Tumor promoting phorbol diesters stimulate release of radioactivity from [3H]-arachidonic acid labeled- but not [14C]linoleic acid labeled-cells. Indomethacin inhibits the stimulated release from [3H] arachidonate labeled cells.

The tumor promoting phorbol diester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, stimulates MDCK cells to deacylate cellular phospholipids and to produce prostaglandins when measured as the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites into the culture fluid. Indomethacin, at levels of 2.8 x 10(-8) to 2.8 x 10(-6) M, inhibits the release of radioactivity from [3H]arachidonate labeled cells stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate treatment in a concentration dependent manner. At these concentrations, the conversion of released [3H]arachidonic acid into prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha and the production of PGE2 measured serologically also is suppressed in a concentration dependent manner. Indomethacin, at these levels, has no effect on the acylation of [3H]arachidonic acid into cellular lipids. The tumor promoting phorbol diester does not stimulate the release of radioactive materials from MDCK cells labeled with [14C]linoleic acid, although prostaglandin production by these cells is stimulated.