Forskolin inhibition of cyclic AMP generation in J774 macrophages.

Forskolin inhibited cyclic AMP generation in J774 macrophage cells in response to isoproterenol. Forskolin, 10 nM-0.1 mM, also inhibited the adenylate cyclase activity of membrane preparations. The basal activity and the isoproterenol-, cholera toxin-, fluoride- or GppNHp-stimulated activities were maximally depressed by 10 microM forskolin (30-70% inhibition, EC50 = 0.3-0.5 microM). This effect was achieved similarly in membranes from pertussis toxin-treated cells. Forskolin required guanine nucleotides for inhibition. In the absence of GTP the decrease in basal activity was reversed into stimulation (EC50 = 10 microM forskolin). Reversal of inhibition into activation also followed the addition of 1 mM MnCl2 (EC50 = 10 microM forskolin). 1,9-Dideoxyforskolin was ineffective to alter adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, a water-soluble derivative of forskolin was as active as forskolin to regulate activity. The results suggest that forskolin may interact with adenylate cyclase to cause either activation or inhibition depending on the degree of activation of Ns and on its interaction with the catalyst.