Peroxynitrite-mediated release of arachidonic acid from PC12 cells.

A short term exposure of PC12 cells to a concentration of tert-butylhydroperoxide (tB-OOH) causing peroxynitrite-dependent DNA damage and cytotoxiticity promoted a release of arachidonic acid (AA) that was sensitive to phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitors and insensitive to phospholipase C or diacylglycerol lipase inhibitors. The extent of AA release was also mitigated by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and peroxynitrite scavengers. Low levels (10 microM) of authentic peroxynitrite restored the release of AA mediated by tB-OOH in NOS-inhibited cells whereas concentrations of peroxynitrite of 20 microM, or higher, effectively stimulated a PLA(2) inhibitor-sensitive release of AA also in the absence of additional treatments. These results are consistent with the possibility that endogenous as well as exogenous peroxynitrite promotes activation of PLA(2).