Aortic smooth muscle cell migration caused by platelet-derived growth factor is mediated by lipoxygenase product(s) of arachidonic acid.

The relation between platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced smooth muscle cell migration, measured in Boyden chambers, and cellular arachidonic acid cascade was studied by using rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Partially purified PDGF stimulated cell migration significantly at a concentration of 1.33-133.0 micrograms/ml. Treatment of the cells with 10(-4)M of 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, an inhibitor of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, and 10(-4)M of caffeic acid, a specific inhibitor of lipoxygenase, caused a significant suppression of PDGF-induced cell migration. Treatment with indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, did not affect cell migration. These data indicate the involvement of a lipoxygenase product(s) of arachidonic acid in PDGF-associated smooth muscle cell migration.