Inositol Phosphate Response Research Articles

Dual elevation of cyclic AMP and inositol phosphates in response to mechanical deformation of murine osteoblasts

Mechanical deformation of bone cells was thought to be mediated via prostaglandin production and the cyclic AMP pathway. We present evidence that the phosphoinositide pathway is also activated by mechanical stress. We find that inositol phosphate production, but not glycerophosphoinositol production, is elevated, and the activation of adenylate cyclase is relatively small. These results are not compatible with the proposal that mechanical deformation of bone cells acts solely via prostaglandin synthesis.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and cyclic AMP stimulate phosphoinositide turnover in skeletal muscle cells: Interaction between two second messenger systems

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has previously been shown to coexist with acetylcholine in spinal cord motoneurons and to stimulate adenylate cyclase in skeletal muscle cells. We now demonstrate that in cultured chick myotubes whose phosphoinositides have been labeled with [3H]inositol, CGRP enhanced the accumulation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates. Rat CGRP-I (rCGRP) (0.1 microM) elicited a transient increase in [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, as well as a more sustained elevation of [3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate levels. In the presence of Li+, rCGRP evoked an approximately 3-fold increase of [3H]inositol monophosphate levels, which persisted for up to 1 h. This effect of rCGRP was concentration-dependent, the half-maximal response being obtained at 1 nM. Since rCGRP also accelerated the rate of synthesis of [3H]inositol-containing lipids, it appears that the peptide acts by stimulating phosphoinositide turnover in chick myotubes. Agents that either mimic or elevate intracellular cyclic AMP also enhanced the synthesis of [3H]inositol-containing lipids, and the accumulation of inositol phosphates, suggesting that the effects of rCGRP are mediated, at least in part, via the activation of adenylate cyclase. This hypothesis was strengthened by the non-additivity of the inositol phosphate responses elicited by rCGRP and other cAMP-mobilizing agents, and by the sensitivity of these responses to various pharmacological treatments. The present results provide an example of positive interaction between cAMP and the phosphoinositide signaling system. They further suggest that a coexisting neuropeptide may exert pleiotropic actions upon its target cell by stimulating multiple signal transduction pathways.

Effects of angiotensin II on cultured, bovine adrenal medullary cells

Primary cultures of bovine adrenal medullary cells have been used to study the effects of angiotensin II on catecholamine secretion and inositol phosphate accumulation. Angiotensin II induced a weak secretion of both adrenaline and noradrenaline, with a threshold of 10–100 pM and a shallow concentration-dependence up to 10 μM. The response was fully dependent on extracellular Ca ++, was partially inhibited by 100 nM nifedipine, was completely blocked by [Sar 1, Ala 8]-angiotensin II (IC 50 5–10 nM) and was unaffected by 0.1 mM hexamethonium. Angiotensin II also increased inositol phosphate accumulation over the range 1 pM-10 μM. Inositol trisphosphate levels increased in a biphasic manner after 15 sec and 1 min exposure to 10 nM angiotensin II, but were not significantly increased at 30 sec or 5, 15 or 30 min stimulation. Inositol bisphosphate was significantly increased after 1 min. Inositol monophosphate levels only increased after 1 min stimulation, but continued to rise during 30 min stimulation. Removal of extracellular Ca ++ or addition of EGTA reduced basal inositol phosphate accumulation but not the ability of angiotensin II to stimulate inositol phosphate accumulation relative to basal. Nifedipine (100 nM) had no effect on basal or angiotensin II-induced inositol phosphate accumulation. The inositol phosphate response to angiotensin II was abolished by 1 μM [Sar 1, Ala 8]-angiotensin II. The results suggest that secretion of adrenal medullary catecholamines can be evoked by angiotensin II, at concentrations that are compatible with a role for circulating angiotensin II or for angiotensin II generated locally within the adrenal medulla. They do not support the suggestion that the secretory actions of angiotensin II on chromaffin cells are mediated by mobilization of intracellular Ca ++ stores.

Developmental changes in the chemosensitivity of rat brain synaptoneurosomes to excitatory amino acids, estimated by inositol phosphate formation

The evolution of excitatory amino acids-(EAA) stimulated inositol phosphates (IPs) turnover during postnatal development was investigated in synaptoneurosomes prepared from rat forebrains. The two main EAA agonists which induce the IPs synthesis were quisqualate (QA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). The QA and NMDA stimulations of IPs formation present a particular developmental pattern, characterized by an active phase during rat synaptogenesis. The QA-evoked IPs accumulation peaked in synaptoneurosomes prepared from 8-day-old rat forebrains while that evoked by NMDA peaked in synaptoneurosomes from 12-day-old rats. These two developmental patterns are specific of the EAA agonists since the other various neuroactive substances tested (carbachol (Carb), noradrenaline, and high concentrations of potassium) induced an IPs accumulation, which increases during development and reaches a maximum in synaptoneurosomes of adult animals. Aging leads to a decrease in the capability of EAAs and muscarinic agonists to stimulate IPs formation in synaptoneurosomes, whereas the stimulation of IPs turnover by noradrenaline remains constant.Taken together, these results suggest that EAAs play a key role during brain development by sequentially activating two receptor subtypes, a new QA receptor, and a NMDA receptor, linked to the phosphoinositide metabolism. They may also indicate that these EAA-induced IPs responses are related to neuronal plastic events, the amplitude of which decreases with aging.

T cell receptor-mediated signaling occurs in the absence of inositol phosphate production.

Murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can lyse certain target cells in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+ (Ostergaard, H. L., Kane, K. P., Mescher, M. F., and Clark, W. R. (1987) Nature 330, 71-72). We have examined the effect of extracellular Ca2+ on the inositol phosphate response to antigen by CTL. In Ca2+-containing medium relevant antigen-bearing target cells and the mitogen concanavalin A induce a rapid accumulation of inositol phosphates in CTL. In the presence of 4 mM EGTA the antigen- and mitogen-stimulated increases in inositol mono-, bis-, and tris-phosphates cannot be detected, even with 10 mM LiCl added. Abrogation of the inositol phosphate response occurs whether CTL are preincubated in EGTA or EGTA is added with the stimulus. The results indicate that the killing of certain target cells by murine CTL may be independent of the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol pathway. Furthermore, since Ca2+-independent cytolysis remains antigen-specific, the data strongly support the existence of additional T cell receptor-mediated second messenger pathway(s) in CTL.

Beta-adrenoceptor stimulation inhibits histamine-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in bovine tracheal smooth muscle.

1. Histamine and carbachol produced concentration-related increases in the accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates in slices of bovine tracheal smooth muscle. 2. Noradrenaline alone produced a small stimulation of 3H-inositol phosphate accumulation which was inhibited by the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine. In contrast, when noradrenaline (0.1 mM) was added simultaneously with histamine it significantly reduced the inositol phosphate response to high (greater than or equal to 0.1 mM) concentrations of histamine. However, noradrenaline had no inhibitory effect on the carbachol-induced inositol phosphate response. 3. The non-selective beta-agonist isoprenaline (IC50 = 0.08 microM) and the beta 2-selective agonist salbutamol (IC50 = 0.29 microM) both produced a dose-related inhibition of the inositol phosphate response to 0.1 mM histamine. The inhibitory effect of salbutamol was antagonized by propranolol (KA = 2.4 x 10(9) M-1) and the beta 2-selective adrenoceptor antagonist ICI 118551 (KA = 1.7 x 10(9) M-1). 4. The accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates induced by histamine increased steadily over a 40 min period after an initial lag period of 3-4 min. Following the simultaneous addition of histamine and salbutamol there was a further delay of 3-4 min before the appearance of the inhibitory effect of salbutamol. 5. The effect of histamine on inositol phosphate accumulation was accompanied by a stimulation of [3H]-inositol incorporation into membrane phospholipids which was reduced by the presence of salbutamol. However, when histamine was used to stimulate maximally [3H]-inositol incorporation during the prelabelling period, salbutamol produced a marked inhibition of histamine-stimulated 3H-inositol phosphate accumulation under conditions in which there was no change in the level of incorporation.

Cholera-toxin and corticotropin modulation of inositol phosphate accumulation induced by vasopressin and angiotensin II in rat glomerulosa cells.

Vasopressin (VP) and angiotensin II (AT II) stimulate the production of inositol phosphates (IP) in rat glomerulosa cells. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), but not VP or AT II, stimulates IP production in a myo-[3H]inositol-prelabelled glomerulosa-cell membrane preparation. In combination with GTP[S], these hormones potentiate the response to GTP[S], indicating the existence of a G-protein involved in the coupling of the VP and AT II receptor with the phospholipase C. ADP-ribosylation with pertussis toxin (IAP) revealed the specific labelling of a single molecule of 41 kDa. No significant inhibition of VP- or AT II-stimulated IP accumulation was detected in intact cells when the whole 41 kDa molecule was endogenously ADP-ribosylated by IAP treatment. On the contrary, when glomerulosa cells were infected with cholera toxin (CT), both the VP- and AT II-stimulated IP accumulations were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Yet these effects were partial even at high concentrations of CT, and could not be related to the ADP-ribosylation of 'alpha s' molecules. Similarly, when the cells were infected with 1 microgram of CT/ml, the specific binding of VP and AT II decreased by 50-60%. Such results may signify that the treatment primarily affects the densities of the hormone receptors. When glomerulosa cells were incubated for 15 h in the presence of 10 nM-corticotropin (ACTH), a condition in which the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP was increased 3-fold, the maximum IP response to 0.1 microM-VP or -AT II was decreased by 50%. When similar experiments were carried out only after a 15 min incubation period with the same concentration of ACTH, the increase in cyclic AMP was more pronounced, but no inhibition of hormone-induced IP accumulation was observed. Altogether, these results may suggest that CT exerts its action on the VP- or AT II-sensitive phospholipase C systems via a prolonged increase in intracellular cyclic AMP.

Regulation of the phosphoinositide pathway in cultured Sertoli cells from immature rats: effects of follicle-stimulating hormone and fluoride.

Many hormones elicit effects on target cells by stimulating the enzyme phospholipase-C, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides to the intracellular second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates. The present study examined the roles of FSH and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) in regulating the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in Sertoli cells. Sertoli cell cultures prepared from 16- to 18-day-old rats were incubated for 24 h with myo-[2-3H] inositol to label endogenous phospholipids. Treatment of cells from 0.5-20 min with preparations of ovine FSH ranging in potency from 1-60 times that of NIH FSH S1 did not affect accumulation of inositol phosphates. Levels of total [3H]inositol phosphates [[3H]inositol mono-, di-, and triphosphates (IP, IP2, and IP3)] in FSH-treated cultures was 75-120% the levels in control cultures over the various time intervals studied. Addition of testosterone and the combination of testosterone plus retinoic acid, agents that have been shown to potentiate effects of FSH in other systems, did not affect accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to FSH. In contrast to the lack of effect on accumulation of inositol phosphates, FSH stimulated 4- to 11-fold increases in estradiol secretion over 24 h of culture, indicating that Sertoli cells were viable and responsive to FSH. AIF4- has been shown to activate G-proteins involved in regulation of adenylate cyclase activity. In the present study, AIF4- induced 4- to 5-fold increases in IP, IP2, and IP3 in experiments wherein FSH had no effect. Pretreatment of Sertoli cells with pertussis toxin (100 and 1000 ng/ml) for 24 h inhibited fluoride-induced generation of IP, IP2, and IP3 by 24-51%. Similar treatment with cholera toxin had no effect on basal or fluoride-induced generation of IP2 or IP3, but increased fluoride-induced generation of IP by 20-34%. These results suggest that phospholipase-C activity in Sertoli cells is modulated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein(s), but does not appear to be affected by FSH.

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis by guanosine 5′-[γ-thio]triphosphate-activated phospholipase C of turkey erythrocyte membranes

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] of turkey erythrocytes were labelled by using either [32P]Pi or [3H]inositol. Although there was little basal release of inositol phosphates from membranes purified from labelled cells, in the presence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) the rate of accumulation of inositol bis-, tris- and tetrakis-phosphate (InsP2, InsP3 and InsP4) was increased 20-50-fold. The enhanced rate of accumulation of 3H-labelled inositol phosphates was linear for up to 20 min; owing to decreases in 32P specific radioactivity of phosphoinositides during incubation of membranes with unlabelled ATP, the accumulation of 32P-labelled inositol phosphates was linear for only 5 min. In the absence of ATP and a nucleotide-regenerating system, no InsP4 was formed, and the overall inositol phosphate response to GTP[S] was decreased. Analyses of phosphoinositides during incubation with ATP indicated that interconversions of PtdIns to PtdIns4P and PtdIns4P to PtdIns(4,5)P2 occurred to maintain PtdIns(4,5)P2 concentrations; GTP[S]-induced inositol phosphate formation was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in 32P- and 3H-labelled PtdIns, PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P2. In the absence of ATP, only GTP[S]-induced decreases in PtdIns(4,5)P2 occurred. Since inositol monophosphate was not formed under any condition, PtdIns is not a substrate for the phospholipase C. The production of InsP2 was decreased markedly, but not blocked, under conditions where Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphomonoesterase activity in the preparation was inhibited. Thus the predominant substrate of the GTP[S]-activated phospholipase C of turkey erythrocyte membranes is PtdIns(4,5)P2. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was the major product of this reaction; only a small amount of Ins(1:2-cyclic, 4,5)P3 was released. The effects of ATP on inositol phosphate formation apparently involve the contributions of two phenomena. First, the P2-receptor agonist 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2MeSATP) greatly increased inositol phosphate formation and decreased [3H]PtdIns4P and [3H]PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the presence of a low (0.1 microM) concentration of GTP[S]. ATP over the concentration range 0-100 microM produced effects in the presence of 0.1 microM-GTP[S] essentially identical with those observed with 2MeSATP, suggesting that the effects of low concentrations of ATP are also explained by a stimulation of P2-receptors. Higher concentrations of ATP also increase inositol phosphate formation, apparently by supporting the synthesis of substrate phospholipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Interleukin 3 stimulates proliferation via protein kinase C activation without increasing inositol lipid turnover.

Interleukin 3 (IL-3) is required for the survival and proliferation of the FDCP-Mix 1 multipotent stem cell line. IL-3 or phorbol esters can rapidly translocate protein kinase C from a cytosolic to a membrane-bound form in these cells. Phorbol esters were able to partially replace the requirement of FDCP-Mix 1 cells for IL-3. Down-modulation of protein kinase C levels by chronic treatment with phorbol ester markedly reduced the ability of the cells to proliferate in response to either IL-3 or phorbol esters. These data indicate that IL-3 can activate protein kinase C, leading to the survival and proliferation of stem cells. Protein kinase C is activated conventionally by complexing with diacylglycerol which accumulates in the cell membrane after agonist-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. However, there was no detectable breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 when IL-3 was added to FDCP-Mix 1 cells, nor was there detectable accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to IL-3. In contrast, rapid hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was elicited by readdition of horse serum to serum-starved cells, thus indicating that these cells possess the necessary machinery to undergo agonist-mediated inositol phospholipid breakdown. We conclude that the mechanism whereby IL-3 can activate protein kinase C leading to proliferation is not associated with inositol phospholipid hydrolysis.

Cholinergic stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat anterior pituitary

The production of inositol phosphates in response to carbachol was studied in rat anterior pituitary tissue prelabelled with [ 3H]inositol. Carbachol (10 μM) stimulated inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphate production (IP 1, IP 2 and IP 3) by 360 ± 49, 338 ± 49 and 503 ± 49 (mean ± SEM, P < 0.001) percent respectively during a 30 min incubation. Mean basal production was 5.4 ± 0.3 4.1 ± 0.5 and 0.9 ± 0.3 expressed as a percent of total [ 3H]inositol lipid for IP, IP 2 and IP 3 respectively. Stimulated inositol phosphate production was dose dependent and detectable after 5 min. Atropine prevented this stimulation indicating mediation via muscarinic receptors. Removal of extracellular Ca 2+ reduced both basal and stimulated total inositol phosphate production by 60% and 56% respectively but did not impair carbachol-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis per se. Pretreatment of pituitary tissue with either somatostatin (5 μg/ml) or pertussis toxin (1 μg/ml) had no effect on either basal or stimulated inositol phosphate production. These results demonstrate a cholinergic stimulation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP 2) hydrolysis in the anterior pituitary which may be important in the action of cholinergic agonists on pituitary hormone secretion.

Effects of lithium and desipramine administration on agonist-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in rat cerebral cortex

The effects of acute lithium and chronic desipramine administration on the inositol phosphate responses of rat cerebral cortical slices to noradrenaline, carbachol and 5-hydroxytryptamine, were determined. Acute injection of lithium (4 meq/kg s.c. 24 hr before sacrifice) significantly increased the inositol-1-phosphate response to noradrenaline, while chronic administration of desipramine (10 mg/kg i.p. for 3 weeks) produced a smaller increase in this parameter. Chronic desipramine also decreased the serotonin responses in terms of all three inositol phosphates measured. No potentiative or additive interactions between the lithium and desipramine effects were observed.

Stimulation of acid secretion and phosphoinositol production by rat parietal cell muscarinic M2 receptors.

The muscarinic receptor system involved in hydrogen ion production by enriched rat gastric parietal cells was investigated. Muscarinic receptor density determined by [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine binding was 8,100/cell. The receptor appeared to be of the M2 muscarinic receptor subtype, since it had a low affinity (Kd, 189 nM) for the M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine compared with atropine (Kd, 0.74 nM). Receptor activation by carbachol rapidly augmented levels of polyphosphoinositides, indicating an activation of a phospholipase C. The dose-response relations for the increase in inositol phosphates closely paralleled the binding of carbachol to muscarinic receptors with a Km of 17 microM. The inositol phosphate response was antagonized by pirenzepine with a Ki of 177 nM. The stimulation of inositol phosphate levels by carbachol correlated well with the stimulation of [14C]aminopyrine uptake, determined as an index of acid secretion. The muscarinic agonists oxotremorine, pilocarpine, and bethanechol elicited partial increases in inositol phosphates at maximal drug concentrations, and these partial increases correlated with their ability to stimulate [14C]aminopyrine uptake. These data indicate that inositol polyphosphates may be a second messenger of M2 receptors stimulating acid secretion.

Inhibition of the amplified bombesin-stimulated inositol phosphate response in N- ras transformed cells by high density culturing

The bombesin-stimulated inositol phosphate response is only increased in cells transformed by the overexpression of N- ras when they are cultured under sub-confluent conditions. The inhibition of the amplified bombesin stimulation can be partially reversed by either, incubation of the cells for 5 h with 1 mM suramin, or by a 30 min preincubation of cells in excess buffer. The inhibitory effects are probably caused by the effects of autocrines and may explain some of the different published observations concerning the effects of ras gene products upon inositol phospholipid metabolism.

Effects of pertussis toxin on growth factor-stimulated inositol phosphate formation and DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells.

We have compared the effects of pretreatment of Swiss 3T3 cell with pertussis toxin on the stimulation of DNA synthesis and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in response to a wide variety of mitogens. The toxin substantially inhibited the stimulation of DNA synthesis in response to a phorbol ester or various peptide and polypeptide growth factors irrespective of their ability to activate phosphoinositidase C. Production of inositol phosphates in response to platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and prostaglandin F2 alpha were unaffected by the toxin while bombesin- and vasopressin-stimulated formation of inositol phosphates were inhibited by only 27 and 23% respectively. These results argue against a major role for a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in coupling any of these mitogen receptors to activation of a phosphoinositidase C. Furthermore, the results suggest that the widespread inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin on mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis may be unrelated to the toxin's limited actions on phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Inositol phospholipid hydrolysis may mediate the action of proctolin on insect visceral muscle

AbstractThe formation of inositol phosphates in response to the neuropeptide proctolin was studied in locust oviducts. Glycerophosphoinositol, inositol 1‐phosphate, inositol 1,4‐bisphosphate, and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate were identified in the locust oviducts using anion‐exchange chromatography. Proctolin stimulated the release of inositol 1‐phosphate, inositol 1,4‐bisphosphate, and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate during a 5‐min incubation. In the presence of lithium ions the effects of proctolin were enhanced, with elevations of 98%, 42%, and 45% of inositol 1‐phosphate, inositol 1,4‐bisphosphate, and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate, respectively.Physiologically the effects of proctolin upon muscular contraction of locust oviducts were mimicked by the active phorbol ester, phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate, and by the diacylglycerol analogue, 1‐oleoyl‐2‐acetylglycerol. The inactive phorbol ester, 12‐myristate 13‐acetate 4‐O‐methyl ether, was without effect. The effects of the active phorbol ester and the diacylglycerol analogue were calcium‐dependent requiring micromolar concentrations of calcium.The results indicate that the locust oviducts possess proctolin receptors that are linked to phosphatidylinositol metabolism and that inositol phospholipid hydrolysis may mediate the physiological action of proctolin.

Inositol-phosphate response to oxytocin stimulation in dispersed bovine mammary cells

The effect of oxytocin on the breakdown of phosphoinositides in dispersed bovine mammary cells was studied. In the presence of 10 mM LiCl, addition of oxytocin to dispersed bovine mammary cells in which phosphatidylinositol was pre-labelled caused a time and dose — dependent increase in radioactive inositol monophosphate incorporation. These results suggested that the breakdown of phosphoinositides may be the linkage between the oxytocin receptor and contraction of mammary myoepithelial cells.

Dual role of GTP-binding proteins in the control of endothelial prostacyclin

Pretreatment of bovine aortic endothelial cells with pertussis toxin inhibited partially the accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to ATP, whereas cholera toxin had no effect. Both pertussis and cholera toxins enhanced the stimulatory effect of ATP on prostacyclin release from the same cells. This action of cholera toxin was mimicked neither by an increase of cyclic AMP nor by the dissociated subunits of the toxin. Cholera and pertussis toxins, as well as aluminum fluoride, also potentiated the release of prostacyclin induced by ionophore A23187. These results suggest that a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein is involved in the coupling between P2-purinergic receptors and phospholipase C. In addition, another GTP-binding protein would play a crucial role at a further step in the control of PGI2 biosynthesis.

Characterization of subtypes of excitatory amino acid receptors involved in the stimulation of inositol phosphate synthesis in rat brain synaptoneurosomes

The action of excitatory amino acids (EAA) on inositol phosphates (IPs) synthesis was examined in forebrain synaptoneurosomes of Long Evans rats (6–9 days old). Glutamate (GLU) (EC 50: 23 μM) and quisqualate (QA) (EC 50: 0.12 μM) enhanced IPs turnover. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and kainate (KA) were less potent. The EAA-elicited IPs response was not blocked by tetrodotoxin (2 μM) or by the absence of Ca 2+. This suggests that the activation of EAA receptors stimulates directly the phosphodiesterase responsible for phosphoinositide breakdown. The three main agonists (QA, KA and NMDA) tested in pairs, induced additive responses on IPs accumulation. In synaptoneurosomes prepared from adult rat, the relative responses to QA and GLU were dramatically reduced, whereas those to KA and NMDA remained unchanged. We concluded that GLU stimulates IPs formation mainly via a QA-like receptor subtype (AA 2). This stimulation is transient and could play a key role during synaptogenesis. GLU also enhanced IPs accumulation via other receptor subtypes (probably of the NMDA- or AA 1-like class).

Protein kinase C activation blocks anti-IgM-mediated signaling BAL17 B lymphoma cells.

Short term pretreatment of the B lymphoma, BAL17, with phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) blocks elevation in inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and increases in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to anti-IgM. The inhibition of enhanced InsP3 level is detected at 30 sec after the addition of anti-IgM, the earliest point measured, and is reversed by 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC). The blockade of increased [Ca2+]i by PMA is also observed at the earliest time examined (15 sec), is reversed by 1-(5-isoquinoline-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, and is mimicked by dioctanoylglycerol, a physiologic activator of PKC. The enhanced production of inositol phosphates in response to NaF is also blocked in BAL17 cells pretreated with PMA. Extended treatment of BAL17 cells with PMA depletes cellular PKC. Such pretreatment with PMA enhances rather than inhibits increased InsP3 levels in response to anti-IgM and leads to more sustained elevations in [Ca2+]i than in normal BAL17 cells. These results lead us to conclude that PMA-blockade of the response of B cells to anti-IgM represents a disruption of the transmembrane signaling process (desensitization of the signaling pathway) as a result of a PKC-mediated phosphorylation event.