Activation of G proteins may inhibit or stimulate surfactant secretion in rat alveolar type II cells.

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To investigate how G proteins regulate surfactant secretion, we subjected rat alveolar type II cells to conditions known to activate or to inactivate G proteins. AlF-4, which activates G proteins, inhibited secretion in intact cells. Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), which activates G proteins in permeabilized cells, stimulated secretion at basal cytosolic [Ca2+], but inhibited secretion at higher [Ca2+]. In contrast, guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S), which inactivates G proteins, stimulated secretion at each [Ca2+] tested. Because treatment with GDP beta S stimulated secretion at basal cytosolic [Ca2+], surfactant secretion appears to be subject to G protein-regulated tonic inhibition. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited terbutaline- and ionomycin-stimulated secretion in intact cells, but did not inhibit secretion stimulated by either forskolin or 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. Inhibition by PTX of terbutaline-stimulated, but not 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate- or forskolin-stimulated secretion, suggests that PTX-sensitive G proteins regulate beta-adrenergic-stimulated surfactant secretion proximal to second messenger generation. Inhibition of ionomycin-stimulated secretion, however, suggests that PTX-sensitive G proteins may also regulate non-receptor-mediated secretory events.