Phospholipase D activation by P-2Z-purinoceptor agonists in human lymphocytes is dependent on bivalent cation influx

The role of bivalent cations in ATP-stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) activity was investigated in human leukaemic lymphocytes. Cells were labelled with [H-3]oleic acid and incubated with extracellular ATP or benzoylbenzoic ATP in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+ and butanol, and PLD activity was assayed by the accumulation of [H-3]phosphatidylbutanol ([H-3]PBut). ATP stimulated PLD activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effects of suramin, oxidized ATP and extracellular Mg2+ suggested that the effect of ATP was mediated by P-2Z purinoceptors known to be present on lymphocytes. Thapsigargin increased cytosolic [Ca2+] but did not stimulate PLD activity, whereas preloading cells with a Ca2+ chelator reduced cytosolic [Ca2+] and, paradoxically, potentiated ATP-stimulated [H-3]PBut accumulation. ATP-stimulated [H-3]PBut formation was supported by both Ba2+ and Sr2+ when they were substituted for extracellular Ca2+. Addition of EGTA to block bivalent cation influx inhibited the majority of ATP-stimulated PLD activity. Furthermore ATP-stimulated PLD activity showed a linear relationship to extracellular [Ba2+], and ATP-induced Ba-133(2+) influx also had a linear dependence on extracellular [Ba2+]. These results suggest that ATP stimulates PLD activity in direct proportion to the influx of bivalent cations through the P-2z-purinoceptor ion channel and that this PLD activity is insensitive to changes in bulk cytosolic [Ca2+].