Synthesis of prostaglandins in cholera toxin-treated Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The prostaglandin (PG) and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) responses of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were measured after cholera toxin (CT) exposure to evaluate dose and kinetic relationships. Release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and the accumulation of cAMP were dependent on the dose of CT, with an effective dose of approximately 10-100 ng/ml within 4 h; the PGE2 response was about four- to six-fold more than that of PGE1. CHO cells exposed to CT also released increased amounts of thromboxane B2 (TxB2), PGF2 gamma, and 6-keto PGF1 gamma (a non-enzymatic degradation product of prostacyclin). Kinetic analysis of CT-treated cells revealed that small peaks of cAMP accumulation and of PGE1 and PGE2 release were detected at approximately 30 min, but larger, progressive PG and cAMP responses were measured 2-4 h later. Exposure of the cells to relatively high doses of membrane-permeable derivatives of cAMP (1 mM) and forskolin (10 microM) caused PGE2 release. Concomitantly, exogenous PGE2 (100 microM) increased intracellular levels of cAMP. We have considered the interrelationship of the cyclo-oxygenase and the cyclic nucleotide pathways relative to the molecular mechanism of CT.