title: Lysophosphatidylcholine stimulates interleukin-6 release from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a B-cell differentiation-inducing cytokine that affects the secretion of several neuroendocrine hormones. Normal rat anterior pituitary (AP) cells synthesize and release IL-6, suggesting a paracrine role for the stimulation of AP hormone release by this cytokine. We have previously reported that IL-1 beta enhances IL-6 release and phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) in AP cells. Because lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) may function as a second messenger for IL-1 beta, we have investigated the effects of exogenous LPC on IL-6 release from AP cells in vitro. AP cells from male Long-Evans rats were dispersed and cultured for 5-6 days in 96-well (100,000 cells/well) culture plates. Cells were rinsed and incubated in the absence or presence of 1.25-40 microM LPC 18:0 (stearoyl) for 6 h, and IL-6 concentrations determined using the 7-TD1 cell bioassay. LPC 18:0 significantly (P < 0.01) stimulated IL-6 release up to 10-fold in a concentration-related manner. In contrast, LPC 18:0 did not affect PRL release. LPC species substituted with progressively shorter saturated 1-acyl chains (16:0-10:0) were less effective for IL-6 induction. Examination of structurally related glycerophospholipid species revealed the specificity of the LPC stimulation of IL-6 release. Thus, 1.25-40 microM lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE; 18:0) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA; 18:0) were without significant effect on AP IL-6 release, demonstrating the specific functional requirement for the phosphorylcholine headgroup. Hydrolysis of the structurally related choline-linked phospholipid sphingomyelin (SM) has been implicated in IL-1 beta action in certain cell types. Similarly, 1.25-20 microM lysosphingomyelin (sphingosylphosphorylcholine; SPC) also significantly (P < or = 0.01) stimulated IL-6 release from AP cells, although SPC exhibited discernibly lower potency and efficacy than LPC. An acyl analog of platelet-activation factor (PAF), i.e. 18:0-2:0 PC (1-stearoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine), differs from LPC by an acetyl group in the sn-2 position; PAF was at least as effective as LPC for the stimulation of IL-6 release from AP cells in vitro. Stimulation of IL-6 release by LPC 18:0 was completely suppressed by pharmacological inhibitors of protein kinase C such as H7 (20 microM) and chelerythrine (5 microM). In addition, H7 (20 microM) abolished the stimulation of IL-6 release by IL-1 beta (0.16-100 ng/mL). These findings demonstrate that LPC, acyl PAF, or SPC (but not other lysophospholipids) stimulate IL-6 release from AP cells in vitro. We conclude that LPC-mediated activation of protein kinase C is involved in the stimulatory actions of IL-1 beta in AP cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada Las Vegas 89154, USA. spangelb@nevada.edu
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Spangelo
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jarvis
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D010617:Phenanthridines; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; C005356:sphingosine phosphorylcholine; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D011388:Prolactin; C016299:chelerythrine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013110:Sphingosine