Increased synthesis of the high molecular weight cytosolic phospholipase a2 mediates early uv- induced prostaglandin e2 in human skin. Gresham, Alane, Jaime Masferrer, Xi Chen, Susana Leal-Khouri, and Alice P Pentland. Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine; Searle Corporation, St. Louis, MO 63110
APStracts 2:0369C, 1995.
Ultraviolet light B (UVB) induced inflammation is characterized by dramatic increases in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis due to enhanced arachidonate deacylation from the membrane. The effect of UV on synthesis, mass and distribution of the high molecular weight phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in cultured human keratinocytes and human skin was therefore studied. The 105-kDa cPLA2 was demonstrated to be the critical enzyme in UV-induced PGE2 synthesis and erythema in the first 6 hours post-irradiation. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]-labeled protein showed cPLA2 synthesis increased 3-4 fold 6 hours after irradiation. Immunoprecipitation of [32P]-labeled cPLA2 demonstrated phosphorylation of cPLA2 was concurrently induced, suggesting that UV also activates cPLA2. This increase in cPLA2 synthesis and activation also closely correlated with increased PGE2 synthesis and [3H] arachidonic acid release, and was effectively blocked by both a S- oligonucleotide antisense to cPLA2 and methyl arachidonate fluorophosphate (MAFP), a specific inhibitor of cPLA2. Biopsy and histochemical examination of irradiated sites from human volunteers revealed only erythematous sites expressed increased amounts of cPLA2, while non-erythematous irradiated sites did not. In contrast, COX-1 and COX-2 in cultures and skin explants were unaffected 6 hr. post-UV, and no change in cyclooxygenase activity was observed at this time point. These results suggest that increased cPLA2 synthesis occurs only when skin is exposed to UV doses which are sufficient to cause erythema, and indicate expression of cPLA2 participates in acute UV inflammation.

Received 24 July 1995; accepted in final form 20 September 1995.
APS Manuscript Number C447-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95