PDGF-Stimulated Cyclic AMP Formation in Airway Smooth Muscle: Assessment of the Roles of MAP Kinase, Cytosolic Phospholipase A 2, and Arachidonate Metabolites

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis in cultured guinea-pig airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. However, this stimulation is normally countered by the action of cAMP phosphodiesterases. Thus, cAMP synthesis was observed only in cells pre-treated with either 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) or with cholera toxin. cAMP synthesis was inhibited by pre-treating cells with well-defined inhibitors of arachidonate metabolite synthesis, such as AACOCF 3 [a cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2) inhibitor] and indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor). This suggests that arachidonate metabolites (e.g., prostaglandins) released in response to PDGF stimulate cAMP synthesis. The presence of functional prostaglandin (PG) receptors was confirmed by experiments that showed that exogenous PGE 2 stimulated cAMP formation. cPLA 2 is regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in a number of cell types. The presence of this pathway in ASM cells and its role in regulating arachidonate metabolism were supported by the finding that pre-treatment of cells with PD098059 (an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 activation) reduced PDGF-stimulated cAMP synthesis. The cAMP formed in response to the arachidonate metabolites subsequently reduced the PDGF-dependent activation of c-Raf, MAPK, and DNA synthesis, suggesting the presence of a negative feedback pathway.