Activation of macrophage PtdIns-PLC by phorbol ester and vanadate: involvement of reactive oxygen species and tyrosine phosphorylation.

Phorbol ester (TPA) is generally considered to be a negative regulator of PtdIns-PLC activity. Here we show, for the first time, that the combination of TPA+ vanadate is a positive regulator (activator) of PtdIns-PLC in mouse elicited peritoneal macrophages. Vanadate or TPA on their own had no effect on PtdIns-PLC activity. In addition, TPA+ vanadate enhanced reactive oxygen species formation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. PtdIns-PLC activation was suppressed by down regulation or inhibition of PKC, by inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity and scavenging of its product, and by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase activity. We conclude that PKC activation by TPA in the presence of vanadate activates the formation of reactive oxygen species, which are essential for the enhancement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and eventually to PtdIns-PLC activation.