UC San Diego

P388D(1) macrophages prelabeled with [(3)H]arachidonic acid (AA) respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by mobilizing AA in a process that takes several hours and is mediated by the concerted actions of the group IV cytosolic phospholipase A(2) and the group V secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)). Here we show that when the LPS-activated cells are prelabeled with [(3)H]oleic acid (OA), they also mobilize and release OA to the extracellular medium. The time and concentration dependence of the LPS effect on OA release fully resemble those of the AA release. Experiments in which both AA and OA release are measured simultaneously indicate that AA is released 3 times more efficiently than OA. Importantly, LPS-stimulated OA release is strongly inhibited by the selective sPLA(2) inhibitors 3-(3-acetamide-1-benzyl-2-ethylindolyl-5-oxy)propane sulfonic acid and carboxymethylcellulose-linked phosphatidylethanolamine. The addition of exogenous recombinant sPLA(2) to the cells also triggers OA release. These data implicate a functionally active sPLA(2) as being essential for the cells to release OA upon stimulation with LPS. OA release is also inhibited by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate but not by bromoenol lactone, indicating that the group IV cytosolic phospholipase A(2) is also involved in the process. Together, these data reveal that OA release occurs during stimulation of the P388D(1) macrophages by LPS and that the regulatory features of the OA release are strikingly similar to those previously found for the AA release.