in arachidonic acid release and its cyclooxygenase products. This release, which was mimicked by the association of threshold concentrations of the calcium ionophore A 23187 and of the protein kinase C activator tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate arose mainly from diacyl- and alkyl-acyl-phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. Using [1-14C]arachidonic acid-labeled membranes as an endogenous substrate as well as dioleoyl-phosphatidyl [14C]ethanolamine as an exogenous substrate, we showed that phospholipase A2 activity of stimulated macrophages increases upon stimulation. Treatment of macrophages by prostaglandin E2 decreased the arachidonic acid release elicited by the chemotactic peptide and PAF. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 increased and PAF decreased the cellular content in cyclic AMP. From these results we suggest that an initial stimulation of alveolar macrophages by a bacterial signal initiates the sequential activation of a phospholipase C and of phospholipase A2, leading to the release of PAF and eicosanoids. These mediators may in turn modulate the cell response by increasing or decreasing cyclic AMP, Ca2+, or diacyglycerol macrophage content.     

Platelet-activating factor-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate stimulates the production of reactive oxygen intermediates in macrophages.

To investigate the relationship between inositol lipid hydrolysis and reactive oxygen-intermediate (ROI) production in macrophages we have examined the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on normal bone marrow-derived macrophages. Addition of PAF to macrophages prelabelled with [3H]inositol caused a marked and rapid increase in [3H]inositol trisphosphate levels. Similarly when PAF was added to [3H]-glycerol prelabelled macrophages there was a rapid increase in 1,2-diacyl[3H]glycerol levels. These events preceded any increase in the rate of PAF-stimulated ROI production by a discernible period of several seconds. Increasing concentrations of PAF led to a markedly similar increase in both ROI production and [3H]inositol lipid hydrolysis suggesting that inositol lipid hydrolysis may lead to the generation of ROI in macrophages. Further evidence that this is the case came from experiments in which pretreatment of macrophages with phorbol esters was shown to inhibit both PAF-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production and ROI production to a markedly similar degree. Similarly pertussis toxin inhibited both PAF-stimulated ROI production and [3H]inositol phosphate production. Phorbol esters were shown to activate ROI production in normal bone marrow-derived macrophages whereas the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, did not. These experiments suggest that PAF stimulates a pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of inositol lipid hydrolysis leading to the formation of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. The diacylglycerol formed can then activate protein kinase C leading to the stimulation of ROI production in normal bone marrow-derived macrophages.     

Metabolism of platelet-activating factor by rat alveolar macrophages: lyso-PAF as an obligatory intermediate in the formation of alkylarachidonoyl glycerophosphocholine species

1-Alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacetyl-GPC; platelet-activating factor; PAF) is actively taken up and metabolized by rat alveolar macrophages maintained in culture. The major metabolic products are lyso-PAF (alkyllyso-GPC) and alkylacyl-GPC. Lyso-PAF accumulates primarily in the media, whereas alkylacyl-GPC is predominantly associated with cellular lipids. The addition of unlabeled lyso-PAF to incubations initiated with [3H]PAF results in an increase in the amount of lyso-[3H]PAF product formed and a decrease in the final product, [3H]alkylacyl-GPC; however, the total amount of [3H]PAF metabolized remains unchanged. Unlabeled lyso-PAF thus enters the metabolic pool of the cell and competes with the deacetylated product of [3H]PAF, i.e., lyso-PAF, for acylation. High-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that the reacylated product derived from lyso-PAF consisted primarily of the arachidonoyl-containing species that exists as the 16:0-20:4 molecular species. These results document that PAF is inactivated in rat alveolar macrophages via a deacetylation-reacylation reaction with lyso-PAF as an obligatory intermediate. The sequestering of arachidonic acid into the PAF precursor pool and the substantial amount of lyso-PAF secreted by macrophages into the extracellular fluid appear to be significant events in the inactivation process.