Cytosolic phospholipase A2-alpha mediates endothelial cell proliferation and is inactivated by association with the Golgi apparatus.

Arachidonic acid and its metabolites are implicated in regulating endothelial cell proliferation. Cytosolic phospholipase A2-alpha (cPLA2alpha) is responsible for receptor-mediated arachidonic acid evolution. We tested the hypothesis that cPLA2alpha activity is linked to endothelial cell proliferation. The specific cPLA2alpha inhibitor, pyrrolidine-1, inhibited umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Exogenous arachidonic acid addition reversed this inhibitory effect. Inhibition of sPLA2 did not affect HUVEC proliferation. The levels of cPLA2alpha did not differ between subconfluent and confluent cultures of cells. However, using fluorescence microscopy we observed a novel, confluence-dependent redistribution of cPLA2alpha to the distal Golgi apparatus in HUVECs. Association of cPLA2alpha with the Golgi was linked to the proliferative status of HUVECs. When associated with the Golgi apparatus, cPLA2alpha activity was seen to be 87% inhibited. Relocation of cPLA2alpha to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and cPLA2alpha enzyme activity were required for cell cycle entry upon mechanical wounding of confluent monolayers. Thus, cPLA2alpha activity and function in controlling endothelial cell proliferation is regulated by reversible association with the Golgi apparatus.