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Purification and characterisation of a snake venom phospholipase A2: a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation.

An inhibitor of human platelet aggregation was identified from the venom of an Australian Copperhead snake, Austrelaps superba, as a novel phospholipase A2. The inhibitor was purified to homogeneity by chromatography on Q-Sepharose, S-Sepharose and C8 reverse phase HPLC. The purified phospholipase A2 has a molecular weight of 15 kDa as assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). N-terminal sequence analysis of the platelet inhibitor revealed 70-80% sequence identity to other previously described secretory phospholipase A2. Phospholipase activity of the purified protein was confirmed by the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyse lecithin. Pretreatment of the purified protein with the specific phospholipase A2 inhibitor p-bromophenacyl bromide, resulted in abrogation of both its enzyme and platelet inhibitory activity. The phospholipase A2 inhibited platelet aggregation and serotonin release, induced by a variety of platelet agonists, in a time and dose dependent manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of phospholipase A2 secretion from human platelets.

Human platelets secreted phospholipase A2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner when challenged with thrombin, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), or collagen. Enzyme release was maximal at concentrations of 0.1 units/ml of thrombin, 100 nM TPA, or 2 micrograms/ml of collagen; and complete by 2 min in platelets treated with thrombin or TPA. Cells challenged with collagen required up to 5 min for maximal secretion. Besides dose and time functions, phospholipase A2 secretion was also dependent on platelet concentration and the levels of bovine serum albumin in the incubation medium. The secreted enzyme was soluble and exhibited substrate and Ca2+ requirements similar to a detergent-solubilized, partially purified phospholipase A2 from whole platelets [Kramer et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1988) 959, 269-279]. The pH optimum of the secreted enzyme, however, was 1-2 units lower than the pH optimum of the phospholipase A2 from whole cells. Secreted phospholipase A2 hydrolyzed phosphatidylethanolamine at 5-12 times the rate of phosphatidylcholine when the substrates were present in pure form. These apparent differences in activity were greatly diminished, though, when 1:1 molar mixtures of the two substrates were employed. Because phospholipase A2 catalyzes a key reaction during the formation of bioactive arachidonate metabolites, the secretion of this enzyme from platelets may be important in the regulation of thrombosis.

Blood Platelets↗

Effect of hormones and antihormones on phospholipase A2 activity in human endometrial stromal cells.

Phospholipase A2 activity was studied in isolated human endometrial predecidual cells, and in human endometrium collected from day 19-23 of the menstrual cycle, by performing a radiochemical assay. Phospholipase A2 activity on day 20 was significantly higher than other days (P < 0.001), and the activity was found to gradually decrease after day 20 of the menstrual cycle. The effects of the hormones estradiol and progesterone, and antihormones tamoxifen and RU 486, were studied on the phospholipase A2 activity in isolated predecidual stromal cells. Estradiol produced a significant stimulatory effect (P < 0.001) on phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual cells, and this effect was antagonized by tamoxifen. The combination of estradiol and tamoxifen was significantly different from estradiol alone (P < 0.001), but not from tamoxifen alone. RU 486 alone significantly increased (P < 0.001) phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual stromal cells. However, progesterone had no effect on phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual stromal cells.

Analysis of Variance↗

Characterization of phospholipase A2 and acyltransferase activities in squid (Loligo pealei) axoplasm: comparison with enzyme activities in other neural tissues, axolemma and axoplasmic subfractions.

Phospholipase A2 and acyltransferase were assayed and characterized in pure axoplasm and neural tissues of squid. Intracellular phospholipase A2 activity was highest in giant fiber lobe and axoplasm, followed by homogenates from retinal fibers, optic lobe and fin nerve. In most preparations, exogenous calcium (5 mM) caused a slight stimulation of activity. EGTA (2 mM) was somewhat inhibitory, indicating that low levels of endogenous calcium may be required for optimum activity. Phospholipase A2 was inhibited by 0.1 mM p-bromophenacylbromide, and was completely inactivated following heating. The level of acylCoA: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was higher in axoplasm and giant fiber lobe than in other neural tissues of the squid. Km (apparent) and Vmax (apparent) for oleoyl-CoA and lysophosphatidylcholine were quite similar for axoplasm and giant fiber lobe enzyme preparations. Acyltransferase activity was inactivated by heat treatment, and greatly inhibited by 0.2 mM p-chloromercuribenzoate, and to a lesser extent by 20 mM N-ethylmaleimide. Phospholipase A2 activity was present in fractions enriched in axolemmal membranes (separated from squid retinal fibers and garfish olfactory nerve) from both tissues, and it was also highly concentrated in vesicles derived from squid axoplasm. In all three preparations, phospholipase A2 activity was stimulated by Ca++ (5 mM) and inhibited by EGTA (2 mM). In addition, axoplasmic cytosol (114,000 g supernatant) retained a substantial portion of a Ca(++)-independent phospholipase A2, active in the presence of 2 mM EGTA. Acyltransferase activity was present at high content in both axolemma membrane rich fractions, and among subaxoplasmic fractions and axoplasmic vesicles.

1-Acylglycerophosphocholine O-Acyltransferase↗

Effect of temperature on phospholipase C induced alterations in insulin binding.

Regulation of insulin-receptor affinity is at present poorly understood. In this study membrane structure was modified by exposing placental membranes to phospholipase C and the subsequent effect on insulin binding and dissociation was examined. As previously described, when insulin-receptor binding was performed at 4 degrees C, phospholipase C treated membranes showed an increase in the apparent number of insulin receptors. However, when binding was performed at 24 degrees C, the predominant effect of prior phospholipase C treatment was to increase the affinity of binding. At this temperature, phospholipase C pretreatment also increased membrane fluidity. Cytochalasin B, an agent which disrupts receptor aggregates, lowered average affinity at 24 degrees C. Phospholipase C treatment slowed the dissociation rate in 'infinite dilution' at 24 degrees C but the accelerating effect of 100 ng/ml insulin (negative cooperativity) was greatly enhanced. These studies suggest that in addition to its effect in unmasking receptor sites, increased membrane fluidity induced by phospholipase C may cause higher affinity binding by allowing greater receptor or receptor subunit aggregation. Receptor or subunit aggregation within a fluid membrane structure may determine in part the affinity of insulin-receptor binding and the kinetic phenomenon known as negative cooperativity.

Cytochalasin B↗

Prostaglandin F2 alpha synthesis in the hippocampal mossy fiber synaptosomal preparation: I. Dependence in arachidonic acid, phospholipase A2, calcium availability and membrane depolarization.

Isolated hippocampal mossy fiber synaptosomes were used to characterize control mechanisms of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) synthesis at a central mammalian synapse. Exogenous arachidonic acid stimulated the dose-dependent synthesis of PGF2 alpha, as did the addition of phospholipase A2 or the activation of endogenous phospholipase A2. Phospholipase A2 inhibitors attenuated prostaglandin synthesis, but phospholipase C inhibitors had no effect. However, a diglyceride kinase inhibitor reduced PGF2 alpha accumulation. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen eliminated PGF2 alpha production, while the lipoxygenase inhibitors baicalein and NDGA reduced PGF2 alpha accumulation. The CA(2+)-ionophore-dependent stimulation of PGF2 alpha synthesis was abolished by Cd2+ or Ni2+. Further more, PGF2 alpha production appeared to be dependent on Ca2+ influx via L-type, but not N- or T-type, voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Membrane depolarization with KC1, veratridine or 4-aminopyridine stimulated the synthesis of PGF2 alpha. This depolarization-dependent stimulation of PGF2 alpha synthesis was attenuated by L-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel blockers, phospholipase A2 inhibitors, a K+ channel activator and a Na+ channel blocker. The activation of protein kinase C also led to a reduction of PGF2 alpha accumulation in depolarized nerve endings. These results may be used to suggest that PGF2 alpha production by hippocampal mossy fiber synaptosomes was controlled by the Ca(2+)- and phospholipase A2-dependent accumulation of unesterified arachidonic acid and was modulated by membrane depolarization and the activity of protein kinase C.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Differential regulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis and phospholipase A2 activity by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in three osteoblast-like cell lines (MC-3T3-E1, ROS 17/2.8, and MG-63).

Both 1,25-(OH)2D3 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulate alkaline phosphatase activity in MC-3T3-E1 cells. Previous studies, demonstrating a correlation between 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent alkaline phosphatase and phospholipase A2 activities in matrix vesicles isolated from growth cartilage chondrocyte cultures, suggest that one mechanism of vitamin D action may be via autocrine or paracrine action of PGE2. Since most PGE2 is derived from arachidonic acid released by the action of phospholipase A2, we examined whether 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulates phospholipase A2 activity in three osteoblastic cell lines: ROS 17/2.8 cells, MC-3T3-E1 cells, and MG-63 cells. 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent alkaline phosphatase and phospholipase A2 activity were correlated with production of PGE2 and PGE1 in the MC-3T3-E1 cells. Alkaline phosphatase specific activity was enriched in the matrix vesicles produced by all three cell types and was stimulated by 1,25-(OH)2D3 at 10(-8) to 10(-7) M. Although phospholipase A2 specific activity was enriched in the matrix vesicles produced only by the ROS 17/2.8 cell cultures, stimulation of this enzyme activity was observed only in the MC-3T3-E1 cell cultures. The effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on phospholipase A2 were dose-dependent and were significant at 10(-8) to 10(-7) M. There was a significant increase in PGE2 production in the MC-3T3-E1 cell cultures only. Indomethacin reduced PGE2 production to base line values. Even at baseline, MC-3T3-E1 cells produced ten times more PGE2 than did the ROS 17/2.8 or MG-63 cell cultures. The effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on PGE1 were comparable to those on PGE2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Modulation of the in vitro activity of lysosomal phospholipase A1 by membrane lipids.

Lysosomal phospholipases play a critical role for degradation of cellular membranes after their lysosomal segregation. We investigated the regulation of lysosomal phospholipase A1 by cholesterol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and negatively-charged lipids in correlation with changes of biophysical properties of the membranes induced by these lipids. Lysosomal phospholipase A1 activity was determined towards phosphatidylcholine included in liposomes of variable composition using a whole-soluble lysosomal fraction of rat liver as enzymatic source. Phospholipase A1 activity was then related to membrane fluidity, lipid phase organization and membrane potential as determined by fluorescence depolarization of DPH, 31P NMR and capillary electrophoresis. Phospholipase A1 activity was markedly enhanced when the amount of negatively-charged lipids included in the vesicles was increased from 10 to around 30% of total phospholipids and the intensity of this effect depended on the nature of the acidic lipids used (ganglioside GM1<phosphatidylinositol approximately phosphatidylserine approximately phosphatidylglycerol approximately phosphatidylpropanol<phosphatidic acid). For liposomes containing phosphatidylinositol, this increase of activity was not modified by the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine and enhanced by cholesterol only when the phosphatidylinositol content was lower than 18%. Our results, therefore show that both the surface-negative charge and the nature of the acidic lipid included in bilayers modulate the activity of phospholipase A1 towards phosphatidylcholine, while the change in lipid hydration or in fluidity of membrane are less critical. These observations may have physiological implications with respect to the rate of degradation of cellular membranes after their lysosomal segregation.

Animals↗

Signalling through phospholipase C beta 4 is not essential for midbrain dopaminergic neuron survival.

The most prominent progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder, Parkinson's disease, is attributed to selective loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in severe deficiency of dopamine. The homeo-domain gene, Pit x 3, is essential for proper development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and might be involved in midbrain dopaminergic survival pathways. The mGluR1-signaling downstream-effector phospholipase C beta 4 was identified in a suppression subtractive hybridization screen comparing wild-type and Pit x 3-deficient Aphakia midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Expression pattern analysis revealed that phospholipase C beta 4 was expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta and part of the ventral tegmental area, whereas expression of mGluR1alpha was predominantly observed in the more vulnerable midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the lateral substantia nigra pars compacta. However, clear expression of phospholipase C beta 4 in spared midbrain dopaminergic neurons of Aphakia mice located in the ventral tegmental area, indicated that induction and maintenance of phospholipase C beta 4 expression is Pit x 3-independent in these neurons. Furthermore, we report here a normal distribution of midbrain dopaminergic cell bodies and axonal projection to the striatum in phospholipase C beta 4-/- mice, indicating that signaling of phospholipase C beta 4 is not essential for the survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.

Animals↗

Corticotropin-releasing factor induces phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma at tyrosine residues via its receptor 2beta in human epidermoid A-431 cells.

This laboratory previously reported that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) increased intracellular free calcium concentrations, cellular cAMP, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, protein kinase C activity, and protein phosphorylation in human A-431 cells. The increase was blocked by CRF receptor antagonist. In this study, we identified the type of CRF receptors present and investigated whether CRF induced tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma via CRF receptors. Using novel primers in reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we determined the CRF receptor type to be that of 2beta. The levels of the CRF receptor type 2beta were not altered in cells treated with activators of protein kinase C, Ca2+ ionophore, or cells overexpressing heat shock protein 70 kDa. Cells treated with CRF displayed increases in protein tyrosine phosphorylation approximately at 150 kDa as detected by immunoblotting using an antibody against phosphotyrosine. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against phospholipase C-beta3, -gamma1, or -gamma2 isoforms (which have molecular weights around 150 kDa) followed by Western blotting using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody showed that only phospholipase C-gamma1 and -gamma2 were phosphorylated. The increase in phospholipase C-gamma phosphorylation was concentration-dependent with an EC50 of 4.2+/-0.1 pM. The maximal phosphorylation by CRF at 1 nM occurred by 5 min. The CRF-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A, suggesting that CRF activates protein tyrosine kinases. Treatment of cells with CRF receptor antagonist, but not pertussis toxin, prior to treatment with CRF inhibited the CRF-induced phosphorylation, suggesting it is mediated by the CRF receptor type 2beta that is not coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins. Treatment with 1,2-bis(2iminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid attenuated the phospholipase C-gamma phosphorylation. In summary, CRF induces phospholipase C-gamma phosphorylation at tyrosine residues, which depends on Ca2+ and is mediated by activation of protein tyrosine kinases via the CRF receptor type 2beta.

Calcium↗

Antiphospholipid antibodies inhibit prostaglandin release by decidual cells of early pregnancy: possible involvement of extracellular secretory phospholipase A2.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antiphospholipid antibodies on eicosanoid production by human decidual cells and the in vitro interaction between antiphospholipid antibodies and secretory phospholipase A2. DESIGN: Cultures of human decidual cells from early pregnancy. SETTING: All decidual specimens were obtained from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Catholic University, Rome, Italy. PATIENT(S): Patients were undergoing operative laparoscopy for extrauterine pregnancy, with a period of amenorrhea ranging from 6 to 9 weeks. INTERVENTION(S): Decidual samples were collected at laparoscopy by routine uterine curettage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Decidual cells were incubated with antiphospholipid antibodies, and eicosanoids (prostaglandin [PG] E2, PGF2alpha, and thromboxane B2) were assayed by RIA after 24 hours of culture. In vitro interactions between antiphospholipid antibodies and secretory phospholipase A2 were investigated with use of a modified ELISA for phospholipase A2. RESULT(S): Antiphospholipid antibodies reduced eicosanoid release from decidual cells in a dose-dependent fashion. In vitro assays showed that antiphospholipid antibodies bound secretory phospholipase A2 and that a competition occurred between antiphospholipid antibodies and secretory phospholipase A2 for the common substrate cardiolipin. CONCLUSION(S): In light of the critical role played by eicosanoids in decidual function, we suggest that an interaction between antiphospholipid antibodies and secretory phospholipase A2 occurring in vivo might impair important cellular communications at the decidual level in the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

Kinetic characterization of phospholipase A2 modified by manoalogue.

Manoalogue, a synthetic analogue of the sea sponge-derived manoalide, has been previously shown to partially inactivate the phospholipase A2 from cobra venom (Reynolds, L. J., Morgan, B. P., Hite, E. D., Mihelich, E. D., & Dennis, E. A. (1988) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110, 5172) by reacting with enzyme lysine residues. In the present study, the inactivation of the phospholipases A2 from pig pancreas, bee venom, and cobra (Naja naja naja) venom by manoalogue was studied in detail. Manoalogue-treated enzymes were examined in the scooting mode on vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol. Here the native enzymes bound irreversibly to the vesicles and hydrolyzed all of the phospholipids in the outer monolayer without leaving the surface of the interface. All three manoalogue-treated enzymes showed reduced catalytic turnover for substrate hydrolysis in the scooting mode, and the modified enzymes did not hop from one vesicle to another. Thus, inactivation by manoalogue is not due to the decrease in the fraction of enzyme bound to the substrate interface. This result was also confirmed by fluorescence studies that directly monitored the binding of phospholipase A2 to vesicles. A chemically modified form of the pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 in which all of the lysine epsilon-amino groups have been amidinated was not inactivated by manoalogue, indicating that the modification of lysine residues and not the amino-terminus is required for the inactivation. Several studies indicated that the manoalogue-modified enzymes contain a functional active site. For example, studies that monitored the protection by ligands of the active site from attack by a alkylating agent showed that manoalogue-modified pig phospholipase A2 was capable of binding calcium, a substrate analogue, lipolysis products, and a competitive inhibitor. Furthermore, relative to native enzymes, manoalogue-modified enzymes retained significantly higher catalytic activities when acting on water-soluble substrates than when acting on vesicles in the scooting mode. Intact manoalogue had no affinity for the catalytic site on the enzyme as it did not inhibit the enzyme in the scooting mode and it did not protect the active site from alkylation. Pig pancreatic phospholipase A2 bound to micelles of 2-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was resistant to inactivation by manoalogue, suggesting that the modification of lysine residues on the interfacial recognition surface of the enzyme was required for inactivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Manoalide, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, inhibits arachidonate incorporation and turnover in brain phospholipids of the awake rat.

The Fatty Acid method was used to determine whether incorporation of plasma radiolabeled arachidonic acid into brain phospholipids is controlled by phospholipase A2. Awake rats received an i.v. injection of a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, manoalide (10 mg/kg), and then were infused i.v. with [1-(14)C]arachidonate or [3H]arachidonate. Animals were killed after infusion by microwave irradiation, and tracer distribution was analyzed in brain phospholipid, neutral lipid and acyl-CoA pools. Calcium-independent phospholipase A2 activity in brain homogenate was reduced by manoalide, whereas phospholipase C activity was unaffected. At 60 min but not at 20 or 40 min after its injection, manoalide had significantly decreased by 50% incorporation of unesterified arachidonate into and turnover within brain phospholipids, taking into account dilution of the brain arachidonoyl-CoA pool by recycled arachidonate. Manoalide also increased by 100% the net rate of unesterified arachidonate incorporation into brain triacylglycerol. This study indicates that manoalide can be used to inhibit brain phospholipase A2 in vivo, and that phospholipase A2 plays a critical role in arachidonate turnover in brain phospholipids and neutral lipids.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

A turn in the road: How studies on the pharmacology of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors led to the identification of a lysosomal phospholipase A2 with ceramide transacylase activity.

A series of inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthesis, the PDMP based family of compounds, has been developed as a tool for the study of sphingolipid biochemistry and biology. During the course of developing more active glucosylceramide synthase inhibitors, we identified a second site of inhibitory activity for PDMP and its structural homologues that accounted for the ability of the inhibitors to raise cell and tissue ceramide levels. This inhibitory activity was directed against a previously unknown pathway for ceramide metabolism, viz. the formation of 1- O -acylceramide. In this pathway the addition of a fatty acyl group to the primary hydroxyl of ceramide occurs through a transacylation with either phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine as a substrate. However, both in the absence and presence of ceramide, water serves as an acceptor for the fatty acid. Thus the enzyme may be considered to be a phospholipase A2. The enzyme is unique in that it has an acidic pH optimum and is localized to lysosomes by cell fractionation. More recently, the 1- O -acylceramide synthase has been purified, sequenced, and cloned. This phospholipase A2 was discovered to be structurally homologous to lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). However, this phospholipase A2 does not recognize cholesterol and lacks the defined lipoprotein-binding domain present in LCAT. We now refer to this enzyme as lysosomal phospholipase A2 (LPLA2). Although acidic phospholipase A2 activities have been previously identified, LPLA2 appears to be the first lysosomal PLA2 to have been sequenced. This new phospholipase A2 lacks an obvious and proven biological function.

Acylation↗

Evidence for the calcium-dependent activation of phospholipase D in thrombin-stimulated human erythroleukaemia cells.

Human erythroleukaemia (HEL) cells were exposed to thrombin and other platelet-activating stimuli, and changes in radiolabelled phospholipid metabolism were measured. Thrombin caused a transient fall in PtdInsP and PtdInsP2 levels, accompanied by a rise in diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid, indicative of a classical phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase pathway. However, the rise in phosphatidic acid preceded that of diacylglycerol, which is inconsistent with phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase being the sole source of phosphatidic acid. In the presence of ethanol, thrombin and other agonists (platelet-activating factor, adrenaline and ADP, as well as fetal-calf serum) stimulated the appearance of phosphatidylethanol, an indicator of phospholipase D activity. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also elicited phosphatidylethanol formation, although A23187 was at least 5-fold more effective than PMA. Phosphatidylethanol production stimulated by agonists or A23187 was Ca2(+)-dependent, whereas that with PMA was not. These result suggest that phosphatidic acid is generated in agonist-stimulated HEL cells by two routes: phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase and phospholipase D. Activation of the HEL-cell phospholipase D in response to agonists may be mediated by a rise in intracellular Ca2+.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Rat liver mitochondrial phospholipase A2 is an endotoxin-stimulated membrane-associated enzyme of Kupffer cells which is released during liver perfusion.

A novel fluorescence assay for phospholipase A2 [Wilton (1990) Biochem. J. 266, 435-439] has been used to study the Group-II rat liver mitochondrial enzyme, and a number of novel properties of this enzyme were identified. (1) The enzyme activity was located in the liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) while negligible activity was associated with hepatocytes. (2) Although subcellular fractionation of whole liver confirmed the predominantly mitochondrial location of this enzyme activity, the analysis of the hepatocyte-free Kupffer-cell-enriched fraction revealed a different enzyme distribution, with the majority of activity being associated with the microsomal membrane fraction. (3) Bacterial endotoxin has been previously shown to be scavenged by Kupffer cells in rats. Treatment of rats with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) resulted in a dramatic time- and dose-dependent increase in liver phospholipase A2 activity. (4) It is known that injection of endotoxin into rodents results in elevated serum phospholipase A2 activity, while a similar phenomenon is seen in the condition of septic shock in man. The source of this serum enzyme was unknown. In this study perfusion of livers from rats pretreated with lipopolysaccharide with physiological saline demonstrated a 6-fold increase in phospholipase A2 activity in the perfusate compared with sham-treated controls, with only minor release of hepatic lipase. (5) Western-blot analysis confirmed an increased release of this Group-II phospholipase A2 into the perfusate of lipopolysaccharide-treated rats compared with sham-treated controls. These results suggest that liver Kupffer cells are a major source of the endotoxin-induced serum Group-II phospholipase A2 activity associated with bacterial infection and trauma.

Animals↗

Diradylglycerols stimulate phospholipase A2 and subsequent exocytosis in ram spermatozoa. Evidence that the effect is not mediated via protein kinase C.

We tested the hypothesis that the role of diacylglycerol (DAG) in sperm acrosomal exocytosis is related to the activation of phospholipase A2, and that this effect is not mediated via protein kinase C. Treatment of [14C]arachidonic acid-labelled ram spermatozoa with Ca2+ and the ionophore A23187 stimulated both liberation of arachidonic acid and acrosomal exocytosis. No changes in [14C]DAG or [14C]monoacylglycerol were found after stimulation of spermatozoa, thus suggesting that arachidonic acid may be released exclusively via phospholipase A2. An increase in the endogenous levels of diradylglycerols (DRGs), resulting from exposure either to the DAG kinase inhibitor R 59022 or to exogenous 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol or 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, led to an increase in both phospholipase A2 activity and exocytosis when cells were stimulated with A23187 and Ca2+. Addition of DRGs that do not stimulate protein kinase C(1,3-dioctanoylglycerol, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycerol) also resulted in an increase in phospholipase A2 activity and exocytosis. On the other hand, phorbol esters (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate; phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) did not enhance enzyme activity or exocytosis. Finally, exposure to 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol, a compound known to inhibit protein kinase C, did not affect phospholipase A2 activity or acrosomal exocytosis. We therefore conclude that in spermatozoa the messenger role of DAG is related to the activation of phospholipase A2, which in turn would generate an array of metabolites directly or indirectly involved in bringing about exocytosis of the acrosome.

Acrosome↗

Effects of glycosaminoglycans and glycosphingolipids on cytosolic phospholipases A2 from bovine brain.

Two forms of Ca(2+)-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity (110 kDa and 39 kDa) were found in bovine brain. They were separated by Sephadex G-75 column chromatography. The 110 kDa phospholipase A2 was much more active with phosphatidylethanolamine and was not affected by glycosaminoglycans, whereas the 39 kDa phospholipase A2 was much more active with ethanolamine plasmalogen and was markedly inhibited by glycosaminoglycans. Heparan sulphate was the most potent inhibitor, followed by chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid and heparin. Gangliosides, especially the GM3 ganglioside, but not other glycosphingolipids, inhibited the activity of the 39 kDa phospholipase A2 in a dose-dependent manner. The heat-inactivation profiles of the 110 kDa and 39 kDa phospholipases A2 provide further evidence for the differences between these cytosolic enzymes. Interactions between glycosaminoglycans, gangliosides and phospholipases A2 may be involved in the maintenance of membrane function.

Animals↗