Differences in types of prostaglandins produced by two MDCK canine kidney cell sublines

The pattern of prostaglandins produced from arachidonic acid by two sublines of MDCK canine kidney epithelia cells was different. In one subline designated MDCK₁, the most prevalent prostaglandin product was PGE₂, whereas the most prevalent product in the subline designated MDCK₂ was PGF_2α. This difference was observed when cells previously labeled with 1^?14C]arachidonic acid were stimulated with either bradykinin or the calcium ionophore A23187, or when prostaglandins were produced from labeled arachidonic acid added directly to the assay medium. In the latter case, the difference was maintained over a 38-fold range of extracellular arachidoante concentrations. These findings indicate the there is a persistent difference in the distribution of prostaglandins produced by the two commonly used sublines of MDCK cells.