Phosphatidylcholine Phospholipase Research Articles

Role of diacylglycerol induced by hypoxia in the regulation of HIF-1α activity

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a critical transcription factor for the adaptation to lowered oxygen environments. We have previously reported that hypoxia induced phosphatidic acid (PA) accumulation through diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) activity and provided evidence that this PA production regulated HIF-1 expression. Here we report that hypoxia also produces a marked intracellular accumulation of diacylglycerol (DAG) in different cell types. The previously proposed inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC)/sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) activities, D609, specifically abrogates both hypoxia-dependent DAG accumulation and hypoxia-induced HIF-1 expression. We show that DAG-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms do not play an essential role in the regulation of HIF-1 expression. D609 inhibits PA accumulation triggered by hypoxia, suggesting that DAG could act as substrate for its conversion into PA by DGK upon these conditions. Therefore, this work provides novel evidence for the existence of DAG/PA-dependent intracellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of HIF-1 expression.

Apolipoprotein A-I Activates Protein Kinase Cα Signaling to Phosphorylate and Stabilize ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A1 for the High Density Lipoprotein Assembly

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays an essential role in the helical apolipoprotein-mediated assembly of high density lipoprotein, and the apolipoporteins stabilize ABCA1 against calpain-mediated degradation during the reaction ((2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 22426-22429). Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors suppressed both ABCA1 stabilization and cellular lipid release mediated by apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) but not ABCA1 increase by calpain inhibitors. The increase of ABCA1 and the cellular lipid release by apoA-I were both suppressed by a phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor but not by the inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-PLC and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. A protein phosphatase inhibitor further enhanced the ABCA1 increase by apoA-I. Biochemical and microscopic evidence indicated that apoA-I activated PKC alpha, and phosphorylation of ABCA1 was directly demonstrated by apoA-I via PKC. Finally, digestion of sphingomyelin increased ABCA1, and a PC-PLC inhibitor suppressed it. We conclude that apoA-I activates PKC alpha by PC-PLC-mediated generation of diacylglycerol initiated by the removal of cellular sphingomyelin ((2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 44709-44714), and subsequently phosphorylates and stabilizes ABCA1.

Derivatives of Xanthic Acid are Novel Antioxidants: Application to Synaptosomes

Xanthic acids have long been known to act as reducing agents. Recently, D609, a tricyclodecanol derivative of xanthic acid, has been reported to have anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties that are attributed to specific inhibition of phosphatidyl choline phospholipase C (PC-PLC). However, because oxidative stress is involved in both of these cellular responses, the possibility that xanthates may act as antioxidants was investigated in the current study. Finding that xanthates efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals, the mechanism by which D609 and other xanthate derivatives may protect against oxidative damage was further examined. The xanthates studied, especially D609, mimic glutathione (GSH). Xanthates scavenge hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, form disulfide bonds (dixanthogens), and react with electrophilic products of lipid oxidation (acrolein) in a manner similar to GSH. Further, upon disulfide formation, dixanthogens are reduced by glutathione reductase to a redox active xanthate. Supporting its role as an antioxidant, D609 significantly ( p <0.01) reduces free radical-induced changes in synaptosomal lipid peroxidation (TBARs), protein oxidation (protein carbonyls), and protein conformation. Thus, in addition to inhibitory effects on PC-PLC, D609 may prevent cellular apoptotic and inflammatory cascades by acting as antioxidants and novel GSH mimics. These results are discussed with reference to potential therapeutic application of D609 in oxidative stress conditions.

Phospholipase D and immune receptor signalling

Immune receptors are coupled to the activation of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase D (PC-PLD) that hydrolyses phosphatidylcholine to generate phosphatidic acid and choline. As these receptors are also coupled to other signalling cascades, it has been difficult to define the precise cell activation events resulting from PLD activation in the absence of specific inhibitors. There is increasing evidence that phosphatidic acid acts as an intracellular signalling molecule regulating release of calcium from intracellular stores, sphingosine kinase and protein kinase C activation and membrane budding. Phosphatidic acid can also be rapidly converted into lysophosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol and arachidonates.

Characteristics of the biologically active 35-kDa metalloprotease virulence factor from Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular pathogen, synthesizes an extracellular protease which is responsible for the maturation of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (lecithinase), a virulence factor involved in cell-to-cell spread. This work describes the environmental parameters necessary for increased production of mature, 35-kDa active protease in strains of L. monocytogenes, and its detection using polyclonal antibodies raised against Bacillus subtilis neutral protease. High performance liquid affinity chromatography was exploited to isolate the biologically active form of the mature protease, which was then subjected to biochemical characterization using casein as a substrate. The protease is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease which degrades casein over a wide range of temperatures and pH values. It can also degrade actin, the most abundant protein in many eukaryotic cells. The Listeria protease was shown to exhibit a high thermal stability and a relatively narrow substrate specificity. A three-dimensional model built on the basis of the homology with thermolysin was used to understand the structural basis of these characteristics.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and D in stimulation of RAW264.7 mouse macrophage-like cells by lipopolysaccharide

The purpose of these studies was to identify the role of phospholipases in the activation of macrophages by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609), an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC); butanol, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase D (PC-PLD); and propranolol, an inhibitor of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, were used in the study. Treatment of RAW264.7 murine macrophage-like cells with LPS resulted in expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-α. The expression was partially inhibited by D609, butanol, or propranolol and was completely blocked by the combination of D609 and butanol. RAW264.7 cells constitutively produced low basal levels of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid; production of both was significantly increased after stimulation with LPS, reaching a peak in 2–3 min and remaining elevated after 30 min. In LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, diacylglycerol was suppressed by each of the three inhibitors alone and almost abolished by D609 plus butanol or D609 plus propranolol. Phosphatidic acid was reduced to basal level by butanol after LPS stimulation for 2.5 min and by butanol plus D609 after LPS stimulation for 2.5 or 10 min. Taken together, these data indicate that activation of RAW264.7 cells by LPS can be mediated by the activities of both PC-PLC and PC-PLD.

Cooperative, synergistic and antagonistic haemolytic interactions between haemolysin BL, phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase from Bacillus cereus.

Haemolysis of erythrocytes from different species (sheep, bovine, swine and human), caused by various combinations of phosphatidylcholine (PC)-preferring phospholipase C (PC-PLC), sphingomyelinase (SMase) and the three-component, pore-forming toxin haemolysin BL (HBL) from Bacillus cereus was analysed. The lytic potency of HBL did not correlate with phospholipid (PL) content, but lysis by the individual or combined enzymes did. SMase alone lysed ruminant erythrocytes, which contain 46-53% sphingomyelin (SM). The cooperative action of PC-PLC and SMase was needed to lyse swine and human erythrocytes (22-31% PC and 28-25% SM). SMase synergistically enhanced haemolysis caused by HBL for all erythrocytes tested, which all contained >25% SM. PC-PLC enhanced HBL haemolysis only in cells containing significant amounts of PC (swine, 22% PC; human, 31% PC). Unexpectedly, PC-PLC inhibited HBL lysis of sheep erythrocytes (<2% PC) and enhanced the discontinuous haemolysis pattern that is characteristic of HBL in sheep blood agar. Inhibition and pattern enhancement was abolished by washing PC-PLC-treated erythrocytes or by adding EDTA, suggesting that enzymic alteration of the membrane is not involved, but that zinc in the active site is required, perhaps to facilitate binding. These observations highlight the potential for cooperative and synergistic interactions among virulence factors in B. cereus infections and dependence of these effects on tissue composition.

Lipopolysaccharide induces Jun N-terminal kinase activation in macrophages by a novel Cdc42/Rac-independent pathway involving sequential activation of protein kinase C ζ and phosphatidylcholine-dependent phospholipase C

AbstractThe activation of kinases of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily initiated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays an important role in transducing inflammatory signals. The pathway leading to the induction of stress-activated protein kinases in macrophages stimulated with LPS was investigated. The activation of Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) by LPS is herbimycin sensitive. Using specific inhibitors, it was shown that the pathway involves the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K). However, in contrast to previous reports, the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac are not required downstream of PI 3-K for JNK activation. Instead, the phosphoinositides produced by PI 3-K stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) ζ activation through PDK1. In turn, activation of this atypical PKC leads to the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase). It is therefore proposed that PKCζ regulates the PC-PLC/ASMase pathway, and it is hypothesized that the resultant ceramide accumulation mediates the activation of the SEK/JNK module by LPS.

Lipopolysaccharide induces Jun N-terminal kinase activation in macrophages by a novel Cdc42/Rac-independent pathway involving sequential activation of protein kinase C ζ and phosphatidylcholine-dependent phospholipase C

The activation of kinases of the mitogen-activated protein kinase superfamily initiated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays an important role in transducing inflammatory signals. The pathway leading to the induction of stress-activated protein kinases in macrophages stimulated with LPS was investigated. The activation of Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) by LPS is herbimycin sensitive. Using specific inhibitors, it was shown that the pathway involves the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K). However, in contrast to previous reports, the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac are not required downstream of PI 3-K for JNK activation. Instead, the phosphoinositides produced by PI 3-K stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) ζ activation through PDK1. In turn, activation of this atypical PKC leads to the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase). It is therefore proposed that PKCζ regulates the PC-PLC/ASMase pathway, and it is hypothesized that the resultant ceramide accumulation mediates the activation of the SEK/JNK module by LPS.

TGF-? signaling in A549 lung carcinoma cells: lipid second messengers

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inducer of numerous extracellular matrix components, largely through a transcriptional mechanism. To define the postreceptor signaling pathways used by TGF-beta in the induction of extracellular matrix gene expression, we have utilized the human lung carcinoma cell line, A549, in transfection experiments with the TGF-beta inducible reporter construct, p3TP-Lux. Previous work from this laboratory using pharmacologic agents suggested that a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and protein kinase C may be involved in early aspects of TGF-beta signaling. Here we provide evidence that TGF-beta induces a rapid and transient increase in diacylglycerol (DAG) production. When cells transfected with the p3TP-Lux reporter plasmid are simultaneously treated with TGF-beta and a DAG kinase inhibitor, we observed a higher level of luciferase than with TGF-beta alone. We also find elevated levels of phosphocholine in cells following TGF-beta treatment. Further, exogenously added bacterial phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC) is capable of inducing expression of the p3TP-Lux reporter to the same extent as TGF-beta indicating that the bacterial PC-PLC can mimic the TGF-beta effect. In contrast, neither hexanoyl sphingosine (a ceramide analogue) nor arachadonic acid induce expression of the p3TP-Lux reporter. Measurements with the fluorescent, calcium-sensitive dye, FURA2, indicated that there was no change in intracellular calcium in response to TGF-beta. Furthermore, buffering intracellular calcium with the calcium chelating agent BAPTA/AM failed to block TGF-beta induction of the p3TP-Lux reporter. Thus the TGF-beta signaling pathway appears to involve the production of diacylglycerol but is independent of calcium.

Rapid effects of 1,25(OH) 2 vitamin D 3 on signal transduction systems in colonic cells

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that 1,25(OH) 2D 3 rapidly stimulated hydrolysis of membrane polyphosphoinositides (PI) in rat colonocytes and in Caco-2 cells, generating the second messengers DAG and IP 3. [Ca 2+] i subsequently increased due to IP 3-mediated release of intracellular Ca 2+ stores, and to Ca 2+ influx through a receptor-mediated Ca channel. Studies examining purified antipodal plasma membranes and experiments using Caco-2 cell monolayers found that 1,25(OH) 2D 3 influenced PI turnover only in the basolateral (BLM) and not brush border (BBM) membranes. Vitamin D analogues with poor affinity for the vitamin D receptor were found to effectively stimulate PI turnover, suggesting the presence of a unique vitamin D receptor in the BLM. Studies from our laboratory have demonstrated saturable, reversible binding of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 to colonocyte BLM. Recently, we found that 1,25(OH) 2D 3 activated the tyrosine kinase c-src in colonocyte BLM by a heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G-protein)-dependent mechanism, with subsequent phosphorylation, translocation to the BLM, and activation of PI-specific phospholipase C gamma. Due to the rise in [Ca 2+] i and DAG, two isoforms of protein kinase C (PKCα and PKCβ2), but not other isoforms were activated by 1,25(OH) 2D 3 in rat colonocytes. Recent studies demonstrated that the seco-steroid translocated the β2 isoform to the BLM, but not the BBM. In contrast, the alpha isoform did not translocate to either antipodal plasma membrane, but modulated IP 3-mediated Ca 2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Preliminary studies have shown that 1,25(OH) 2D 3 also activated phosphatidylcholine phospholipase D (PLD) in Caco-2 cells, generating phosphatidic acid and contributing to the sustained rise in DAG. PLD stimulation occurred by both PKC-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Inhibitors of G-proteins, c-src, and PKC blunted the seco-steroid–mediated activation of PLD. Cells stably transfected with sense PKCα showed increased 1,25(OH) 2D 3-stimulated PLD activation, whereas transfectants with antisense PKCα had an attenuated response. In addition, 1,25(OH) 2D 3 also regulated PLD by activating the monomeric G-protein rho A by a mechanism independent of the G-protein/c-src/PKC pathway.

The regulation of superoxide generation and nitric oxide synthesis by C‐reactive protein

Activated macrophages utilize both reactive oxygen intermediates and reactive oxynitrogen intermediates for defence against microbes. However, simultaneous generation of superoxide (O- 2;) and nitric oxide (NO) could be harmful to host cells due to the production of peroxynitrite, nitrogen dioxide and hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, the regulation of the production of these molecules is critical to host survival. During periods of inflammation or infection, the level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) increases in many species. Human and rat CRP have been shown to bind and interact with phagocytic cells. Since many of the interactions of CRP involve the binding to the phosphocholine ligand, we studied the role of CRP in O- 2; and NO generation through the modulation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism in macrophages. This study has shown that, while rat CRP inhibited phorbol myristate acetate- (PMA) induced release of O- 2; by rat macrophages, CRP-treated macrophages released NO in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CRP increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme as well as iNOS mRNA levels in rat macrophages. Tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609), an inhibitor to PC phospholipase C (PC-PLC), suppressed iNOS induction but enhanced PMA-induced release of O- 2;. These data indicate that an increased level of CRP during periods of inflammation may result in differential regulation of macrophage NADPH oxidase and iNOS activity. Increased hepatic synthesis of CRP may contribute to the mechanism by which phagocytic cells avoid simultaneous O- 2; and NO synthesis, and this could possibly be mediated through the regulation of PC-PLC.

Phospholipase C hydrolysis of phospholipids in bilayers of mixed lipid compositions.

Phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.3) from Bacillus cereus has been assayed with substrates in the form of large unilamellar vesicles. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine (also a substrate for the enzyme), sphingomyelin, and cholesterol have been mixed in various proportions, in binary, ternary, and quaternary mixtures. A lag period, followed by a burst of enzyme activity, has been found in all cases. The activity burst was always accompanied by an increase in turbidity of the vesicle suspension. Varying lipid compositions while keeping constant all the other parameters leads to a range of lag times extending over 2 orders of magnitude (from 0.13 to 38.0 min), and a similar variability is found in maximal enzyme rates (from 0.40 to 55.9 min-1). Meanwhile, the proportion of substrate that is hydrolyzed during the lag period remains relatively constant at 0.10% moles of total lipid, in agreement with the idea that enzyme activation is linked to vesicle aggregation through diacylglycerol-rich patches. Phosphatidylethanolamine and cholesterol enhance the enzyme activity in a dose-dependent way: they reduce the lag times and increase the maximal rates. The opposite is true of sphingomyelin. These lipids exert each its own peculiar effect, positive or negative, either alone or in combination, so that the susceptibility of a given mixture to the enzyme activity can be to some extent predicted from its composition. Phospholipase C activity is not directly influenced by the formation of nonlamellar structures. However, the presence of lipids with a tendency to form nonlamellar phases, such as phosphatidylethanolamine or cholesterol, stimulates the enzyme even under conditions at which purely lamellar phases exist. Conversely sphingomyelin, a well-known stabilizer of the lamellar phase, inhibits the enzyme. Thus phospholipase C appears to be regulated by the overall geometry and composition of the bilayer.

Effects of Brefeldin A on Phosphatidylcholine Phospholipase D and Inositolphospholipid Metabolism in HL‐60 Cells

The involvement of the small GTP-binding protein ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) in guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])-dependent activation of phospholipase D (PLD) in HL-60 cells has been well established in vitro. In this study, we tested the effect of brefeldin A, which prevents ARF activation by inhibiting guanine-nucleotide-exchange activity, on PLD stimulation by receptor agonists (formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and ATP) and by the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in differentiated HL-60 cells. However, brefeldin A did not affect the activation of PLD at a time (1 h) when it eliminated the activity of the trans-Golgi enzyme galactosyltransferase. It also did not inhibit PLD activity in Golgi-enriched membranes treated with GTP[S] with or without ARF in vitro. However, longer times of brefeldin A treatment (>6 h), progressively and completely inhibited the activation of PLD by formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and partly inhibited (approximately 50%) the activation by PMA. In contrast, long-term brefeldin A treatment did not inhibit the effect of GTP[S] on PLD in permeabilized HL-60 cells. Long-term brefeldin A treatment completely inhibited inositol phosphate production in response to formyl-Met-Leu-Phe and ATP, indicating that it affected inositolphospholipid-specific phospholipase C activity. These data indicate that the rapid inhibitory effect of brefeldin A on Golgi function is not associated with inhibition of receptor-mediated or PMA-mediated PLD activation in HL-60 cells. However, longer-term effects, presumably arising from the disruption of the Golgi, lead to a total inhibition of agonist activation of PLD and inositolphospholipid-specific phospholipase C. In summary, these results do not support a role for brefeldin-A-sensitive ARF in agonist regulation of PLD in HL-60 cells.

Mediation by Protein Kinases C and A of Go-Linked Slow Responses of Enteric Neurons to 5-HT

5-HT activates the peristaltic reflex and is the neurotransmitter of a subset of myenteric interneurons. Hyperpolarizing afterpotential (AH)/type 2 neurons respond to 5-HT with a long-lived depolarization that is caused by the inhibition of a Ca(2+)-activated K+ conductance (gKCa). This effect is mediated by a G-protein-coupled receptor, 5-HT1P. 5-HT1P agonists specifically activate G alpha o, the immunoreactivity of which was found to be highly abundant and membrane-associated in almost all enteric neurons. Responses of hyperpolarizing AH/type 2 neurons to 5-HT were inhibited by intracellular injection of GDP beta S or anti-G alpha o Fab fragments but were potentiated and prolonged by intracellular GTP gamma S. Responses to 5-HT were antagonized by pertussis toxin, downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) and inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C (PC-PLC), PKC (including pseudosubstrate peptides, chelerythrine, and the alpha/beta isoform-specific inhibitor Go 6976), protein kinase A (PKA), and adenylate cyclase. Responses to 5-HT were mimicked by activators of PKC, and 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent increase in the membrane-associated PKC activity in isolated myenteric ganglia. Immunocytochemical studies suggested that the most abundant isoforms of PKC in enteric neurons are alpha and delta. These data suggest that signal transduction of the 5-HT1P-mediated slow response to 5-HT involves activation of PC-PLC by G alpha o to liberate diacylglycerol, which stimulates PKC (most likely alpha). PKC probably activates adenylate cyclase, which through cAMP, activates PKA. Activation of both PKA and PKC lead to closure of gKCa.

Contribution of phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholines to the production of phosphatidic acid upon concanavalin A stimulation of rat thymocytes

Stimulation of rat thymocytes by concanavalin A (Con A) results in a very early increase of the cellular level of phosphatidic acid (PA), while that of diacylglycerol (DAG) was not affected. As the biological activity of PA is very likely to be determined by its molecular species composition, the present study aims to investigate the pathways leading to the production of PA in Con A-stimulated rat thymocytes. Prelabeling the cells with [3H]arachidonic acid, [3H]myristic acid, [3H]choline, or [14C]lysophosphatidylcholine allowed us to determine that PA is formed by both phosphoinositide (PIs) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis. We then investigated whether PA derived from PC was formed by phospholipase C (PLC) or phospholipase D (PLD) hydrolysis. In the presence of 1-butanol, the production of phosphatidylbutanol was only observed in tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA)-stimulated cells. The use of a specific PC phospholipase C inhibitor resulted in a decrease of Con A-stimulated PA production in cells labeled with [3H]myristate. When cells were labeled with [3H]choline, only TPA stimulation induced a release of labeled choline. All together, these experiments suggest that PA is originated from two phospholipid sources, predominantly PI via PLC hydrolysis and to a lesser extent PC, by PLC hydrolysis also. Molecular species analyses by reverse phase HPLC are in agreement with this hypothesis, as diacyl-GP molecular species composition is similar to that of diacyl-GPC and DAG in resting cells, but resembles that of diacyl-GPI in Con A-treated cells. Thus, in stimulated cells, the amount of 18:0/20:4 species doubled while those of saturated and monounsaturated species decreased.

GH inhibition of lipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis in sheep adipose tissue: involvement of protein serine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and phospholipase C.

The intracellular signalling systems involved in the chronic insulin-antagonistic, anti-lipogenic effects and also the lipolytic effect of GH have been investigated in sheep adipose tissue in an in vitro tissue culture system. During culture, chronic exposure to GH decreased the rate of lipogenesis and prevented the increase in lipogenesis induced by insulin. GH also increased glycerol release into the culture medium. GH had no acute, insulin-like effect on lipogenesis in sheep adipose tissue. Pretreatment with phorbol ester to down-regulate isoforms of protein kinase C or addition of the protein serine kinase inhibitor staurosporine decreased the anti-lipogenic effect of GH while the protein serine kinase inhibitor H7 eliminated it completely. Pretreatment with phorbol ester or addition of H7 also decreased the insulin-antagonistic effect of GH on lipogenesis. Addition of the protein serine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid or the phosphatidyl choline phospholipase C inhibitor D609 both diminished the anti-lipogenic and insulin-antagonistic effects of GH. Chronic exposure of adipose tissue to GH had no effect on the total activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase or its activation status but it did diminish the increase in activation status induced by insulin. H7 and okadaic acid also diminished the increase in activation status of acetyl CoA carboxylase induced by insulin but did not alter the effect of GH on this variable. Okadaic acid decreased total acetyl CoA carboxylase activity. Pretreatment with phorbol ester or the addition of H7, staurosporine or okadaic acid increased glycerol release into the culture medium to the same extent as GH itself; the effects of GH and these various agents were not additive. These studies suggest that the anti-lipogenic, insulin-antagonistic effects of GH involve both protein serine kinases and phosphatases, possibly including one or more isoforms of protein kinase C, and a phosphatidyl choline-specific phospholipase C. Comparison with studies by others on the GH enhancement of preadipocyte differentiation and prolactin stimulation of lipogenesis in mammary tissue suggests involvement of protein kinase C at an early stage in all three systems. In contrast, effects of okadaic acid vary with the system, suggesting the involvement of protein serine phosphatase activity in a late stage of the action of GH. The effects of GH on lipogenesis and lipolysis do not occur via identical mechanisms.

Osmoregulation in the renal papilla: Membranes, messengers and molecules

This contribution summarizes recent progress in the understanding of the molecular basis of the release of organic osmolytes that occurs when inner medullary cells are confronted with a drop in osmolarity in their environment. For sorbitol release across the basolateral membrane an increase in intracellular calcium seems to be the prominent signal, initiated by G-protein activation, followed by phosphatidylcholine phospholipase activation and generation of arachidonic acid. The increase in betaine permeability is also G-protein dependent but calcium independent, and is restricted to the basal-lateral cell face. Myo-inositol and glycerophosphorylcholine efflux are calcium and G-protein independent and occur both across the apical and basolateral membrane, although to a different extent. Taurine release is also calcium and G-protein independent; a swelling-activated anion channel at the basolateral membrane represents the major efflux pathway.

Distinct Signal Transduction Pathways for Activation of Rabbit Alveolar Macrophagesin Vitroby Cotton Bract Tannin

These experiments were designed to study signal transduction pathways in alveolar macrophages stimulated by condensed tannin or zymosan. Condensed tannins, present in cotton mill dust, alter the host-defense function of alveolar macrophages and may contribute to the pathogenesis of byssinosis. We tried to determine the early steps in signal transduction mechanisms of cell activation by tannin. With the quantification of51Cr release, we determined that tannin was cytotoxic for the cells after 30 min activation with 130 μg for 2 × 106cells.51Cr release was similar for control cells and zymosan- or 30 μg tannin-activated cells. Using the luciferine luciferase reaction, we showed that tannin markedly depleted ATP cell content. In inositol-labeled cells, tannin increased inositolphosphate release in a dose-dependent manner. In lysoPAF-labeled cells, tannin induced synthesis of phosphatidic acid and diglycerides. In the presence of ethanol, the level of tannin-induced phosphatidic acid was slightly reduced, and phosphatidylethanol was synthesized. No phosphatidylethanol was found in alveolar macrophages stimulated by zymosan in the presence of ethanol. GF 109203X, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C decreased only tannin-induced phosphatidylethanol synthesis. In conclusion, tannin (at 30 or 130 μg/ml) activated an inositol phospholipase C in alveolar membranes. Phosphatidylcholine phospholipases C and D were found only at the higher concentration of tannin.

A Chemiluminescence Method to Analyze Phosphatidylcholine–Phospholipase Activity in Plasma Membrane Preparations and in Intact Cells

We present a new method to analyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by either phospholipase C (PLC) or phospholipase D. The method is nonradioactive, rapid, and very sensitive and is based on chemiluminescence. It relies on the peroxidase-catalyzed chemiluminescent oxidation of luminol by the H2O2derived from choline oxidation. The enzyme activity can be quantified by calculation of produced choline in a standard curve. Data are accurate and reproducible in a large range of choline concentration. In fact, the response of PLC to GTP in plasma membranes was similar to the activity measured with radioactive methods of diacylglycerol or phosphatidylinositol triphosphate determination. The method can be applied to study the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in plasma membrane preparations and in intact cells.