Suppression of monocyte 85-kDa phospholipase A2 by antisense and effects on endotoxin-induced prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Studies were conducted to characterize a human monocyte model where the role of the 85-kDa phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in prostanoid formation could be evaluated. The presence of an immunologically related 85-kDa PLA2 and type II 14-kDa PLA2 was demonstrated in human monocytes and their roles examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced monocyte prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) formation. Exposure of human monocytes to LPS over 18 h resulted in the up-regulation of the mitogen-inducible cyclooxygenase-2 and was accompanied by production and release of prostaglandin E2 but not leukotriene C4. This coincided with a 2-fold increase in the 85-kDa PLA2 protein and activity levels. In contrast, there was no effect on the type II 14-kDa-like PLA2 activity measured in the 100,000 x g particulate fraction nor did LPS induce the release of type II 14-kDa PLA2 into the medium. Treatment with cycloheximide over 18 h resulted in a time-dependent decrease in cytosolic 85-kDa PLA2 protein and activity (half-life = 4 h), but there was no change in the particulate type II 14-kDa-like PLA2 activity. Monocytes were therefore exposed to an 85-kDa PLA2 initiation site-directed antisense oligonucleotide which specifically decreased the cytosolic 85-kDa PLA2 protein levels and activity in a concentration-dependent manner. This had no effect on the cyclooxygenase-2 (protein mass or the ability to convert arachidonic acid to PGE2) or the particulate fraction sn-2 acylhydrolytic activity but was associated with a decrease in LPS-induced PGE2 production. Taken together, these data support a role for the cytosolic 85-kDa PLA2 in LPS-induced monocyte PGE2 formation.