Multiple effects of phorbol ester on secretory activity in rabbit gastric glands and parietal cells

Acid secretory activity and respiration in rabbit gastric glands are stimulated by cAMP-dependent and -independent agonists. Potentiation between agonists suggests interaction of the activation pathways. Regulation of secretory response by protein kinase C was investigated with 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). TPA elevated basal respiration, pepsin release, and acid secretion but inhibited histamine and carbachol stimulation of acid secretion by gastric glands, as measured by [dimethylamino-14C]aminopyrine accumulation. The inhibition of histamine response was specific for protein kinase C activators, occurred after a 20-min lag, and was not reversed by removal of TPA after 3 min of preincubation. TPA pretreatment inhibited acid secretory responses to cholera toxin and forskolin but enhanced the response to cAMP analogues. Cholera toxin and pertussis toxin simulated ADP-ribosylation of 45 and 41 kDa proteins, respectively, in parietal cell membranes. Therefore, both stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) GTP binding proteins of adenylyl cyclase appear to be present in parietal cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin attenuated PGE2 but not TPA inhibition of histamine stimulation of aminopyrine accumulation. Thus, the inhibitory effect of TPA does not appear to be associated with an action on Gi. The results with histamine and carbachol suggest that protein kinase C may regulate both cAMP-dependent and -independent stimulation of parietal cell acid secretion.     

Metabolism and gastric acid secretion. Substrate-dependency of aminopyrine accumulation in isolated rat parietal cells.

The substrate-dependency of gastric acid secretion was investigated in isolated rat parietal cells by using the accumulation of the weak base aminopyrine as an index of acid secretion. Exogenous substrates enhanced accumulation of aminopyrine in rat parietal cells stimulated by secretagogues, and this effect was probably directly related to the provision of energy for acid secretion. At physiological concentrations, certain of the substrates (glucose, oleate, lactate, D-3-hydroxybutyrate, L-isoleucine, L-valine and acetoacetate) could support acid secretion, with glucose being the most effective. L-Leucine and acetate were only effective stimulators of parietal-cell aminopyrine accumulation at high concentrations (5mM). L-Glutamine was unable to stimulate aminopyrine accumulation even at high concentrations, and glutaminase activity in parietal cells was estimated to be low by comparison with small-intestinal epithelial cells. Variation in the concentrations of D-3-hydroxybutyrate and L-isoleucine, but not of glucose, within the physiological range affected their ability to support aminopyrine accumulation. The presence of 5 mM-L-isoleucine, 5 mM-lactate and combinations of certain substrates at physiological concentrations produced aminopyrine accumulation in stimulated parietal cells that was greater than that obtained in cells incubated with 5 mM-glucose alone. In conclusion, fulfillment of the metabolic requirements of the acid-secreting parietal cell under physiological circumstances requires a combination of substrates, and integration of the results with previous data [Anderson & Hanson (1983) Biochem. J. 210, 451-455; 212, 875-879] suggests that after overnight starvation in vivo metabolism of glucose, D-3-hydroxybutyrate and L-isoleucine may be of particular importance.     

Stimulation of inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol production by RHC 80267, a diacylglycerol-lipase inhibitor, in rat gastric parietal cells: effects on hydrogen ion secretion

RHC 80267, on inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipase, was used to investigate the role of diacylglycerol in acid secretion by isolated rat gastric parietal cells. Unexpectedly, RHC 80267 stimulated the production of inositol phosphates in [3H]inositol-prelabeled cells and increased levels of 32P-labeled phosphatidic acid to the same degree as did carbachol. RHC 80267 increased diacylglycerol to a greater extent than did carbachol, and additionally decreased levels of [3H]arachidonic acid. This suggests that RHC 80267 stimulated phospholipase C and inhibited diacylglycerol lipase in parietal cells. RHC inhibited [14C]aminopyrine uptake, a measure of acid secretion, stimulated by carbachol or by simultaneous addition of carbachol and dibutyryl-cAMP. These data support the model that the diacylglycerol/protein kinase C branch of the phosphoinositide system is inhibitory to acid secretion.     

ATP dependence of H+ secretion

Cells in isolated rabbit gastric gland were made permeable to ATP by high voltage discharge across a gland suspension. In both normal (5.4 mM K+) and high K+ (108 mM) medium, this electrical shock resulted in a marked reduction in the ability of the parietal cell to produce and accumulate acid. Acid production was monitored both microscopically by acridine orange accumulation in the secretory canaliculus and by accumulation of the weak base [14C]aminopyrine. In 108 mM K+ solutions but not in 5.4 mM K+ solutions 5, mM ATP was able to restore the accumulation of these probes to control (unshocked) levels. When shocked glands had been previously stimulated by secretagogues, the aminopyrine accumulation ratio was only partly restored by ATP. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by cyanide, azide, or Amytal abolished acid secretion; the subsequent addition of ATP to shocked glands increased the aminopyrine accumulation ratio to 47 and resulted in an acridine orange fluorescence indistinguishable from that of histamine-stimulated, unshocked glands. We conclude that ATP can act as a substrate for H+ secretion in the parietal cell, and that perhaps no additional energy source is necessary.     

A proposed mechanism for the potentiation of cAMP-mediated acid secretion by carbachol

Acid secretion in isolated rabbit gastric glands was monitored by the accumulation of [(14)C]aminopyrine. Stimulation of the glands with carbachol synergistically augmented the response to dibutyryl cAMP. The augmentation persisted even after carbachol was washed out and was resistant to chelated extracellular Ca(2+) and to inhibitors of either protein kinase C or calmodulin kinase II. Cytochalasin D at 10 microM preferentially blocked the secretory effect of carbachol and its synergism with cAMP, whereas it had no effect on histamine- or cAMP-stimulated acid secretion within 15 min. Cytochalasin D inhibited the carbachol-stimulated intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) increase due to release from the Ca(2+) store. Treatment of the glands with cytochalasin D redistributed type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (the major subtype in the parietal cell) from the fraction containing membranes of large size to the microsomal fraction, suggesting a dissociation of the store from the plasma membrane. These findings suggest that intracellular Ca(2+) release by cholinergic stimulation is critical for determining synergism with cAMP in parietal cell activation and that functional coupling between the Ca(2+) store and the receptor is maintained by actin microfilaments.     

Parietal cell protein kinases. Selective activation of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase by histamine

cAMP-dependent protein kinases have been characterized in parietal cells isolated from rabbit gastric mucosa. Both Type I and Type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes are present in these cells. Type II isozymes were detected in 900, 14,000, and 100,000 X g particulate fractions as well as 100,000 X g cytosolic fractions; Type I isozymes were found predominately in the cytosolic fraction. When parietal cells were stimulated with histamine, an agent that elevates intracellular cAMP content and initiates parietal cell HCl secretion, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was increased in homogenates of these cells as measured by an increase in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. Histamine activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was correlated with parietal cell acid secretory responses which were measured indirectly as increased cellular uptake of the weak base, [14C]aminopyrine. These results suggest that cAMP-dependent protein kinase(s) is involved in the control of parietal cell HCl secretion. The parietal cell response to histamine may be compartmentalized because histamine appears to activate only a cytosolic Type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozyme, as determined by three different techniques including 1) ion exchange chromatography; 2) Sephadex G-25 to remove cAMP and allow rapid reassociation of the Type II but not the Type I isozyme; and 3) 8-azido-[32P]cAMP photoaffinity labeling. Forskolin, an agent that directly stimulates adenylate cyclases, was found to activate both the Type I and Type II isozymes. Several cAMP-dependent protein kinases were also detected in parietal cell homogenates, including a Ca2+-phospholipid-sensitive or C kinase and two casein kinases which were tentatively identified as casein kinase I and II. At least two additional protein kinases with a preference for serine or lysine-rich histones, respectively, were also detected. The function of these enzymes in parietal cells remains to be shown.     

Parallel effects of arachidonic acid on insulin secretion, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity and protein kinase C activity in pancreatic islets.

A potential role of arachidonic acid in the modulation of insulin secretion was investigated by measuring its effects on calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C in islet subcellular fractions. The results were interpreted in the light of arachidonic acid effects on insulin secretion from intact islets. Arachidonic acid could replace phosphatidylserine in activation of cytosolic protein kinase C (K0.5 of 10 microM) and maximum activation was observed at 50 microM arachidonate. Arachidonic acid did not affect the Ca2+ requirement of the phosphatidylserine-stimulated activity. Arachidonic acid (200 microM) inhibited (greater than 90%) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity (K0.5 = 50-100 microM) but modestly increased basal phosphorylation activity (no added calcium or calmodulin). Arachidonic acid inhibited glucose-sensitive insulin secretion from islets (K0.5 = 24 microM) measured in static secretion assays. Maximum inhibition (approximately 70%) was achieved at 50-100 microM arachidonic acid. Basal insulin secretion (3 mM glucose) was modestly stimulated by 100 microM arachidonic acid but in a non-saturable manner. In perifusion secretion studies, arachidonic acid (20 microM) had no effect on the first phase of glucose-induced secretion but nearly completely suppressed second phase secretion. At basal glucose (4 mM), arachidonic acid induced a modest but reproducible biphasic insulin secretion response which mimicked glucose-sensitive secretion. However, phosphorylation of an 80 kD protein substrate of protein kinase C was not increased when intact islets were incubated with arachidonic acid, suggesting that the small increases in insulin secretion seen with arachidonic acid were not mediated by protein kinase C. These data suggest that arachidonic acid generated by exposure of islets to glucose may influence insulin secretion by inhibiting the activity of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase but probably has little effect on protein kinase C activity.     

A micromethod for the assay of cellular secretory physiology: application to rabbit parietal cells

A micromethod for investigating secretory physiology in isolated cells was evaluated. The method utilized a specially designed polycarbonate incubation chamber to provide constant oxygenation to cells incubating in a 96-well microtiter plate. Cells were rapidly separated from media by vacuum filtration. Isolated parietal cells were utilized to demonstrate the versatility of the method for assay of intracellular accumulation of [14C]-aminopyrine, secretion of intrinsic factor into the medium, and assay of intracellular cAMP. Histamine stimulated the uptake of [14C]aminopyrine and intrinsic factor secretion in a sustained and linear fashion. At the end of the 2-h period uptake of aminopyrine and secretion of intrinsic factor were increased 17- and 5-fold, respectively. This response to histamine was accompanied by a rapid and sustained 3-fold rise in intracellular cyclic AMP. In contrast, carbamylcholine caused a transient increase in [14C]aminopyrine accumulation and intrinsic factor secretion which was most pronounced during the first 10 min and had almost ceased by 30 min. Carbamylcholine had no effect on intracellular cAMP levels. This new method, which can handle 400 replicates using parietal cells from the fundic mucosa of a single rabbit, is suitable for studying the time course of intracellular events which accompany general secretory processes.     

Mechanisms for direct inhibition of canine gastric parietal cells by somatostatin

To examine the potential mechanisms by which somatostatin inhibits gastric acid secretion we studied its effects on isolated canine gastric parietal cells. Using 125I-[Leu8-D-Trp22-Tyr25]somatostatin-28 as ligand, we identified somatostatin-binding sites in parietal cell-enriched fractions of fundic mucosa. Two binding sites with respective dissociation constants of 3.2 X 10(-9) and 2.1 X 10(-7) M were identified. Somatostatin-14 and -28 were equally potent both in displacing bound ligand and in inhibiting parietal cell activity as measured by [14C]aminopyrine uptake. Pertussis toxin reversed the ability of somatostatin to inhibit the uptake of [14C]aminopyrine and production of cAMP by parietal cells stimulated with histamine and forskolin but not with dibutyryl cAMP or pentagastrin. Furthermore, somatostatin had no effect on parietal cell membrane inositol phospholipid turnover or changes in protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) activity induced by carbachol or pentagastrin. These data indicate that somatostatin directly inhibits parietal cell activity via mechanisms both dependent on and independent of the pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein.     

Functional role of protein kinase B/Akt in gastric acid secretion

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates gastric acid secretion and H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression. Because EGF activates the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt, we explored the role of Akt in gastric acid secretion. Akt phosphorylation and activation were measured by kinase assays and by Western blots with an anti-phospho-Akt antibody, using lysates of purified (>95%) canine gastric parietal cells in primary culture. EGF induced Akt phosphorylation and activation, whereas carbachol had no effect. LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, completely blocked EGF induction of Akt phosphorylation, whereas the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 and the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X had no effect. We examined the role of Akt in H(+)/K(+)-ATPase gene expression by Northern blotting using a canine H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit cDNA probe. The parietal cells were transduced with a multiplicity of infection of 100 of the adenoviral vector Ad.Myr-Akt, which overexpresses a constitutively active Akt gene, or with the control vector Ad.CMV-beta-gal, which expresses beta-galactosidase. Ad.Myr-Akt induced H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression 3-fold, whereas it failed to stimulate the gene cyclooxygenase-2, which was potently induced by carbachol in the same parietal cells. Ad.Myr-Akt induced aminopyrine uptake 4-fold, and it potentiated the stimulatory action of carbachol 3-fold. In contrast, Ad.Myr-Akt failed to induce changes in either parietal cell actin content, measured by Western blots with an anti-actin antibody or in the organization of the actin cellular cytoskeleton, visualized by fluorescein phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy. Transduction of the parietal cells with a multiplicity of infection of 100 of the adenoviral vector Ad.dom.neg.Akt, which overexpresses an inhibitor of Akt, blocked the stimulatory effect of EGF on both aminopyrine uptake and H(+)/K(+)-ATPase production, measured by Western blots with an anti-H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit antibody. Thus, EGF induces a cascade of events in the parietal cells that results in the activation of Akt. The functional role of Akt appears to be stimulation of gastric acid secretion through induction of H(+)/K(+)-ATPase expression.     

Modulating effect of thiol-disulfide status on [14C]aminopyrine accumulation in the isolated parietal cell

Thiol-oxidizing agents were found to stimulate [14C] aminopyrine accumulation, a reliable index of acid secretory function of isolated canine parietal cells. Glutathione is the predominant intracellular free thiol; thus, its oxidation status largely determines the thiol-disulfide status of the cell by thiol-disulfide interchange reactions. Three agents which alter glutathione oxidation status by different mechanisms were applied to parietal cells in vitro to investigate whether enhanced formation of GSSG alters acid secretory function. The agents studied were diamide (which nonenzymatically oxidizes GSH to GSSG), tert-butyl hydroperoxide (an organic peroxide specifically reduced by glutathione peroxidase, thereby generating GSSG for GSH), and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (an inhibitor of NADPH:GSSG reductase, which presumably allows the accumulation of GSSG). Each of these agents stimulated aminopyrine accumulation in a dose-dependent fashion. Simple depletion of GSH by diethyl maleate or 2-cyclohexene-1-one did not stimulate aminopyrine accumulation. Likewise, enhanced aminopyrine accumulation occurred at diamide concentrations which did not cause significant depletion of total cellular glutathione. The thiol-reducing agent, dithiothreitol, prevented enhanced aminopyrine accumulation by 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. These observations support the hypothesis that thiol-disulfide interchange reactions involving GSSG modulate the acid secretory function of the isolated parietal cell.     

CaMKII is activated and translocated to the secretory apical membrane during cholinergically conveyed gastric acid secretion.

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is thought to be activated during the cholinergic stimulation of gastric acid secretion. The carbachol-induced acid production of cultured rabbit parietal cells was dose-dependently inhibited by the CaMKII inhibitor KN-62 as measured by accumulation of the weak base [(14)C]aminopyrine ([(14)C]-AP). Inhibition by KN-62 was most efficient at concentrations of carbachol >10(-6) M. After carbachol stimulation, we observed an activation of CaMKII activity, and its translocation to the apical membrane of gastric mucosal cells. We found a doubling of the abundance of CaMKII to the stimulus-associated apical membrane (SA vesicles) compared to the apical membrane from the resting state after carbachol induction. This was shown by both an anti-CaMKII serum and the 1.8-fold increase of the CaMKII phosphotransferase activity in vitro. The SA vesicles exhibited a strong increase of autoactivated CaMKII probed with an anti-autoactivated CaMKII antibody. Additionally, we observed a colocalization of both CaMKII and the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase of SA vesicles similar to the colocalization of both enzymes to the tubulovesicles suggesting them as at least one pool for the SA vesicular CaMKII. Our data indicate that the activation of CaMKII and the carbachol-dependent redistribution of CaMKII to the SA vesicles are distinct processes that occur in parallel to regulate the activity and localization of CaMKII. These findings contribute to the model implicating an involvement for CaMKII in the intracellular dynamics of the acid secretion.     

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion by human calcitonin gene-related peptide with picomolar potency in guinea-pig parietal cell preparations

The effect of CGRP on [14C]-aminopyrine accumulation in isolated parietal cell preparations from guinea-pig fundic mucosa was studied. Parietal cells consisted of 60% of the preparations. [14C]-Aminopyrine accumulation was used as an index of physiological response of parietal cells to secretagogues. CGRP dose-dependently (10(-12)-10(-9) M) inhibited parietal cell aminopyrine accumulation stimulated by histamine (10(-4) M), carbachol (10(-4) M), and pentagastrin (5 X 10(-6) M). The concentration of CGRP exerting half-maximal inhibition of [14C]-aminopyrine accumulation was 8.7 X 10(-11) M for histamine, 9.1 X 10(-11) M for carbachol, and 4.7 X 10(-11) M for pentagastrin. The inhibitory effect was much more potent than cimetidine, pirenzepine or benzotript. CGRP but not cimetidine inhibited DBcAMP stimulated aminopyrine accumulation (IC50 = 7.5 X 10(-11) M). These results suggest that CGRP may exert its inhibitory action on gastric acid secretion by a direct action on the parietal cell or the somatostatin-producing D cell.     

Aminopyrine uptake by guinea pig gastric mucosal cells. Mediation by cyclic AMP and interactions among secretagogues

The role of cyclic nucleotides in regulating acid secretion by dispersed mucosal cells from guinea-pig stomach was examined by measuring first the ability of histamine and carbachol to stimulate [dimethylamine-14C]aminopyrine uptake and cyclic nucleotide metabolism and secondly, the effect of exogenous cyclic nucleotides on basal and stimulated [14C]aminopyrine uptake. The [14C]aminopyrine was found in an acidic, osmotically sensitive compartment, probably associated with the initial steps in acid secretion by these cells. Although histamine increased [14C]aminopyrine uptake and cyclic AMP synthesis as expected, histamine was approx. 10-fold more potent in inducing [14C]aminopyrine uptake. This dissociation of [14C]aminopyrine uptake and cyclic AMP metabolism process was further manifested by the observation that prostaglandin E1 failed to increase [14C]aminopyrine uptake, although it did cause a rise in cellular cyclic AMP. Furthermore, prostaglandin E1 did not alter the [14C]-aminopyrine uptake caused by histamine. Carbachol was found to increase the [14C]aminopyrine uptake and also to potentiate the ability of histamine to increase [14C]aminopyrine uptake. Carbachol, however, affected neither the histamine-induced increase in cyclic AMP nor the binding of [3H]histamine to the cells. Cimetidine, a histamine H2 receptor antagonist, blocked the [14C]aminopyrine uptake induced either by histamine alone or by the potentiating combination of histamine plus carbachol. These results suggest that cyclic AMP is mediating the action of histamine on [14C]aminopyrine uptake but changes in cyclic AMP per se are not necessarily the cause for the potentiated increase in [14C]aminopyrine uptake. Furthermore, the potentiated response observed with histamine plus carbachol on [14C]aminopyrine uptake occurs at a biochemical step distal to and not obviously related to cyclic AMP generation.     

Direct hyposmotic stimulation of gastric acid secretion

Gastric glands isolated from rabbit stomach were incubated in isosmotic medium or media made hyposmotic by 50-100 mOsm/kg. As indicated by radiolabeled aminopyrine accumulation, acid secretion was nearly 3 times greater in 200 mOsm/kg hyposmotic than in isosmotic medium after a 30-min incubation. The hyposmotic stimulation appeared within 2 min, peaked at 10-15 min and declined almost to the isosmotic control by 45 min. As estimated by the wet weight corrected for inulin extracellular space, the intracellular water of the glands also peaked at 15 min and returned to the isosmotic norm by 45 min. Hyposmotic stimulation of acid secretion directly involved the parietal cell, since parietal cells obtained from gastric glands were also stimulated. That the hyposmotic response was direct was indicated by omeprazole inhibition of aminopyrine accumulation in hyposmotic medium.     

Leukotrienes stimulate acid secretion from isolated gastric parietal cells

Leukotrienes LTC4 and LTD4 display contractile effect on the stomach. The stimulation of acid secretion by LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4 was evidenced on a crude isolated cell preparation from rabbit gastric mucosa using the (14C)aminopyrine accumulation method. LTs were in the same order of potency. No potentiation with histamine, carbachol or IBMX was observed suggesting a specific mechanism for LTs on parietal cell.     

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits both intrinsic factor secretion and acid secretion in histamine-stimulated isolated gastric glands

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a polypeptide present in mammalian salivary glands which has been shown to have mitogenic and gastric acid inhibitory properties in vivo. The mechanisms of action of EGF at the level of the parietal cell are not clear. In the present study, we have examined the effects of EGF on both acid and macromolecular (intrinsic factor, IF) secretion stimulated by the cyclic AMP-mediated agonist histamine using the rabbit isolated gastric gland model. Acid secretion was assessed by the accumulation of [14C]aminopyrine (AP) in glands and IF in the supernatants by the binding of [57Co]cyanocobalamin. Histamine (10(-6) to 5 x 10(-5) M) resulted in a 4-6 fold increase in [14C]AP and IF (P less than 0.05). EGF alone (10(-8) M, 10(-7) M) had no significant effect on basal [14C]AP accumulation or IF secretion (P less than 0.05). EGF (10(-7) M) significantly inhibited the histamine dose-response curve for [14C]AP and IF, but a relatively greater inhibition was observed at higher histamine concentration. These data demonstrate that EGF inhibits both acid and IF secretion in vitro at concentrations consistent with those observed in vivo. The observations further support the hypothesis that EGF may play a role in the regulation of parietal cell secretion.     

Regulation and function of p38 protein kinase in isolated canine gastric parietal cells

We examined the regulation and functional role of p38 kinase in gastric acid secretion. p38 kinase was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates of highly purified gastric parietal cells in primary culture, and its activity was quantitated by in vitro kinase assay. Carbachol effects were dose- and time-dependent, with a maximal 10-fold stimulatory effect detected after 30 min of incubation. SB-203580, a highly selective inhibitor of p38 kinase, blocked carbachol induction of p38 kinase activity, with maximal inhibition at 10 microM. Stimulation by carbachol was unaffected by preincubation of parietal cells with the intracellular Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA-AM, but incubation of cells in Ca(2+)-free medium led to a 50% inhibition of carbachol induction of p38 kinase activity. Because some of the effects of carbachol are mediated by the small GTP-binding protein Rho, we examined the role of Rho in carbachol induction of p38 kinase activity. We tested the effect of exoenzyme C3 from Clostridium botulinum (C3), a toxin known to ADP-ribosylate and specifically inactivate Rho. C3 led to complete ADP-ribosylation of Rho, and it inhibited carbachol induction of p38 kinase by 50%. We then tested the effect of SB-203580 and C3 on carbachol-stimulated uptake of [(14)C]aminopyrine (AP). Inhibition of p38 kinase by SB-203580 led to a dose-dependent increase in AP uptake induced by carbachol, with maximal (threefold) effect at 10 microM SB-203580. Similarly, preincubation of parietal cells with C3 led to a twofold increase in AP uptake induced by carbachol. Thus carbachol induces a cascade of events in parietal cells that results in activation of p38 kinase through signaling pathways that are at least in part dependent on Rho activation and on the presence of extracellular Ca(2+). p38 kinase appears to inhibit gastric acid secretion.     

Effects of common inhibitors of gastric acid secretion on secretagogue-induced respiration and aminopyrine accumulation in isolated gastric glands.

1. The effects of three inhibitors of gastric acid secretion, atropine, burimamide and thiocyanate, have been studied in isolated glands from the rabbit gastric mucosa. The glands were either resting or stimulated by carbachol, histamine or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The effects were determined from changes in oxygen consumption and accumulation of the weak base aminopyrine. The latter gives an indirect measurement of the acid production in the glands. 2. Atropine (10 (-6) M) almost totally inhibited the transient response induced by carbachol (10 (-4) M) in both measured parameters. The histamine-induced increase in respiration was inhibited when the atropine concentration was raised to 10 (-4) M. To a lesser extent also, histamine-induced aminopyrine accumulation was reduced. The dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated oxygen consumption was not affected by atropine. 3. Burimamide competitively inhibited the histamine responses but was without effect on those of carbachol and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 4. Thiocyanate (10 (-2) M) inhibited the increase in oxygen consumption induced by all three secretagogues but not down the prestimulatory level, in spite of total abolishment of the aminopyrine accumulation. 5. In unstimulated glands, burimamide (10 (-3) M) or atropine (10 (-4) M) did not alter the normal aminopyrine ratio (aminopyrine in intraglandular water/ aminopyrine in extraglandular water) of approximately 50. This may indicate the existence of preformed acid in resting parietal cells. Thiocyanate, on the other hand, lowered the aminopyrine ratio in unstimulated glands from 46 to 2. Possible mechanisms for the thiocyanate effect are discussed in terms of an inability to separate acid and base in the secreting membrane.     

Reconstitution of acid secretion in digitonin-permeabilized rabbit gastric glands. Identification of cytosolic regulatory factors

When isolated rabbit gastric glands were permeabilized with digitonin, they lost their ability to secrete acid, as monitored by [14C]aminopyrine accumulation, and they never recovered by supplement with cytosol prepared from gastric mucosa. However, the permeabilized glands elicited acid secretion when brain cytosol was supplemented. Fractionation of gastric cytosol by gel filtration revealed that the fraction at 30 kDa stimulated permeabilized glands by itself, whereas the 200-kDa fraction potently inhibited brain cytosol-stimulated acid secretion. Brain cytosol contained only the former stimulatory factor. With further gel filtration, the 30-kDa activator was separated into two components, 20 kDa (peak 1) and 1.8 kDa (peak 2), both of which are necessary for full activity. We purified peak 1 from bovine brain, and phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) was identified as the main component of the activity. The stimulating activity in brain and gastric mucosa correlated with the contents of PITP, and recombinant PITP mimicked the effect of peak 1, suggesting that PITP is one of the essential components in gastric acid secretion. When gastric glands were stimulated, the inhibitory activity, but not stimulatory activity, in the cytosol was increased. This suggests a regulatory mechanism such as stimulation translocates the inhibitory component from the secretory site on the membrane to cytosol. These results demonstrate a high degree of usefulness for our present model, the reconstituted digitonin-permeabilized gastric glands.