Inhibitors of the arachidonic acid cascade dissociate 48/80-induced Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release in mast cells.

Effects of inhibitors of the arachidonic acid cascade on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane during stimulus-secretion coupling were examined using rat peritoneal mast cells loaded with fura-2. Compound 48/80 (48/80) was used as a secretagogue. A phospholipase inhibitor, p-bromophenacyl bromide (PBPB), or a lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), inhibited the 48/80 (1 microgram/ml)-induced release of histamine, Ca2+, and Mn2+ influxes, but the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (approximately 50 microM), inhibited neither Ca2+ nor Mn2+ influxes. The Ca2+ release induced by 1 microgram/ml of 48/80 was little inhibited by PBPB, NDGA, or indomethacin. The Ca2+ release was activated and saturated with lower concentrations of 48/80 than was the Ca2+ influx. The percent inhibition of the Ca2+ release by 25 microM PBPB was increased by lowering the concentration of 48/80, but NDGA (10 microM) did not inhibit the Ca2+ release induced by low concentrations of 48/80 (0.03-0.1 microgram/ml). These results suggest that activation of the Ca2+ release and the Ca2+ influx were differently regulated and that full activation of Ca2+ influx needs the arachidonic acid cascade produced by higher concentrations of 48/80 than does the Ca2+ release. Lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid are potential modulators of the Ca2+ influx.