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Biomedical subjects

M Laposata

Publications and source records attributed to M Laposata.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The effect of endogenous essential and nonessential fatty acids on the uptake and subsequent agonist-induced release of arachidonate.

We have demonstrated that the uptake and agonist-induced release of a pulse of arachidonate are influenced by the size and composition of preexisting endogenous fatty acid pools. EFD-1 cells, an essential fatty acid-deficient mouse fibrosarcoma cell line, were incubated with radiolabeled (14C or 3H] arachidonate, linoleate, eicosapentaenoate (EPA), palmitate, or oleate in concentrations of 0-33 microM for 24 h. After 24 h, the cells were pulsed with 0.67 microM radiolabeled (3H or 14C, opposite first label) arachidonate for 15 min and then stimulated with 10 microM bradykinin for 4 min. Because EFD-1 cells contain no endogenous essential fatty acids, we were able to create essential fatty acid-repleted cells for which the specific activity of the newly constructed endogenous essential fatty acid pool was known. Loading the endogenous pool with the essential fatty acids arachidonate, eicosapentaenoate, or linoleate (15-20 nmol of fatty acid incorporated/10(6) cells) decreased the uptake of a pulse of arachidonate from 200 to 100 pmol/10(6) cells but had no effect on palmitate uptake. The percent of arachidonate incorporated during the pulse which was released upon agonist stimulation increased 2-fold (4-8%) as the endogenous pool of essential fatty acids was increased from 0 to 15-20 nmol/10(6) cells. This 8% release was at least 3-fold greater than the percent release from the various endogenous essential fatty acid pools. In contrast, loading the endogenous pool with the nonessential fatty acids oleate or palmitate to more than 2-3 times their preexisting cellular level had no effect on the uptake of an arachidonate pulse. Like the essential fatty acids, increasing endogenous oleate increased (by 2-fold) the percent release of arachidonate incorporated during the pulse, whereas endogenous palmitate had no effect on subsequent agonist-induced release from this arachidonate pool. These studies show that preexisting pools of essential and nonessential fatty acids exert different effects on the uptake and subsequent releasability of a pulse of arachidonate.

Animals↗

Glycoprotein Ib and glycoprotein IX in human platelets are acylated with palmitic acid through thioester linkages.

The glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex is a major component of the platelet membrane which mediates adhesion of platelets to exposed subendothelium. GP Ib is a heterodimer with a large alpha chain (Mr = 135,000-145,000) and small beta chain (Mr = 22,000-27,000) linked by a disulfide bond(s). GP Ib is bound in a noncovalent 1:1 complex with GP IX (Mr = 17,000-22,000). We labeled isolated human platelets with [3H] palmitate or surface-labeled platelet membrane glycoproteins with sodium periodate-[3H]sodium borohydride and immunoprecipitated the GP Ib-IX complex from radiolabeled platelet lysates using a mouse monoclonal antibody (SZ.1) which recognizes the intact complex. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography of immunoprecipitates from [3H]palmitate-labeled platelets revealed two radiolabeled bands under reducing conditions at 24 and 19 kDa and two bands under nonreducing conditions at 170 and 19 kDa. As demonstrated by the parallel analysis of immunoprecipitates from periodate-[3H]sodium borohydride-labeled platelets, the [3H]palmitate-labeled bands obtained under reducing conditions corresponded to GP Ib beta and GP IX and the ones obtained under nonreducing conditions to intact GP Ib and GP IX, respectively. Using alkaline methanolysis followed by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis of the methanolysis products, we demonstrated that the radioactivity associated with the GP Ib-IX complex from [3H]palmitate-labeled platelets was, in fact, covalently bound [3H]palmitate in ester linkage to protein. The protein-fatty acid linkage was also disrupted by hydroxylamine at neutral pH. Thus, this study demonstrates that GP Ib beta and GP IX in human platelets are both fatty acid-acylated with palmitate through thioester linkages.

Acylation↗

Evaluation of the clinical utility of platelet aggregation studies.

To determine the diagnostic importance of platelet aggregation studies, we evaluated the clinical utility of these assays by a retrospective review of 188 adult patients initially studied for bleeding abnormalities with platelet aggregation tests at a tertiary care hospital from 1984 to 1987. The primary indications for requesting the tests in our patient population were for the evaluation of a positive bleeding history or abnormal bleeding time (68%), hypercoagulability (17%), thrombocytosis (9%), or a family history of a bleeding disorder (6%). There was a statistically higher incidence of platelet aggregation test abnormalities in patients with highly abnormal bleeding times (40%), in patients with thrombocytosis from myeloproliferative disorders (65%), and in patients with a family history of a bleeding disorder (58%), compared to the other groups studied (16-29%). Of the 64 platelet aggregation tests performed that were abnormal, the following abnormalities were identified: 19 aspirin-like defects (poor response to arachidonate and decreased second wave responses to weak agonists), which were presumably drug-induced, ten myeloproliferative-type disorder defects (abnormal response to epinephrine predominantly) in patients known to have myeloproliferative disease, 34 abnormal patterns not characterized as aspirin or myeloproliferative disorder related, four of which ultimately led to a diagnosis of storage pool disease, and one spontaneous aggregation defect. Our results suggest that platelet aggregation tests rarely lead to the diagnosis of a specific, previously undiagnosed platelet function disorder. Specific recommendations are given for efficient utilization of platelet aggregation tests.

Bleeding Time↗

Suppression of human synovial cell proliferation by dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and oils enriched in its precursor fatty acids suppress inflammation and joint tissue injury in several animal models. Since synovial cell proliferation is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis, we studied the effect of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), an immediate precursor of PGE1, on the growth of human adherent synovial cells (ASC) in tissue culture. When stimulated by appropriate concentrations of recombinant interleukin-1 beta (rIL-1 beta), ASC proliferate and produce PGE. DGLA-enriched medium suppressed both baseline and rIL-1 beta-stimulated ASC growth fivefold, compared with medium supplemented with arachidonic acid. Indomethacin reduced the effect of the DGLA. Synovial cells incorporated the DGLA, and rIL-1 beta-stimulated cells that were incubated with DGLA exhibited a 14-fold increase in PGE1 (to 25.2 +/- 6.0 ng/ml, mean +/- SD) and a 70% decrease in PGE2 (to 25.2 +/- 4.2 ng/ml) compared with cells in control medium. At equivalent concentrations (5 x 10(-7) M), PGE1 increased the level of cellular cAMP to a greater extent than did PGE2 (16.8 +/- 2.0 pmoles versus 4.3 +/- 1.9 pmoles, mean +/- SEM). Exogenous PGE1 was also a more effective inhibitor of cell growth. Similarly, cAMP concentrations in cells exposed to DGLA for 6 hours were greater than concentrations in arachidonic acid-enriched cultures (17.8 +/- 3.3 pmoles versus 2.1 +/- 2.0 pmoles). These observations suggest that DGLA can restrain ASC growth, an effect which may be due to its capacity to increase PGE1 production and subsequent cellular cAMP concentration.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Triacsin C: a differential inhibitor of arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase and nonspecific long chain acyl-CoA synthetase.

Triacsins A, B, C, and D are newly discovered compounds isolated from the culture filtrate of streptomyces which are known to inhibit nonspecific long chain acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3.). These inhibitors have not been previously studied with regard to their effects on arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase, an enzyme which specifically utilizes arachidonate and other icosanoid precursor fatty acids. To explore this question, we used triacsin C, a potent inhibitor of the nonspecific acyl-CoA synthetase. Triacsin C was found to inhibit the action of arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase and the nonspecific enzyme in sonicates of HSDM1C1 mouse fibrosarcoma cells. Importantly, however, the triacsin concentration and length of pre-incubation with the enzymes could be adjusted to almost completely inhibit (greater than 80%) the nonspecific long chain acyl CoA-synthetase, with less than 20% inhibition of arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase. Using intact cultured cells exposed to 1 ug/ml triacsin for up to 15 minutes, we unexpectedly observed preferential inhibition of arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase activity. In intact cell studies, arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase was inhibited greater than 90%, with 55-60% inhibition of the nonspecific acyl-CoA synthetase. As additional evidence of its inhibition of acyl-CoA synthetase enzymes in intact cells, triacsin C inhibited both fatty acid uptake into cells and icosanoid production, metabolic processes which in certain cell types appear to be dependent on acyl-CoA synthetase activity. Thus, triacsin C is a novel inhibitor which can alter the fatty metabolism of intact cells. This compound can be of significant value in determining the specific cellular functions of the two acyl-CoA synthetase enzymes.

Animals↗

Suppression of acute and chronic inflammation by dietary gamma linolenic acid.

We examined the effect of diets enriched in gamma linolenic acid (GLA) on acute inflammation induced by monosodium urate crystals, and on subacute and chronic inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant in the rat subcutaneous air pouch and in rats with adjuvant induced arthritis. Diets were enriched (15% fat) with borage seed oil (23% GLA) or safflower oil (less than 1% GLA). Diets enriched with GLA suppressed inflammation markedly in all models, whereas the safflower oil diet did not influence the inflammatory response. The degree of inflammation was quantified by measuring pouch exudate cell concentration, lysosomal enzyme activity, volume, protein concentration and prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 concentrations. In the chronic air pouch model, the pouch lining was thickened, invaded by mononuclear cells and exhibited proliferation of lining cells 14 days after adjuvant injection. The lesion was far less severe and usual pouch lining architecture was maintained in animals given dietary GLA. Livers of rats fed borage seed oil were enriched in GLA and dihomo gamma linolenic acid (DGLA), and the DGLA/arachidonate ratio was increased 5-fold compared with animals fed safflower oil. Enrichment of diet with plant seed oils rich in GLA may provide a way to alter generation of prostaglandins and leukotrienes and to influence acute and chronic inflammatory responses.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Covalent modification of platelet proteins by palmitate.

Covalent attachment of fatty acid to proteins plays an important role in association of certain proteins with hydrophobic membrane structures. In platelets, the structure of many membrane glycoproteins (GPs) has been examined in detail, but the question of fatty acid acylation of platelet proteins has not been addressed. In this study, we wished to determine (a) whether platelet proteins could be fatty acid acylated; and, if so, (b) whether these modified proteins were present in isolated platelet membranes and cytoskeletal fractions; and (c) if the pattern of fatty acid acylated proteins changed on stimulation of the platelets with the agonist thrombin. We observed that in platelets allowed to incorporate 3H-palmitate, a small percentage (1.37%) of radioactivity incorporated into the cells became covalently bound to protein. Selective cleavage of thioester, thioester plus O-ester, and amide-linked 3H-fatty acids from proteins, and their subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that the greatest part of 3H-fatty acid covalently bound to protein was thioester-linked 3H-palmitate. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography, at least ten major radiolabeled proteins were detected. Activation of platelets by thrombin greatly increased the quantity of 3H-palmitoylated proteins associated with the cytoskeleton. Nearly all radiolabeled proteins were recovered in the membrane fraction, indicating that these proteins are either integral or peripheral membrane proteins or proteins tightly associated to membrane constituents. Components of the GPIIb-IIIa complex were not palmitoylated. Thus, platelet proteins are significantly modified posttranslationally by 3H-palmitate, and incorporation of palmitoylated proteins into the cytoskeleton is a prominent component of the platelet response to thrombin stimulation.

Acylation↗

Mass quantitation of agonist-induced arachidonate release and icosanoid production in a fibrosarcoma cell line. Effect of time of agonist stimulation, amount of cellular arachidonate, and type of agonist.

The mass of total arachidonate released from phospholipids upon agonist stimulation of the cell and the fraction of released arachidonate which is converted to icosanoids are two parameters of arachidonate metabolism which have been difficult to quantitate because the mass of arachidonate released upon cell stimulation is very low. We have been able to quantitate both of these parameters under a variety of experimental conditions using a unique essential fatty acid-deficient mouse fibrosarcoma cell line (EFD-1), which when repleted with arachidonate, produces prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Because there is no endogenous pool of arachidonate in these cells, the specific activity of exogenous arachidonate does not change upon incorporation into cells, an advantage which permits mass determination of very small quantities of arachidonate directly from radioactive counts. EFD-1 cells were incubated with various concentrations of [14C]arachidonate (for release studies) or unlabeled arachidonate (for PGE2 radioimmunoassays) for 24 h and then stimulated with bradykinin. The time courses for arachidonate release and PGE2 production demonstrated that free arachidonate was rapidly converted to PGE2 with plateau levels attained for both parameters within 240 s of agonist exposure for 2 microM and for 10 microM arachidonate-repleted cultures. There was a linear relationship (r = 0.94) between the mass of arachidonate in the cell and the mass of arachidonate released upon stimulation, up to a cellular concentration of 11 nmol of arachidonate/10(6) cells, a concentration 10-20% above normal for the parent mouse fibrosarcoma cell line (HSDM1C1) which is not essential fatty acid-deficient. Importantly, the percent of released arachidonate which was converted to PGE2 decreased from 90 to 15% with increasing concentrations of cellular arachidonate, because PGE2 production plateaued at greater than or equal to 6 nmol of arachidonate/10(6) cells, but total arachidonate release continued to rise. Finally, we demonstrated that agonist stimulation with thrombin, A23187, and bradykinin all showed the same percent conversion of released arachidonate to PGE2, implying that the determination of this fraction is not a function of the mechanism of release. These studies with our unique cell line indicate that, when the concentration of arachidonate in the cell is not elevated above amounts normally found in our HSDM1C1 cell line, released arachidonate is rapidly and almost quantitatively converted to PGE2, independent of the agonist used to stimulate the cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Arachidonate released upon agonist stimulation preferentially originates from arachidonate most recently incorporated into nuclear membrane phospholipids.

When icosanoid-producing cells are stimulated by an agonist, 2-10% of total cellular arachidonate is released from phospholipids, and a variable percentage of the released arachidonate is subsequently converted into icosanoids. We used a mouse fibrosarcoma cell line (HSDM1C1) which synthesizes prostaglandin E2 in response to bradykinin stimulation to address the following questions: 1) upon cell stimulation is newly incorporated arachidonate preferentially released from phospholipids over previously incorporated arachidonate and 2) is there a corresponding change in phospholipid or membrane compartmentation of arachidonate to explain preferential release of newly incorporated arachidonate? To study changes in the availability of arachidonate for release from phospholipids, we incubated HSDM1C1 cells with 0.67 microM [14C]arachidonate for 15 min and chased the pulse of radiolabeled arachidonate with normal serum fatty acids. We found that of the [14C]arachidonate incorporated into phospholipids during the 15-min pulse, the percent released upon stimulation decreased nearly 3-fold from 8.9 +/- 0.5% at 5 min of chase to 3.6 +/- 0.2% (mean +/- S.E., n = 6, P less than 0.001) after only 60 min of chase. Percent release of arachidonate from nonpulsed controls was 3-4%. Although arachidonate release from phospholipids decreased significantly after 60 min of chase, the arachidonate which was released always originated predominantly from phosphatidylinositol. There was no decrease in the activities of enzymes required for arachidonate release during this time period. We also observed that throughout the period of the chase, the radiolabeled arachidonate remained esterified to the same phospholipid class into which it was initially incorporated (approximately 40% of [14C]arachidonate in diacyl phosphatidylcholine, 40% in phosphatidylinositol, and 15% in diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine. In cell fractionation experiments, we found that after 1-3 h of chase, [14C]arachidonate decreased in subcellular fractions containing nuclei, as it became progressively unavailable for release from phospholipids. Thus, our results indicate that 1) upon cell stimulation, the most recently incorporated pool of arachidonate, which is in high concentration in the nuclear membrane, is preferentially released and that 2) arachidonate rapidly moves out of the nuclear membrane into a less releasable pool while remaining esterified to the phospholipid moiety into which it was initially incorporated. This study indicates that the subcellular compartmentation of arachidonate has a marked influence on the cellular metabolism of arachidonate.

Animals↗

Icosanoid production can be decreased without alterations in cellular arachidonate content or enzyme activities required for arachidonate release and icosanoid synthesis.

We have demonstrated that icosanoid production can be inhibited by altering the distribution of arachidonate within the cell, so that it is not released from phospholipids for icosanoid synthesis. This effect was observed in a prostaglandin E2-producing cell line (HSDM1C1) by deprivation of exogenous arachidonate for 24-48 h. Icosanoid production by the cells upon bradykinin stimulation was impaired despite no change in the concentration of arachidonate within the cell and no change in the activity of cyclooxygenase, phospholipases, acyltransferases, or fatty acyl-CoA hydrolase. Associated with the decline in prostaglandin E2 production was an increase in arachidonate incorporation into ethanolamine plasmalogens and a decrease in the activity of the enzyme arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase, which may play a role in compartmentation of arachidonate within the cell. Thus, we have found that a decrease in icosanoid production can be achieved without pharmacologic intervention by a short-term restriction of exogenous arachidonate which leads to redistribution of arachidonate within phospholipids and/or subcellular membranes in the cell.

Acyltransferases↗

Suppression of monosodium urate crystal-induced acute inflammation by diets enriched with gamma-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.

A subcutaneous air pouch formed in Sprague-Dawley rats was used to study the effect of diets enriched in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (in plant seed oil) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (in fish oil) on acute inflammation induced by monosodium urate crystals. The GLA-enriched diet suppressed significantly the cellular phase of inflammation (polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation, crystal phagocytosis, and lysosomal enzyme activity), but it had little effect on the fluid phase (exudate volume and protein concentration). In contrast, the EPA-enriched diet suppressed the fluid phase but not the cellular phase of inflammation. The findings indicate that the fluid and cellular phases of acute inflammation can be controlled independently. A combined diet of fish oil and plant seed oil (EPA-enriched and GLA-enriched) reduced both the cellular and fluid phases of inflammation. Thus, dietary provision of alternative substrates for oxidative metabolism (other than arachidonic acid) modifies monosodium urate crystal-induced acute inflammation.

Animals↗

A rapid assay for platelet thromboxane production and its use in assessing prior aspirin ingestion.

In the laboratory evaluation of platelet disorders, there are a number of situations in which determining the capacity of platelets to synthesize thromboxane is of diagnostic value. An assay for thromboxane production is required for the diagnosis of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase defects and is useful in detecting prior aspirin ingestion. The authors describe an assay for platelet thromboxane production that is simple, rapid, inexpensive, and suitable for routine use in the clinical coagulation laboratory. It is based on platelet synthesis of 14C-thromboxane from 14C-arachidonate. 14C-thromboxane is isolated by thin-layer chromatography and its radioactivity quantitated by scintillation counting. The results are expressed as the thromboxane index: 14C-arachidonate converted to thromboxane/platelet count. The assay is linear with respect to platelet concentration and substrate concentration and is independent of recovery. Using this assay, the authors demonstrated that platelet thromboxane production, expressed as thromboxane index (mean +/- standard deviation) was completely inhibited 12-16 hours after ingestion of a single aspirin dose of 650 mg (0.27 +/- 0.14), 325 mg (0.29 +/- 0.18), or 163 mg (0.13 +/- 0.13), with partial inhibition by 81 mg (0.41 +/- 0.46) or 41 mg (1.41 +/- 0.75) (n = 3 for each dose). Thromboxane index for normal controls was 2.41 +/- 0.77 (n = 25). The authors also determined the time for recovery of thromboxane synthetic capacity to normal levels in four subjects followed longitudinally after ingesting a single 650-mg dose of aspirin. Platelets from three of the four subjects recovered normal thromboxane synthetic capacity by the fifth day after aspirin ingestion, consistent with platelet half-life in the circulation. Thus, the authors have developed a rapid, inexpensive assay for assessing the function of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase in platelets, which can be especially useful as a screening test to detect ingestion of aspirin before performance of expensive and labor-intensive platelet function studies.

Aspirin↗

Reversible phenotypic modulation induced by deprivation of exogenous essential fatty acids.

Essential fatty acid deficiency, produced by deprivation of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, is a condition characterized by renal disease, dermatitis, and infertility. Although many of the biochemical aspects of this disorder have been investigated, little is known about the ultrastructural changes induced by essential fatty acid deficiency. Using a unique fatty acid-deficient cell line (EFD-1), which demonstrates the in vivo fatty acid changes of essential fatty acid deficiency, and the prostaglandin E2-producing mouse fibrosarcoma line from which it was derived (HSDM1C1), we correlated ultrastructural and biochemical changes induced by prolonged deprivation of all exogenous lipids and subsequent repletion of selected essential fatty acids. We found that in cells deprived of all exogenous lipids, there was dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and an associated defect in protein secretion; these changes were specifically reversed by arachidonate. There was also an accumulation of secondary lysosomes containing degraded membranes in these cells with an associated increase in phospholipids relative to parent HSDM1C1 cells. Cytoplasmic lipid bodies present in parent cells disappeared, with an associated decrease in triacylglycerol. After just 2 days in lipid-free medium, all these changes were apparent, and prostaglandin E2 production was markedly impaired despite normal amounts of cellular arachidonate. Incubation of EFD-1 cells with arachidonate, the major prostaglandin precursor fatty acid, induced a reversion to the HSDM1C1 phenotype, whereas other fatty acids were totally ineffective. These results indicate changes in fatty acid metabolism in essential fatty acid deficiency are associated with marked alterations in ultrastructure and secretion of protein from cells.

Animals↗

Expression of rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein in Escherichia coli. Purification and comparison of ligand binding characteristics with that of Escherichia coli-derived rat liver fatty acid-binding protein.

Rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) is an abundant, 15,124-Da polypeptide found in the cytosol of small intestinal epithelial cells (enterocytes). It is homologous to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), a 14,273-Da cytosolic protein which is found in enterocytes as well as hepatocytes. It is unclear why the small intestinal epithelium contains two abundant fatty acid-binding proteins. A systematic comparative analysis of the ligand binding characteristics of the two FABPs has not been reported. To undertake such a study we expressed the coding region of a full length I-FABP cDNA in Escherichia coli and purified large quantities of the protein. We also purified rat L-FABP from a similar, previously described expression system (Lowe, J. B., Strauss, A. W., and Gordon, J. I. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12696-12704). Analysis of fatty acids associated with each of the homogeneous E. coli-derived FABPs suggested that the two proteins differed in their ligand binding specificity and capacity. All of the fatty acids associated with I-FABP were saturated while 30% of the E. coli fatty acids bound to L-FABP were unsaturated (16:1, 18:1, 18:2). We directly analyzed the ability of I- and L-FABP to bind fatty acids of different chain length and degree of saturation using a hydroxyalkoxypropyl dextran-based assay. Scatchard analysis revealed that each mole of L-FABP can bind up to 2 mol of long chain fatty acid while each mole of I-FABP can bind only 1 mole of fatty acid. L-FABP exhibited a relatively higher affinity for unsaturated fatty acids (oleate, arachidonate) than for saturated fatty acid (palmitate). By contrast, we were not able to detect a significant difference in the affinity of I-FABP for palmitate, oleate, and arachidonate. Neither protein exhibited any appreciable affinity for fatty acids whose chain length was less than C16. The observed differences in ligand affinities and capacities suggest that these proteins may have distinct roles in metabolism and/or compartmentalization of fatty acids within enterocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Diacylglycerol causes Ca release from the platelet dense tubular system: comparisons with Ca release caused by inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate.

Platelet activation is often associated with an increase in the cytosolic free Ca concentration that is due in part to Ca release from the dense tubular system. The present studies examine whether the diacylglycerol formed by phosphoinositide hydrolysis during platelet activation contributes to this process. The effect of diacylglycerol on the dense tubular system was tested using platelets that were permeabilized with saponin and then allowed to accumulate 45Ca. A synthetic diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl glycerol (OAG), released up to 70% of the ionophore A23187-releasable 45Ca, a fraction identical to that discharged by inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) under the same conditions. 45Ca release was half-maximal at 40 microM OAG and 1 microM IP3. The response to OAG was not inhibited by aspirin and could not be reproduced by the addition of a phorbol ester, which suggests that it involves neither arachidonic acid metabolism nor protein kinase C activation. The time course of OAG-induced 45Ca release, which was slower than IP3-induced 45Ca release, corresponded to the time course of conversion of the OAG to 1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl phosphatidic acid (OAG-PA). When either OAG-PA or lysophosphatidic acid was added to the saponin-treated platelets, the extent of 45Ca release was similar to that observed with OAG, but both the OAG-PA and the lysophosphatidic acid were 5 to 10 times more potent than OAG on a molar basis. These data suggest: that the Ca release caused by diacylglycerol is actually due to formation of phosphatidic acid and/or lysophosphatidic acid, that these molecules are not acting as simple Ca ionophores and that diacylglycerol metabolites may augment the changes in Ca homeostasis caused by IP3 during platelet activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗