Phosphatidylcholine-specific Phospholipase C Activity Research Articles

Unheated Cannabis sativa extracts and its major compound THC-acid have potential immuno-modulating properties not mediated by CB1 and CB2 receptor coupled pathways

There is a great interest in the pharmacological properties of cannabinoid like compounds that are not linked to the adverse effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), e.g. psychoactive properties. The present paper describes the potential immuno-modulating activity of unheated Cannabis sativa extracts and its main non-psychoactive constituent Δ9-tetrahydrocanabinoid acid (THCa). By heating Cannabis extracts, THCa was shown to be converted into THC. Unheated Cannabis extract and THCa were able to inhibit the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in culture supernatants from U937 macrophages and peripheral blood macrophages after stimulation with LPS in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition persisted over a longer period of time, whereas after prolonged exposure time THC and heated Cannabis extract tend to induce the TNF-α level. Furthermore we demonstrated that THCa and THC show distinct effects on phosphatidylcholine specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity. Unheated Cannabis extract and THCa inhibit the PC-PLC activity in a dose-dependent manner, while THC induced PC-PLC activity at high concentrations. These results suggest that THCa and THC exert their immuno-modulating effects via different metabolic pathways.

M2 and M3 Muscarinic Receptor Activation of Urinary Bladder Contractile Signal Transduction. I. Normal Rat Bladder

The muscarinic receptor subtype-activated signal transduction mechanisms mediating rat urinary bladder contraction are incompletely understood. M(3) mediates normal rat bladder contractions; however, the M(2) receptor subtype has a more dominant role in contractions of the hypertrophied bladder. Normal bladder muscle strips were exposed to inhibitors of enzymes thought to be involved in signal transduction in vitro followed by a single cumulative concentration-response curve to the muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol. The outcome measures were the maximal contraction, the potency of carbachol, and the affinity of the M(3) -selective antimuscarinic agent darifenacin for inhibition of contraction. Inhibition of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (ET-18-OCH(3)) reduces carbachol potency and reduces darifenacin affinity, whereas inhibition of phosphatidyl choline-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) with O-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-9-yl dithiocarbonate potassium salt (D609) attenuates the carbachol maximal contraction. Inhibition of rho kinase with (R)-(+)-trans-4-(1-aminoethyl)-N-(4-pyridyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide dihydrochloride (Y-27632) reduces carbachol potency and increases darifenacin affinity. Inhibition of rho kinase, protein kinase A (PKA), and protein kinase G (PKG) with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine.HCl (HA-1077) reduces the carbachol maximal contraction, carbachol potency, and darifenacin affinity. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with chelerythrine increases darifenacin affinity, whereas inhibition of rho kinase, PKA, PKG, and PKC with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine.2HCl (H7) reduces the carbachol maximum and carbachol potency while increasing darifenacin affinity. Inhibition of rho kinase, PKA, and PKG with N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide.2HCl (H89) reduces carbachol maximum and carbachol potency. Both the M(2) and the M(3) receptor subtype are involved in normal rat bladder contractions. The M(3)subtype seems to mediate contraction by activation of PI-PLC, PC-PLC, and PKA, whereas the M(2) signal transduction cascade may include activation of rho kinase, PKC, and an additional contractile signal transduction mechanism independent of rho kinase or PKC.

Rattlesnake venom induces apoptosis by stimulating PC-PLC and upregulating the expression of integrin β 4, P53 in vascular endothelial cells

In the previous studies, we found that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was implicated in apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom in vascular endothelial cells (VEC) [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1997b) 223, 182]. In order to find out other signal elements in this pathway and the mechanisms by which PC-PLC mediates apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom in VEC, the expression of integrin β 4 and P53 was evaluated when the activity of PC-PLC was suppressed by D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate), a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. The increase of integrin β 4 and P53 expression induced by the venom was markedly suppressed when apoptosis of VEC was inhibited by D609. The data indicated that integrin β 4 and P53 play important roles in signal transduction of apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom, and that PC-PLC might regulate apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of integrin β 4 and P53 in VEC.

Involvement of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase C in prostaglandin F2alpha-induced 1,2-diacylglycerol formation in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

We previously demonstrated that a prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha)-induced, sustained increase in 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) production was important for proliferation in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. The 1,2-DAG formation is mediated by various enzymes, such as phos-phoinositide (PI)-specific phospholipase C (PLC), phospholipase D (PLD), and phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). In the present study, to elucidate the mechanism of the 1,2-DAG formation, we have examined the PGF2alpha-induced production of [(3)H]phosphorylcholine, a product of PC-PLC activity, in [(3)H]choline-labeled MC3T3-E1 cells. The PGF2alpha-induced [(3)H]phosphorylcholine production was inhibited by genistein, a potent protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and increased by vanadate, a potent protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. However, there were no effects after treatment with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, the guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding protein activator, NaF/AlCl(3), a Ca(2+)-ionophore, or the potent activator of PKC, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), suggesting that a tyrosine kinase(s) was involved in the PGF2alpha-induced [(3)H]phosphorylcholine formation. Furthermore, a PGF2alpha analogue, 16-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-Omega-tetranor-trans-Delta(2) PGF2alpha methyl ester (ONO-995), stimulated the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells to a level similar to that seen with PGF2alpha, and also caused phosphorylcholine and 1,2-DAG generation. However, neither an increase in intracellular free calcium ion ([Ca(2+)]i) levels by PI-PLC, nor phosphatidylethanol formation (and choline production) by PC-PLD were observed. From these results, we conclude that PGF2alpha-induced 1,2-DAG accumulation was mediated mainly via tyrosine kinase(s)-dependent PC hydrolysis by PLC activity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

Evidence for the Involvement of Protein Kinase C in Acidic pH-Induced Contraction in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Aorta

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a mechanism underlying the acidic pH-induced contraction (APIC) in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) aorta. Changing pH of the bathing solution from 7.4 to 6.5 induced a marked contraction of SHR aorta. PKC inhibitors, GF109203X and calphostin C markedly inhibited the APIC selectively, without having a marked effect on the KCl-induced contraction. Inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, U0126 and PD98059 mildly but significantly attenuated the APIC. However, at the similar concentrations both U0126 and PD98059 inhibited the KCl-induced contraction in a manner similar to that observed in APIC. D-609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) markedly inhibited the APIC and the extent of inhibition by this compound was similar to that shown by PKC inhibitors. Whereas, U-73122 and propranolol, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-specific PLC and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, respectively, had no affect on the APIC. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin 23 and GF109203X inhibited the APIC in an additive manner, and together they abolished the contractile response. From all these results, it is suggested that a significant component of the contraction observed in response to acidosis in SHR aorta is dependent upon the activation of PKC that seems to be the downstream event of the activation of PC-PLC. Furthermore, PKC- and tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways underlying the APIC are independent of each other.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities in bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group.

Bacillus anthracis is nonhemolytic, even though it is closely related to the highly hemolytic Bacillus cereus. Hemolysis by B. cereus results largely from the action of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and sphingomyelinase (SPH), encoded by the plc and sph genes, respectively. In B. cereus, these genes are organized in an operon regulated by the global regulator PlcR. B. anthracis contains a highly similar cereolysin operon, but it is transcriptionally silent because the B. anthracis PlcR is truncated at the C terminus. Here we report the cloning, expression, purification, and enzymatic characterization of PC-PLC and SPH from B. cereus and B. anthracis. We also investigated the effects of expressing PlcR on the expression of plc and sph. In B. cereus, PlcR was found to be a positive regulator of plc but a negative regulator of sph. Replacement of the B. cereus plcR gene by its truncated orthologue from B. anthracis eliminated the activities of both PC-PLC and SPH, whereas introduction into B. anthracis of the B. cereus plcR gene with its own promoter did not activate cereolysin expression. Hemolytic activity was detected in B. anthracis strains containing the B. cereus plcR gene on a multicopy plasmid under control of the strong B. anthracis protective antigen gene promoter or in a strain carrying a multicopy plasmid containing the entire B. cereus plc-sph operon. Slight hemolysis and PC-PLC activation were found when PlcR-producing B. anthracis strains were grown under anaerobic-plus-CO(2) or especially under aerobic-plus-CO(2) conditions. Unmodified parental B. anthracis strains did not demonstrate obvious hemolysis under the same conditions.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activity is necessary for the activation of STAT6.

It is well established that Janus kinase (JAK) tyrosine kinases play a key role in the activation of STAT6 by IL-4. In this study, we investigated additional molecules involved in this process. We previously found that IL-4 and TNF-alpha cooperate in the activation of STAT6 and NF-kappaB, suggesting that these transcription factors are regulated by common intracellular signaling pathways. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the effect of known inhibitors of NF-kappaB on the activation of STAT6. We discovered that inhibitors of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), but not other lipases, blocked the activation of STAT6 by IL-4. The activation of PC-PLC seems to be an early event in IL-4 signaling, because its inhibition abrogated JAK activation and STAT6 tyrosine phosphorylation. Interestingly, we found that the effects of pervanadate and sodium orthovanadate on STAT6 activation correspond to their effect on PC-PLC. Thus, pervanadate by itself activated PC-PLC, JAK, and STAT6, whereas sodium orthovanadate suppressed PC-PLC, JAK, and STAT6 activation by IL-4. We further found that PC-PLC activation is necessary but not sufficient to promote STAT6 activation, and therefore, additional intracellular pathways regulated by IL-4 and pervanadate may collaborate with PC-PLC to signal STAT6 activation. It has been reported that IL-4 signals PC-PLC activation; in this study, we provide evidence that this phospholipase plays a key role in IL-4 signaling.

Apoptosis Mediated by Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C is Associated with cAMP, p53 Level, and Cell-Cycle Distribution in Vascular Endothelial Cells

In previous studies, the authors found that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was implicated in apoptosis induced by deprivation of survival factors in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) (Miao et al. Endothelium , 5, 231-239, 1997). In order to understand which elements are involved in the apoptotic signal transduction mediated by PC-PLC, the authors examined cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level, p53 expression, and the changes of cell cycle in VECs when PC-PLC activity was suppressed by D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate), a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. The results showed that cAMP level was reduced ( p < .01), p53 expression was suppressed, and cell-cycle distribution was changed when apoptosis of VECs was inhibited by D609. The data indicate that cAMP and p53 are involved in this pathway, and that PC-PLC might regulate apoptosis by affecting the cell-cycle distribution of VECs.

Apoptosis mediated by phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C is associated with cAMP, p53 level, and cell-cycle distribution in vascular endothelial cells.

In previous studies, the authors found that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) was implicated in apoptosis induced by deprivation of survival factors in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) (Miao et al. Endothelium, 5, 231-239, 1997). In order to understand which elements are involved in the apoptotic signal transduction mediated by PC-PLC, the authors examined cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level, p53 expression, and the changes of cell cycle in VECs when PC-PLC activity was suppressed by D609 (tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate), a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. The results showed that cAMP level was reduced (p <.01), p53 expression was suppressed, and cell-cycle distribution was changed when apoptosis of VECs was inhibited by D609. The data indicate that cAMP and p53 are involved in this pathway, and that PC-PLC might regulate apoptosis by affecting the cell-cycle distribution of VECs.

Differential effects of Fas cross-linking on phospholipase D activation and related lipid metabolism in Fas-resistant A20 cells.

A20 murine lymphoma cells undergoing Fas-mediated apoptosis showed increase in the activity of phospholipase D (PLD), which is involved in proliferative or mitogenic cellular responses. Using A20 cell lines that were resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis, we investigated the differential effects of Fas cross-linking on PLD activity and sphingolipid metabolism. The basal PLD activities in all of the selected three Fas-resistant clones (#5, #8, and #11) were about 2~4 folds higher than that of wild type A20 cells. Among the PLD isoforms, PLD2 expression was increased in all of the selected Fas-resistant clones. The Fas downstream signaling events triggered by Fas cross-linking, including the activations of PLD, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), sphingomyelinase (SMase), the increase in diacylglycerol (DAG) and protein phosphorylation levels, and the translocation of protein kinase C to membrane were not changed in both of Fas-resistant clone #5 and #8. In contrast, Fas cross-linking stimulated the activity of PLD, PC-PLC, and SMase, translocation of PKC, and protein phosphorylation in Fas-resistant clone #11, similar to that of wild type cells. We also found that clone #11 had a different Fas sequence encoding Fas B which has been known to inhibit Fas-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that increased PLD2 expression resulting in increased basal PLD activity and the blockade of Fas downstream signaling cascades may be involved to limit apoptosis induced by Fas cross-linking.

D609-sensitive tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in Fas-mediated phospholipase D activation.

Both Fas and PMA can activate phospholipase D via activation of protein kinase Cbeta in A20 cells. Phospholipase D activity was increased 4 fold in the presence of Fas and 2.5 fold in the presence of PMA. The possible involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in Fas-induced activation of phospholipase D was investigated. In five minute after Fas cross-linking, there was a prominent increase in tyrosine phosphorylated proteins, and it was completely inhibited by D609, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, can partially inhibit Fas-induced phospholipase D activation. There were no effects of genistein on Fas-induced activation of PC-PLC and protein kinase C. These results strongly indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation may in part account for the increase in phospholipase D activity by Fas cross-linking and D609 can block not only PC-PLC activity but also tyrosine phosphorylation involved in Fas-induced phospholipase D activation.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C regulates activation of RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells by lipopeptide JBT3002

Phospholipase activities are thought to be involved in the activation of macrophages by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Because our previous studies showed that the synthetic lipopeptide JBT3002 might activate macrophages via signaling pathways similar to those used by LPS, we investigated whether phospholipase activities are required for activation of macrophages by JBT3002. Treatment of RAW264.7 murine macrophage-like cells with JBT3002 stimulated expression of both inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in a dose-dependent manner. The JBT3002-induced production of nitric oxide and TNF-alpha was significantly inhibited by tricyclodecan-9-yl xanthogenate (D609), a selective inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). JBT3002-induced expression of steady-state mRNA for both iNOS and TNF-alpha was inhibited by D609. Cells treated with JBT3002 had greater production of diacylglycerol (DAG) in 2 min, which lasted for at least 30 min and could be blocked by D609. Activation of RAW264.7 cells was not affected by butanol, a PC-specific phospholipase D inhibitor, and treatment with JBT3002 did not affect phosphatidic acid formation. RAW264.7 cells treated with DAG analogue 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol, in the presence of interferon-gamma, produced TNF-alpha. These results suggested that activation of RAW264.7 cells by JBT3002 requires PC-PLC activity.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C-mediated induction of phospholipase D activity in Fas-expressing murine cells

We have previously reported that Fas cross-linking resulted in the activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and the subsequent activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and phospholipase D (PLD) in A20 cells. In an attempt to correlate the existence of PC-PLC activity and activation of PLD by Fas activation among various Fas-expressing murine cell lines, we have investigated the effect of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on PC-PLC and PLD activities in A20, P388D1 and YAC-1 cell lines. Upon treatment of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody to these three cell lines, the activation of PLD was only observed in A20 cells. When the effect of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody on PKC and PC-PLC activities in Fas-expressing clones were investigated, the activation of PKC and PC-PLC was detected only in A20 clones. Results presented here also show that exogenous addition of Bacillus cereus PC-PLC activates PC hydrolysis, PKC and PLD in all three murine cell lines. These findings suggest that the activation of PC-PLC is a necessary requirement for the activation of PLD by Fas cross-linking and cell lines devoid of functional PC-PLC activity could exhibit enhanced PLD activity by exogenous addition of PC-PLC.

FMLP-Induced Arachidonic Acid Release in db-cAMP-Differentiated HL-60 Cells Is Independent of Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-Specific Phospholipase C Activation and Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Activation

In inflammatory cells, agonist-stimulated arachidonic acid (AA) release is thought to be induced by activation of group IV Ca2+-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase)- and/or protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation and Ca2+-dependent translocation of the enzyme to the membrane. Here we investigated the role of phospholipases in N-formylmethionyl-l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine (fMLP; 1 nM–10 μM)-induced AA release from neutrophil-like db-cAMP-differentiated HL-60 cells. U 73122 (1 μM), an inhibitor of phosphatidyl-inositol-4,5-biphosphate-specific phospholipase C, or the membrane-permeant Ca2+-chelator 1,2-bis[2-aminophenoxy]ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (10 μM) abolished fMLP-mediated Ca2+ signaling, but had no effect on fMLP-induced AA release. The protein kinase C-inhibitor Ro 318220 (5 μM) or the inhibitor of cPLA2 arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3; 10–30 μM) did not inhibit fMLP-induced AA release. In contrast, AA release was stimulated by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 (10 μM) plus the PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (0.2 μM). This effect was inhibited by either Ro 318220 or AACOCF3. Accordingly, a translocation of cPLA2 from the cytosol to the membrane fraction was observed with A23187 + PMA, but not with fMLP. fMLP-mediated AA release therefore appeared to be independent of Ca2+ signaling and PKC and MAP kinase activation. However, fMLP-mediated AA release was reduced by ≈45% by Clostridium difficile toxin B (10 ng/ml) or by 1-butanol; both block phospholipase D (PLD) activity. The inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), D609 (100 μM), decreased fMLP-mediated AA release by ≈35%. The effect of D609 + 1-butanol on fMLP-induced AA release was additive and of a magnitude similar to that of propranolol (0.2 mM), an inhibitor of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase. This suggests that the bulk of AA generated by fMLP stimulation of db-cAMP-differentiated HL-60 cells is independent of the cPLA2 pathway, but may originate from activation of PC-PLC and PLD.

D609–phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C inhibitor attenuates thapsigargin-induced sodium influx in human lymphocytes

Previously, we reported that the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor tricyclodecan-9-yl xanthogenate (D609) potentiates thapsigargin-induced Ca 2+ influx in human lymphocytes. In the present study we examined the effect of D609 on the thapsigargin-induced Na + entry. We found that the early phase of the thapsigargin-induced increase in the intracellular Na + concentration (approx. 1–2 min after stimulation) was attenuated after preincubation of lymphocytes with D609. By contrast, thapsigargin-induced Na + influx was not affected in the presence butan-1-ol, which inhibits phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PC-PLD). The thapsigargin-induced Na + influx could be mimicked by PC-PLC exogenously added to the lymphocyte suspension, whereas addition of PC-PLD had no effect. In addition, thapsigargin stimulated formation of the physiological PC-PLC products, diacylglycerol. Cell-permeable diacylglycerol analogue, dioctanoyl-glycerol (DOG), produced time- and concentration-dependent increase in the intracellular Na + concentration. Both thapsigargin- and DOG-induced Na + increases were not affected in the presence of Na +/H + antiport inhibitor, HOE609, or Na +/Ca 2+ antiport inhibitor, dimethylthiourea, as well as in the presence of Co 2+ and Ni 2+, which block store-operated Ca 2+ entry. By contrast, markedly reduced thapsigargin- and DOG-induced Na + influx were noted in the presence of flufenamic acid, which blocks the non-selective cation current (I CRANC). In conclusion, our results suggest that diacylglycerol released due to the PC-PLC activation contributes to the thapsigargin-induced Na + entry.

Signaling Through CD5 Involves Acidic Sphingomyelinase, Protein Kinase C-ζ, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase, and c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase

AbstractThe CD5 lymphocyte surface glycoprotein is a coreceptor involved in the modulation of Ag-specific receptor-mediated activation and differentiation signals. The molecular basis for its modulatory properties is not yet well understood. In the present study we describe early biochemical events triggered by CD5 stimulation, which include the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC)-dependent activation of acidic sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) in normal and lymphoblastoid T and B cells. The functional coupling of PC-PLC and A-SMase is demonstrated by the abrogation of A-SMase activation by 1) xanthogenate tricyclodecan-9-yl (D609), a selective inhibitor of PC-PLC, and 2) replacement of several C-terminal serine residues (S458, S459, and S461) present in the cytoplasmic tail of CD5 that are known to be critical for PC-PLC activation. Additionally, we demonstrate that activation of protein kinase C-ζ (PKC-ζ) and members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade (MAPK kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase), but not the NF-κB, are downstream events of the CD5 signaling pathway. A-SMase, PKC-ζ, and MAPK family members are key mediators of cell responses as diverse as proliferation, differentiation, and growth arrest and may contribute to CD5-mediated modulation of TCR or BCR signaling.

A Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Regulates Activation of p42/44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Human Alveolar Macrophages

This study uses human alveolar macrophages to determine whether activation of a phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) is linked to activation of the p42/44 (ERK) kinases by LPS. LPS-induced ERK kinase activation was inhibited by tricyclodecan-9-yl xanthogenate (D609), a relatively specific inhibitor of PC-PLC. LPS also increased amounts of diacylglycerol (DAG), and this increase in DAG was inhibited by D609. LPS induction of DAG was, at least in part, derived from PC hydrolysis. Ceramide was also increased in LPS-treated alveolar macrophages, and this increase in ceramide was inhibited by D609. Addition of exogenous C2 ceramide or bacterial-derived sphingomyelinase to alveolar macrophages increased ERK kinase activity. LPS also activated PKC zeta, and this activation was inhibited by D609. LPS-activated PKC zeta phosphorylated MAP kinase kinase, the kinase directly upstream of the ERK kinases. LPS-induced cytokine production (RNA and protein) was also inhibited by D609. As an aggregate, these studies support the hypothesis that one way by which LPS activates the ERK kinases is via activation of PC-PLC and that activation of a PC-PLC is an important component of macrophage activation by LPS.

Relationship between dopamine agonist stimulation of inositol phosphate formation and cytidine diphosphate–diacylglycerol accumulation in brain slices

Dopamine receptor-coupled stimulation of inositol phosphate formation has been characterized extensively, but little is known about the diacylglycerol arm of this dual-signaling pathway. This study examined several parameters of cytidine diphosphate–diacylglycerol (CDP–DG) accumulation as an index of agonist-stimulated DG formation. Rat brain slices pre-labeled with 5-[ 3 H ]cytidine were incubated with various test agents in the presence of LiCl and accumulated CDP–DG analyzed. Dopamine and SKF38393 significantly and dose-dependently stimulated CDP–DG accumulation. SKF38393 responses were inhibited by neomycin and reversed by myo-inositol or by exclusion of LiCl. Compared to inositol phosphate formation in 2-[ 3 H ]inositol-prelabeled slices, the CDP–DG responses were proportionately greater, while the agonist EC 50 values were similar between the two assays. The D 1-receptor antagonist SCH23390 inhibited SKF38393-mediated responses at 0.1–10 μM concentrations, whereas greater concentrations reversed the inhibition. SKF38393 effects were completely blocked by the DG kinase inhibitor R59022, thus precluding any role for phospholipase-D or de novo phosphatidate synthesis in the dopaminergic response. D609 which inhibits phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase-C (PLC), potently inhibited both CDP–DG accumulation and inositol phosphate formation. These findings demonstrate that the selective D 1-receptor antagonist SCH23390 is a partial agonist at the D 1-like dopamine receptor that couples to phosphoinositide signaling, that dopaminergic facilitation of phosphoinositide signaling is independent of de novo phosphatidate synthesis, and that the widely used enzyme inhibitor, D-609, is probably not selective for phosphatidylcholine-specific PLC in brain slice preparations. The greater sensitivity of the CDP–DG measurement presents this assay as a reliable and possibly superior index of dopamine receptor-coupled PLC activation in intact tissues.

Phosphatidylcholine-specific Phospholipase C Regulates Thapsigargin-induced Calcium Influx in Human Lymphocytes

The involvement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and D (PC-PLD) in the regulation of the thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ increase was investigated. Pretreatment of human lymphocytes with the PC-PLC inhibitors D609 or U73122 enhanced the thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ influx. By contrast, no effect was observed in the presence of phospholipase D inhibitor butanol. Addition of exogenous PC-PLC but not PC-PLD to lymphocytes prestimulated with thapsigargin led to a decrease of intracellular Ca2+. In addition, thapsigargin was shown to release diacylglycerol (DAG) from cellular phosphatidylcholine pools. The thapsigargin-induced DAG formation was inhibited by U73122 and D609 but not by butanol. Moreover, no formation of the PC-PLD activity marker phosphatidylbutanol was detected. Thapsigargin-induced DAG formation was dependent on the Ca2+ entry, as it was abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or in the presence of Ni2+. Further investigations demonstrated that the inhibition of the cellular DAG target, protein kinase C (PKC), enhanced thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ increase, whereas direct PKC activation had an inhibitory effect. Taken together, our results reveal the involvement of PC-PLC in the regulation of the thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ increase and point to the existence of a physiologic feedback mechanism activated by Ca2+ influx and acting via consecutive activation of PC-PLC and PKC to limit the rise of intracellular Ca2+.

Acidic Sphingomyelinase Mediates Entry of N. gonorrhoeae into Nonphagocytic Cells

Invasion of human mucosal cells by N. gonorrhoeae via the binding to heparansulfate proteoglycan receptors is considered a crucial event of the infection. Using different human epithelial cells and primary fibroblasts, we show here an activation of the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and acidic sphingomyelinase (ASM) by N. gonorrhoeae, resulting in the release of diacylglycerol and ceramide. Genetic and/or pharmacological blockade of ASM and PC-PLC cause inhibition of cellular invasion by N. gonorrhoeae. Complementation of ASM-deficient fibroblasts from Niemann-Pick disease patients restored N. gonorrhoeae–induced signaling and entry processes. The activation of PC-PLC and ASM, therefore, is an essential requirement for the entry of N. gonorrhoeae into distinct nonphagocytic human cell types including several epithelial cells and primary fibroblasts.