Arachidonic acid modulates the spatiotemporal characteristics of agonist-evoked Ca2+ waves in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

In pancreatic acinar cells analysis of the propagation speed of secretagogue-evoked Ca2+ waves can be used to examine coupling of hormone receptors to intracellular signal cascades that cause activation of protein kinase C or production of arachidonic acid (AA). In the present study we have investigated the role of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and AA in acetylcholine (ACh)- and bombesin-induced Ca2+ signaling. Inhibition of cPLA2 caused acceleration of ACh-induced Ca2+ waves, whereas bombesin-evoked Ca2+ waves were unaffected. When enzymatic metabolization of AA was prevented with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin or the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid, ACh-induced Ca2+ waves were slowed down. Agonist-induced activation of cPLA2 involves mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. An increase in phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) and p42/44(MAPK) within 10 s after stimulation could be demonstrated for ACh but was absent for bombesin. Rapid phosphorylation of p38(MAPK) and p42/44(MAPK) could also be observed in the presence of cholecystokinin (CCK), which also causes activation of cPLA2. ACh-and CCK-induced Ca2+ waves were slowed down when p38(MAPK) was inhibited with SB 203580, whereas inhibition of p42/44(MAPK) with PD 98059 caused acceleration of ACh- and CCK-induced Ca2+ waves. The spreading of bombesin-evoked Ca2+ waves was affected neither by PD 98059 nor by SB 203580. Our data indicate that in mouse pancreatic acinar cells both ACh and CCK receptors couple to the cPLA2 pathway. cPLA2 activation occurs within 1-2 s after hormone application and is promoted by p42/44(MAPK) and inhibited by p38(MAPK). Furthermore, the data demonstrate that secondary (Ca2+-induced) Ca2+ release, which supports Ca2+ wave spreading, is inhibited by AA itself and not by a metabolite of AA.