Differential effect of diacylglycerols and phorbol ester on arachidonic acid metabolism in bone marrow-derived macrophages

Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages were induced to prostaglandin synthesis by activators of protein kinase C, the phorbolester TPA and the diacylglycerols dioctanoylglycerol (diC8) and diolein (diC18:1). As short term stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis is mainly dependent on the availability of free arachidonic acid, the modulation of arachidonic acid liberation and reacylation was investigated. DiC8 inhibited the reacylating enzyme lysophosphatide acyltransferase in the in vitro assay, but there was no evidence for an inhibitory effect of TPA or diacylglycerols on the activity of the lysophosphatide acyltransferase in whole cells. The release of arachidonic acid from prelabelled cells was stimulated by TPA and the diacylglycerols even in the presence of an inhibitor of reacylation, indicating an activation of phospholipase A2. An activation of phospholipase A2 was measured in membranes derived from TPA-stimulated macrophages. These data indicate that the enhanced pool of free arachidonic acid, which drives prostaglandin synthesis, is primarily due to a stimulation of the liberation of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids.     

A possible role of protein kinase C in regulating prostaglandin synthesis of mouse peritoneal macrophages

The addition of the analogue of diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), to resident macrophages isolated from the peritoneal cavity of mice led to a dose and time dependent increase in the synthesis of prostaglandin E. This was likely due to an enhanced amount of arachidonic acid available for eicosanoid synthesis as OAG suppressed the incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular phospholipids by inhibiting acyl-CoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase. Since OAG has been shown to activate protein kinase C in various cells, these data lead us to suggest that synthesis of eicosanoids in peritoneal macrophages is mediated by the activation of protein kinase C.     

Control of prostanoid synthesis: Role of reincorporation of released precursor fatty acids

Prostanoid synthesis is limited by the availability of free arachidonic acid. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is liberated by phospholipases and usually is an intermediate of the deacylation-reacylation cycle of membrane phospholipids. In rat peritoneal macrophages, ethylmercurisalicylate (merthiolate) or N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) dose dependently inhibited the incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular phospholipids, at lower concentrations specifically into phosphatidylcholine. Furthermore, merthiolate could be shown to be a rather selective inhibitor of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase. In contrast, phospholipase A₂ activity was not affected over a wide dose range. Consequently, macrophages showed a large increase in prostanoid synthesis (prostaglandin E, prostacyclin and thromboxane) in the presence of both lysophosphatide acyltransferase inhibiting agents. Similar results were obtained with human platelets, in which merthiolate increased the release of thromboxane. Addition of free arachidonic acid also enhanced prostanoid synthesis in macrophages. At optimal concentrations, merthiolate had no further augmenting effect. It is concluded that the rate of prostanoid synthesis is not only controlled by phospholipase A₂ activity, but rather by the activity of the reacylating enzymes, mainly lysophosphatide acyltransferase.     

Control of prostanoid synthesis: role of reincorporation of released precursor fatty acids

Prostanoid synthesis is limited by the availability of free arachidonic acid. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is liberated by phospholipases and usually is an intermediate of the deacylation-reacylation cycle of membrane phospholipids. In rat peritoneal macrophages, ethylmercurisalicylate (merthiolate) or N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) dose dependently inhibited the incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular phospholipids, at lower concentrations specifically into phosphatidylcholine. Furthermore, merthiolate could be shown to be a rather selective inhibitor of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase. In contrast, phospholipase A2 activity was not affected over a wide dose range. Consequently, macrophages showed a large increase in prostanoid synthesis (prostaglandin E, prostacyclin and thromboxane) in the presence of both lysophosphatide acyltransferase inhibiting agents. Similar results were obtained with human platelets, in which merthiolate increased the release of thromboxane. Addition of free arachidonic acid also enhanced prostanoid synthesis in macrophages. At optimal concentrations, merthiolate had no further augmenting effect. It is concluded that the rate of prostanoid synthesis is not only controlled by phospholipase A2 activity, but rather by the activity of the reacylating enzymes, mainly lysophosphatide acyltransferase.     

Intracellular Ca2+ and protein kinase C interact to regulate alpha 1-adrenergic- and bradykinin receptor-stimulated phospholipase A2 activation in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Alpha 1-Adrenergic receptors and bradykinin receptors are two distinct membrane receptors that stimulate phospholipid breakdown and arachidonic acid and arachidonic acid metabolite release. In the current studies, we have examined several mechanisms to assess their possible contribution to arachidonic acid release in the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line by agonist stimulation of these receptors: 1) activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2); 2) sequential activation of phospholipase C, diacylglycerol lipase, and monoacylglycerol lipase; and 3) inhibition of the sequential action of fatty acyl-CoA synthetase and lysophosphatide acyltransferase. Experiments were conducted to measure the stimulation of lysophospholipid production by epinephrine and bradykinin, the rate of incorporation of [3H]arachidonic acid into stimulated and unstimulated cells, and the effect on [3H]arachidonic acid release of treating cells with exogenous phospholipase C. The data indicate that stimulation of PLA2 activity is regulated by alpha 1-adrenergic and bradykinin receptors and that this stimulation is mediated, at least in part, by the activation of protein kinase C. We find that the role of diacylglycerol in arachidonic acid release is as an activator of protein kinase C and not as a substrate for a lipase. Moreover, the hormonal agonists do not appear to inhibit fatty acid reacylation. Experiments using the Ca2(+)-sensitive dye fura-2 and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid suggest that bradykinin activates PLA2 by a transient elevation of intracellular Ca2+. This action appears to be less important for activation of PLA2 by epinephrine. Taken together, these data are consistent with the following conclusions. 1) Hormone-stimulated arachidonic acid release in Madin-Darby canine kidney-D1 cells occurs as a consequence of PLA2 activation. 2) The ability of an agonist both to mobilize Ca2+ and to activate protein kinase C contributes to its efficacy as a stimulator of PLA2-mediated arachidonic acid release.     

Potentiation of arachidonic acid release by phorbol myristate acetate in platelets is not due to inhibition of arachidonic acid uptake or incorporation into phospholipids

Activators of protein kinase C, such as tumor-promoting phorbol esters (e.g., phorbol myristate acetate), mezerein, (-)-indolactam V and 1-oleoyl 2-acetoyl glycerol, potentiate arachidonic acid release caused by elevation of intracellular Ca2+ with ionophores. This action of protein kinase C-activators required protein phosphorylation, and was attributed to enhanced hydrolysis of phospholipids by phospholipase A2 (Halenda, et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 7356-7363). Recently Fuse et al. ((1989) J. Biol. Chem 264, 3890-3895) reported that the apparent enhanced release of arachidonate was actually due to inhibition of the processes of re-uptake and re-esterification of released arachidonic acid. They attributed this to loss of arachidonyl-CoA synthetase and arachidonyl-CoA lysophosphatide acyltransferase activities, which were measured in membranes obtained from phorbol myristate acetate-treated platelets. In this paper, we show that phorbol myristate acetate, at concentrations that strongly potentiate arachidonic acid release, does not inhibit either arachidonic acid uptake into platelets or its incorporation into specific phospholipids. Furthermore, the fatty acid 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, a competitive substrate for arachidonyl-CoA synthetase, totally blocks arachidonic acid uptake into platelets, but, unlike phorbol myristate acetate, does not potentiate arachidonic acid release by Ca2+ ionophores. We conclude that the action of phorbol myristate acetate is to promote the process of arachidonic acid release by phospholipase A2.     

Enhancement of eicosanoid synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages by the organic mercury compound thimerosal

Availability of the common precursor arachidonic acid represents the fundamental prerequisite of the cellular eicosanoid synthesis. The amount of free arachidonic acid is regulated not only by phospholipases, which liberate this polyunsaturated fatty acid from lipid pools, but also by the reacylating enzyme acylCoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase. We have previously shown (Goppelt-Strübe, G., C.-F. K?rner, G. Hausmann, D. Gemsa, and K. Resch. Control of Prostanoid Synthesis: Role of Reincorporation of Released Precursor Fatty Acids. Prostaglandins 32:373. 1986.) that the organic mercury compound thimerosal in murine peritoneal macrophages inhibits arachidonic acid reincorporation into cellular lipids, thereby leading to an enhanced prostanoid synthesis. In this report we show that the production of leukotriene C4 was also increased after the addition of thimerosal to mouse peritoneal macrophages in a time and dose dependent manner. Concomitantly, thimerosal led to a significant rise of the intracellular calcium concentration as measured by fura-2 fluorescence. Simultaneous addition of thimerosal and indomethacin or exogeneous arachidonic acid to the cells resulted in a synergistic enhancement of leukotriene C4 synthesis. On the other hand, another sulfhydryl group blocking agent, ethacrynic acid, was found to be ineffective in increasing leukotriene C4 levels even in combination with exogeneous arachidonic acid. Thimerosal therefore provides a helpful tool in studying the basic regulatory mechanisms of the cellular leukotriene synthesis.     

Acyltransferase-catalyzed cleavage of arachidonic acid from phospholipids and transfer to lysophosphatides in lymphocytes and macrophages

The cleavage of fatty acyl moieties from phospholipids was compared in intact cells and homogenates of mouse lymphocytes (thymocytes, spleen cells) and macrophages. Liberation of free arachidonic acid during incubations of intact cells was only detectable in the presence of albumin. Homogenization of prelabeled thymocytes and further incubation of these homogenates at 37 degrees C resulted in a pronounced decrease of phospholipid degradation and cleavage of arachidonoyl residues, while further incubation of homogenates from prelabeled macrophages produced a greatly increased phospholipid degradation. Homogenates of macrophages but not those of thymocytes contain substantial activities of phospholipase A2 detectable using exogenous radiolabeled substrates. These findings indicate that in thymocytes cleavage of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine is an active process that is not catalyzed by phospholipase A2. Addition of CoA and lysophosphatidylethanolamine to prelabeled thymocyte homogenates induced a fast breakdown of phosphatidylcholine and transfer of arachidonic acid to phosphatidylethanolamine, as in seen during incubations of intact thymocytes or macrophages. The transfer is restricted to arachidonic acid and does not require addition of ATP. Sodium cholate, a known inhibitor of the acyl-CoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase, completely inhibited this transfer reaction. These results suggest that the CoA-mediated, ATP-independent breakdown of phosphatidylcholine and transfer of arachidonic acid is catalyzed by the acyl-CoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase operating in reverse.     

Phorbol ester, 1,2-diacylglycerol, and collagen induce inhibition of arachidonic acid incorporation into phospholipids in human platelets

We have shown that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) enhanced A-23187-induced arachidonate release and thromboxane synthesis in human platelets (Mobley, A., and Tai, H. H. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 130, 717-723). The mechanism of enhancement by PMA was not elucidated. In the present study, we have shown that PMA-treated platelets exhibited significantly less [1-14C]arachidonate incorporation than did control platelets. However, no significant change in uptake of labeled linoleate or oleate was observed by PMA treatment. Examination of the two enzyme activities involved in arachidonate incorporation into phospholipids indicated that both arachidonoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthase and arachidonoyl-CoA lysophosphatide acyltransferase were inactivated following treatment with PMA or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol. When platelets were stimulated with A-23187 plus PMA which produced a significant synergism in thromboxane synthesis, both enzyme activities were substantially less than those in platelets treated with A-23187 alone. In addition to PMA and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol induced decreases in both enzyme activities, collagen, a platelet agonist which can activate protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme), was also found to cause a concentration-dependent attenuation of both enzyme activities. These results suggest that protein kinase C activation induced by PMA or collagen may cause inactivation of both arachidonoyl-CoA synthase and arachidonoyl-CoA lysophosphatide acyltransferase resulting in inhibition of the reincorporation of arachidonate released by A-23187 and, consequently, greater availability of arachidonate for thromboxane synthesis.     

Enhancement of eicosanoid synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages by the organic mercury compound thimerosal

Availability of the common precursor arachidonic acid represents the fundamental prerequisite of the cellular eicosanoid synthesis. The amount of free arachidonic acid is regulated not only by phospholipases, which liberate this polyunsaturated fatty acid from lipid pools, but also by the reacylating enzyme acylCoA:lysophosphatide acyltransferase. We have previously shown (Goppelt-Strübe, G., C.-F. Körner, G. Hausmann, D. Gemsa, and K. Resch. Control of Prostanoid Synthesis: Role of Reincorporation of Released Precursor Fatty Acids. Prostaglandins : 373. 1986.) that the organic mercury compound thimerosal in murine peritoneal macrophages inhibits arachidonic acid reincorporation into cellular lipids, thereby leading to an enhanced prostanoid synthesis. In this report we show that the production of leukotriene C₄ was also increased after the addition of thimerosal to mouse peritoneal macrophages in a time and dose dependent manner. Concomitantly, thimerosal led to a significant rise of the intracellular calcium concentration as measured by fura-2 fluorescence. Simultaneous addition of thimerosal and indomethacin or exogeneous arachidonic acid to the cells resulted in a synergistic enhancement of leukotriene C₄ synthesis. On the other hand, another sulfhydryl group blocking agent, ethacrynic acid, was found to be ineffective in increasing leukotriene C₄ levels even in combination with exogeneous arachidonic acid. Thimerosal therefore provides a helpful tool in studying the basic regulatory mechanisms of the cellular leukotriene synthesis.     

The identification and characterization of protein kinase C activity in fetal membranes

Protein kinase C activity was demonstrated in cytosolic fractions prepared from human amnion and decidua vera tissues. The enzyme has been partially purified and was found to be glycerophospholipid-dependent. Phosphatidylserine was most active in the stimulation of protein kinase C. Ca2+ was also required for the expression of the enzyme activity. In the presence of unsaturated diacylglycerols, maximum activation of protein kinase C was observed at suboptimal concentrations of Ca2+. A possible role of phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C in the regulation of arachidonic acid release in this tissue is discussed.     

Differential effect of dexamethasone on the regulation of phospholipase A2 and prostanoid synthesis in undifferentiated and phorbolester-differentiated U937 cells

The human undifferentiated histiocytic cell-line U937 can be induced to differentiate by incubation with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) into macrophage-like cells. Dexamethasone reduced the prostaglandin production in TPA-differentiated U937 cells dose dependently, whereas undifferentiated U937 cells were dexamethasone insensitive. Concomitantly phospholipase A2, the enzyme liberating the prostaglandin precursor arachidonic acid, was inhibited by dexamethasone in TPA-differentiated but not in undifferentiated U937 cells. The activity of lysophosphatide acyltransferase, the key enzyme of fatty acid reacylation into phospholipids, remained unchanged both in undifferentiated and TPA-differentiated U937 cells. The data suggest that responsiveness to glucocorticoid-dependent regulation of prostanoid synthesis is acquired by cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage late in differentiation.     

Activation of human neutrophil NADPH oxidase by phosphatidic acid or diacylglycerol in a cell-free system. Activity of diacylglycerol is dependent on its conversion to phosphatidic acid.

The superoxide-generating neutrophil NADPH oxidase can be activated in cell-free reconstitution systems by several agonists, most notably arachidonic acid and the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate. In this study, we show that both phosphatidic acids and diacylglycerols can serve separately as potent, physiologic activators of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system. Stimulation of superoxide generation by these lipids was dependent upon both Mg(2+) and agonist concentration. Activation of NADPH oxidase by phosphatidic acids did not appear to require their conversion to corresponding diacylglycerols by phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, since diacylglycerols were much slower than phosphatidic acids to activate the system and required the presence of ATP. Stimulation of the oxidase by dioctanoylglycerol proved to be by a means other than the activation of protein kinase C. Instead, dioctanoylglycerol was converted to dioctanoylphosphatidic acid by an endogenous diacylglycerol kinase present in the cell-free reaction system. This conversion was sensitive to the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R59949 and explains the markedly slower kinetics of activation and the novel ATP requirement seen with dioctanoylglycerol. The level of dioctanoylphosphatidic acid formed was suboptimal for NADPH oxidase activation but could synergize with the unmetabolized dioctanoylglycerol to activate superoxide generation.     

Inhibition of T lymphocyte activation by cyclosporin A: interference with the early activation of plasma membrane phospholipid metabolism

Rabbit lymph node and thymus lymphocytes were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A). Cyclosporin A (CSA) inhibited in a dose-dependent way the induction of RNA and DNA synthesis; nearly complete inhibition was observed at a concentration of 200 ng/ml. Results of kinetic studies suggested that the immunosuppressive drug interfered with an early event occurring in activated lymphocytes. Among the earliest changes detectable in activated lymphocytes, the turnover of plasma membrane phospholipids is increased, predominantly of their fatty acid moieties, catalyzed by the membrane-bound lysophosphatide acyltransferase. CSA, at concentrations identical with those inhibiting macromolecular synthesis, also inhibited the Con A-stimulated specific increase in the incorporation of labeled fatty acids into plasma membrane phospholipids. When lymphocytes were stimulated with Con A for 1 hr, incorporation of labeled oleic acid and arachidonic acid approximately doubled in plasma membrane phospholipids. CSA at a concentration of 200 ng/ml prevented the elevated incorporation of labeled fatty acids into plasma membrane phospholipids of Con A-stimulated thymocytes. Concomitantly, the activation of lysolecithin acyltransferase, the key enzyme for the incorporation of long-chain fatty acids into phospholipids, was strongly inhibited. Up to high concentrations, CSA had no effect on the phospholipid metabolism of unstimulated lymphocytes. The results suggest that CSA inhibits the activation of T lymphocytes by interfering with the early activation of plasma membrane phospholipid metabolism.     

Increased Diacylglycerol Levels Inhibit [20-3H]Phorbol 12, 13-Dibutyrate Binding and the Glucocorticoid-Mediated Increase in Glycerol Phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels in C6 Rat Glioma Cells

I examined whether the phorbol ester-mediated inhibition of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) induction could be mimicked by raising the cellular diacylglycerol levels. Phorbol ester tumor promoters and diacylglycerols activate protein kinase C. An increase in radiolabeled diacylglycerol levels in C6 rat glioma cells was observed when cells were prelabeled overnight with [3H]arachidonic acid and treated with either phospholipase C (Clostridium perfringens) or 2-bromooctanoate. The increase was dose dependent. The diacylglycerols competed with [20-3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate in binding to the phorbol ester receptor. A Scatchard analysis of the binding of cells treated with 0.1 unit/ml of phospholipase C demonstrated that the inhibition was mainly due to a decrease in binding affinity and not in the total number of binding sites. 2-Bromooctanoate and phospholipase C, but not the synthetic diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl 2-acetyl glycerol, inhibited the glucocorticoid induction of GPDH levels. Boiled phospholipase C, phospholipase A2, or phospholipase D was ineffective in inhibiting induction, a result suggesting that the inhibition was not due to nonspecific membrane perturbation. Thus, inhibition of the glucocorticoid-mediated increase in GPDH induction is most likely mediated by protein kinase C, and not by an alternate phorbol ester receptor.     

Signal transmission in exocrine cells is associated with rapid activity changes of acyltransferases and diacylglycerol kinase due to reversible protein phosphorylation

Stimulation of secretion in guinea pig parotid gland lobules by either isoproterenol or carbachol is associated with a removal of acyl groups from the acyl-CoA pool and their incorporation into diacylglycerols and triglycerides (S?ling, H. D., Machado-De Domenech, E., Kleineke, J., and Fest, W. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 16786-16792). This is associated with an increased incorporation of glycerol into diacylglycerol. These changes occur during the first 20-30 s of stimulation. We can show now that these changes are associated with a significant increase in the activities of lysophosphatidate acyltransferase, diacylglycerol kinase, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase which reaches a maximum during the first 60 s after stimulation. In vitro experiments with isolated parotid microsomes, the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and with purified protein phosphatases indicate that the activation of enzyme activities in intact parotid gland cells results from protein phosphorylation. The two protein kinases seem to activate the three enzymes by phosphorylating the same site(s). Protein kinase C was almost ineffective. Glycerol kinase, glycerolphosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, CTP:phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase, and phosphatidylinositol synthase remained unchanged in the intact cell as well as during incubation with protein kinases in vitro. Lysophosphatidate acyltransferase, diacylglycerol kinase, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase can be activated by the two protein kinases also in microsomes from guinea pig cerebellum. It seems, therefore, that the regulation leading to rapid changes of enzyme activities during signal transmission in parotid acinar cells could be operative also in other cell types.     

Activation signals in human lymphocytes: interleukin 2 synthesis and expression of high affinity interleukin 2 receptors require differential signalling for the activation of protein kinase C

The mitogenic activation of resting T lymphocytes involves two distinct cellular events, the synthesis of the ultimate mitogen interleukin 2 and the synthesis and expression of receptors for it. In order to get more detailed information on the mechanisms associated with these activating steps (the effects of different stimuli, leading to activation of protein kinase C were investigated in human lymphocytes). The anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (BMA 031 and BMA 030, respectively), as well as the combination of the phorbol ester, TPA, with a calcium ionophore-induced interleukin 2 synthesis and subsequent proliferation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Incubation of cells with synthetic diacylglycerols and calcium ionophores proved to be effective in expression of high affinity interleukin receptors, no detectable amounts of interleukin 2 were, however, synthetized. When diacylglycerols were, however, added repetitively, interleukin 2 was also produced. Both anti-TCR/CD3 antibodies and TPA or DiC8 caused activation and translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Significant differences, however, were observed between the time kinetics of the translocation of the enzyme. In plasma membranes of TPA-stimulated cells activation of protein kinase C was detectable up to 4 hr. In contrast, the highest specific activity of protein kinase C was measured in the plasma membranes after 15 min of DiC8 addition to cells. Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies activated protein kinase C in a biphasic manner. Shortly after binding of BMA 030 to the T cell antigen receptor/CD3 complex the activity of protein kinase C was increased in the plasma membrane, then it declined to control levels followed by a second long-lasting activation of the enzyme up to 4 hr. These results suggest different signal requirements for different activation steps. While for synthesis and expression of interleukin 2 receptors a short term activation of protein kinase C is sufficient, long-term activation of the enzyme is necessary for interleukin 2 synthesis in human lymphocytes.     

Interleukin-1 stimulation of arachidonic acid release from human synovial fibroblasts; blockade by inhibitors of protein kinases and protein synthesis

Addition of IL-1 (interleukin-1) to human synovial fibroblasts radiolabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid caused a linear dose-dependent increase in arachidonic acid release and a transient rise in labelled diacylglycerol. Protein kinase C activators PMA 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and DiC8 (1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol) also increased arachidonic acid release, but the time course observed with PMA was different from that of IL-1. When cultures were treated with PMA for 16-24 h to down regulate protein kinase C, the ability of IL-1 to increase arachidonic acid release persisted to the same extent as in nontreated cultures. In contrast, PMA pretreatment prevented the eight-fold stimulation of arachidonic acid release in response to PMA observed in cultures not previously exposed to PMA. To examine the role of other kinases in IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, cultures were treated with H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dichloride), H-8 (N-[2-(methylamino) ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide dichloride), HA1004 (N-(2-guanidoinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide hydrochloride), and staurosporine. IL-1 stimulation of arachidonic acid release was blocked by H-7, H-8 and staurosporine. H-7 was a more potent inhibitor than H-8, suggesting that cAMP dependent kinase did not mediate IL-1 action. Addition of H-7 at various times following IL-1 decreased IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, suggesting that continued protein kinase activity was necessary for IL-1 action. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited the stimulation of arachidonic acid release by IL-1, PMA or DiC8. The addition of cycloheximide or actinomycin D 15-45 min after IL-1 also inhibited IL-1 stimulated arachidonic acid release, indicating that continued protein synthesis was required for IL-1 action. These results suggest that IL-1 stimulation of acylhydrolyase activity in human synovial cells occurs by a mechanism requiring continued protein synthesis and protein kinase activity and that neither protein kinase C nor cAMP dependent protein kinase is involved.     

Evidence of protein kinase C involvement in phorbol diester-stimulated arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin synthesis

Many stimulators of prostaglandin production are thought to activate the Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase first described by Nishizuka and his colleagues (Takai, Y., Kishimoto, A., Iwasa, Y., Kawahara, Y., Mori, T., and Nishizuka, Y. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 3692-3695. In this paper we report evidence that the activation of protein kinase C caused by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is involved in the increased prostaglandin production induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. We have shown that TPA activates protein kinase C in MDCK cells with similar dose response curve as observed for TPA induction of arachidonic acid release in MDCK cells. Activation of protein kinase C was associated with increased phosphorylation of proteins of 40,000 and 48,000 daltons. We used two compounds (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OMe) and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)piperazine) known to inhibit protein kinase C by different mechanisms to further examine if activation of protein kinase C was involved in the increased synthesis of prostaglandins in TPA-treated MDCK cells. We found that both compounds inhibited protein kinase C partially purified from MDCK cells and that ET-18-OMe inhibited the phosphorylation of proteins by protein kinase C in the intact cells. Addition of either compound during or after TPA treatment decreased both release of arachidonic acid from phospholipids and prostaglandin synthesis. Release of [3H]arachidonic acid from phosphatidylethanolamine in TPA-treated cells was blocked by ET-18-OMe or 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)piperazine addition. However, arachidonic acid release stimulated by A23187 is not blocked by Et-18-OMe. When assayed in vitro, treatment of cells with Et-18-OMe did not prevent the enhanced conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins induced by pretreatment of cells with TPA. Our results suggest that the stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity by TPA occurs via activation of protein kinase C by TPA.     

Defining the role of protein kinase c in calcium-ionophore-(A23187)-mediated activation of phospholipase A2 in pulmonary endothelium.

We sought to investigate the mechanisms by which the calcium ionophore A23187 triggers arachidonic acid release in bovine pulmonary endothelial cells and to test the hypothesis that protein kinase C is involved in this process. Our results indicate that the mechanism by which A23187 increases phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release in bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells depends upon the concentration studied. At concentrations of 1 microM and 2.5 microM, A23187 increases phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release without stimulating protein kinase C. At concentrations of 5-12.5 microM, A23187 increases arachidonic acid release and phospholipase A2 activity in conjunction with a dose-dependent activation of membrane-bound protein kinase C. To test the hypothesis that these doses of A23187 increase phospholipase A2 activity by stimulating protein kinase C, we studied the effect of prior treatment with the protein kinase C inhibitor sphingosine. Sphingosine inhibits the increase in phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release caused by A23187 over the range 5-12.5 microM. To investigate further the potential role of protein kinase C, we studied the effects of the inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (4 alpha-PMA) and an active phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (4 beta PMA). Neither 4 alpha-PMA nor 4 beta-PMA affected basal arachidonic acid release. 4 alpha-PMA also did not augment the effects of A23187. In contrast, 4 beta-PMA significantly augments the increase in phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release caused by lower doses of A23187. Under these conditions, sphingosine completely inhibits the stimulatory effects of 4 beta-PMA on protein kinase C translocation, phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid release. Thus, at low doses (1 microM and 2.5 microM) A23187 increases phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release by a mechanism that does not involve protein kinase C. At these A23187 doses, activating membrane-bound protein kinase C with 4 beta-PMA causes a synergistic increase in phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release. At higher doses (5-12.5 microM), A23187 acts in large part by stimulating protein kinase C translocation. Overall, our results indicate that activating membrane-bound protein kinase C by itself is an insufficient stimulus to increase phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid release in pulmonary endothelial cells, but activating protein kinase C can substantially augment the increase in phospholipase A2 activity and arachidonic acid caused by a small increase in intracellular calcium.