p110beta and p110delta phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases up-regulate Fc(epsilon)RI-activated Ca2+ influx by enhancing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production.

Fc(epsilon)RI-induced Ca2+ signaling in mast cells is initiated by activation of cytosolic tyrosine kinases. Here, in vitro phospholipase assays establish that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) lipid product, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate, further stimulates phospholipase Cgamma2 that has been activated by conformational changes associated with tyrosine phosphorylation or low pH. A microinjection approach is used to directly assess the consequences of inhibiting class IA PI 3-kinases on Ca2+ responses after Fc(epsilon)RI cross-linking in RBL-2H3 cells. Injection of antibodies to the p110beta or p110delta catalytic isoforms of PI 3-kinase, but not antibodies to p110alpha, lengthens the lag time to release of Ca2+ stores and blunts the sustained phase of the calcium response. Ca2+ responses are also inhibited in cells microinjected with recombinant inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase I, which degrades inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), or heparin, a competitive inhibitor of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor. This indicates a requirement for Ins(1,4,5)P3 to initiate and sustain Ca2+ responses even when PI 3-kinase is fully active. Antigen-induced cell ruffling, a calcium-independent event, is blocked by injection of p110beta and p110delta antibodies, but not by injection of 5-phosphatase I, heparin, or anti-p110alpha antibodies. These results suggest that the p110beta and p110delta isoforms of PI 3-kinase support Fc(epsilon)RI-induced calcium signaling by modulating Ins(1,4,5)P3 production, not by directly regulating the Ca2+ influx channel.