Dual pathways for agonist-stimulated arachidonic acid release in pancreatic acini: roles in secretion

Regulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels by lipids

Great skepticism has surrounded the question of whether modulation of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCCs) by the polyunsaturated free fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) has any physiological basis. Here we synthesize findings from studies of both native and recombinant channels where micromolar concentrations of AA consistently inhibit both native and recombinant activity by stabilizing VGCCs in one or more closed states. Structural requirements for these inhibitory actions include a chain length of at least 18 carbons and multiple double bonds located near the fatty acid's carboxy terminus. Acting at a second site, AA increases the rate of VGCC activation kinetics, and in Ca(V)2.2 channels, increases current amplitude. We present evidence that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)), a palmitoylated accessory subunit (beta(2a)) of VGCCs and AA appear to have overlapping sites of action giving rise to complex channel behavior. Their actions converge in a physiologically relevant manner during muscarinic modulation of VGCCs. We speculate that M(1) muscarinic receptors may stimulate multiple lipases to break down the PIP(2) associated with VGCCs and leave PIP(2)'s freed fatty acid tails bound to the channels to confer modulation. This unexpectedly simple scheme gives rise to unanticipated predictions and redirects thinking about lipid regulation of VGCCs.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide inhibits Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from permeabilized pancreatic acini by blocking the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis

At present little is known about how the low-affinity cholecystokinin receptor inhibits secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acinar cells. To examine this question we have determined how cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) influences Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized pancreatic acini. CCK8 significantly inhibited Ca2+-stimulated amylase secretion. The inhibitory actions of CCK8 were completely blocked by the addition of JMV-180, a specific antagonist for the low-affinity CCK8 receptor. Previous studies have shown that Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from alpha-toxin-permeabilized acini has two distinct phases [Padfield and Panesar (1997) Am. J. Physiol. 36, G655-660]. There is an initial rapid phase of secretion which represents release from exocytotic sites primed by MgATP prior to permeabilization. This is followed by a slower sustained phase of secretion which, in part, reflects the MgATP-dependent repriming of the exocytotic machinery. CCK8 did not influence the initial rapid phase of the Ca2+-dependent secretory response, but inhibited the second slower sustained phase. Moreover, CCK8 was shown to inhibit the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis in the acini. These results indicate that the low-affinity CCK receptor blocks stimulated amylase secretion by inhibiting the MgATP-dependent repriming of exocytosis.

Dual pathways for carbamylcholine-stimulated arachidonic acid release in rat pancreatic acini

Recent studies suggested the involvement of arachidonic acid in the mediation of pancreatic amylase release. However, an effect of carbamylcholine on arachidonic acid release has not yet been reported in the exocrine pancreas. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of carbamylcholine on arachidonic acid release and determine the underlying intracellular mechanisms. From enzymatic assays, phospholipase A(2) and diacylglycerol lipase were activated by carbamylcholine and these activations were inhibited by the phospholipase A(2) inhibitors, mepacrine and aristolochic acid, and by the diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor RHC 80267. Carbamylcholine also increased arachidonic acid release in a concentration-dependent manner. Both phospholipase A(2) and diacylglycerol inhibitors partially inhibited carbamylcholine-stimulated arachidonic acid release. The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 and the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine also caused partial inhibition. Arachidonic acid release by carbamylcholine was suppressed by the simultaneous addition of RHC 80267 with either phospholipase A(2) inhibitors. Our data demonstrate that phospholipase A(2) and diacylglycerol lipase are activated and arachidonic acid is released in pancreatic acini by carbamylcholine. Dual pathways are responsible for carbamylcholine-induced arachidonic acid release. One such pathway involves the sequential action of phospholipase C, protein kinase C and diacylglycerol lipase, whereas the other involves phospholipase A(2) activation.

Requirement for diacylglycerol and protein kinase C in HeLa cell-substratum adhesion and their feedback amplification of arachidonic acid production for optimum cell spreading

Release of arachidonic acid (AA) and subsequent formation of a lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolite(s) is an obligatory signal to induce spreading of HeLa cells on a gelatin substratum (Chun and Jacobson, 1992). This study characterizes signaling pathways that follow the LOX metabolite(s) formation. Levels of diacylglycerol (DG) increase upon attachment and before cell spreading on a gelatin substratum. DG production and cell spreading are insignificant when phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or LOX is blocked. In contrast, when cells in suspension where PLA2 activity is not stimulated are treated with exogenous AA, DG production is turned on, and inhibition of LOX turns it off. This indicates that the formation of a LOX metabolite(s) from AA released during cell attachment induces the production of DG. Consistent with the DG production is the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) which, as with AA and DG, occurs upon attachment and before cell spreading. Inhibition of AA release and subsequent DG production blocks both PKC activation and cell spreading. Cell spreading is also blocked by the inhibition of PKC with calphostin C or sphingosine. The inhibition of cell spreading induced by blocking AA release is reversed by the direct activation of PKC with phorbol ester. However, the inhibition of cell spreading induced by PKC inhibition is not reversed by exogenously applied AA. In addition, inhibition of PKC does not block AA release and DG production. The data indicate that there is a sequence of events triggered by HeLa cell attachment to a gelatin substratum that leads to the initiation of cell spreading: AA release, a LOX metabolite(s) formation, DG production, and PKC activation. The data also provide evidence indicating that HeLa cell spreading is a cyclic feedback amplification process centered on the production of AA, which is the first messenger produced in the sequence of messengers initiating cell spreading. Both DG and PKC activity that are increased during HeLa cell attachment to a gelatin substratum appear to be involved. DG not only activates PKC, which is essential for cell spreading, but is also hydrolyzed to AA. PKC, which is initially activated as consequence of AA production, also increases more AA production by activating PLA2.

Activation of protein kinase C is not an absolute requirement for amylase release from permeabilized rat pancreatic acini

The effect of protein kinase C (PKC) on amylase discharge from streptolysin-O-permeabilized rat pancreatic acini was investigated. Addition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to permeabilized cells potentiated Ca(2+)-stimulated release, but had no effect on discharge at non-stimulatory Ca2+ concentrations. PMA markedly shifted the Ca(2+)-concentration-dependence of amylase discharge to the left, by enhancing the time over which the permeabilized cells release. This effect was inhibited by both staurosporine and PKC-19-31-amide peptide inhibitor, indicating that the effect of PMA was due to its action on PKC. Staurosporine also partially inhibited amylase release at the optimal concentration of Ca2+; this effect was not replicated by the more specific PKC-19-31-amide peptide inhibitor and may be due to an effect on another second-messenger system. PKC appears to be an important modulator of release in pancreatic acini, but its activation is not an absolute requirement for Ca(2+)-dependent amylase discharge.