A neutral-active, Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 (PLA2) purified 11,000-fold from human synovial fluid (HSF) induced edema when injected into the mouse foot pad. The edema produced by HSF-PLA2 was dose-dependent and was positively correlated with the dose-dependent in vitro expression of PLA2 activity. Maximum edema was achieved within 45 min after the injection and persisted for at least 6 h. Aristolochic acid [8-methoxy-6-nitrophenanthro(3,4-d)-1,3-dioxole-5-carboxylic acid], a major chemical component derived from various species of Aristolochia plant, produced a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro phospholipid hydrolysis by HSF-PLA2, porcine pancreatic PLA2, snake venom (Naja naja) PLA2, and PLA2 isolated from human platelet. The sensitivity of these PLA2s to inhibition by aristolochic acid varied markedly: HSF-PLA2 greater than N. naja PLA2 greater than human platelet PLA2 greater than porcine pancreatic PLA2. The inhibition of HSF-PLA2 by aristolochic acid was independent of substrate concentration (18-144 microM) and Ca2+ concentration (0.1-4.0 mM). These observations indicate that inhibition of HSF-PLA2 by aristolochic acid may result from direct interaction with the enzyme. When aristolochic acid was mixed with HSF-PLA2 and then injected into the mouse foot pad, edema was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner and was positively correlated with in vitro inhibition of PLA2 activity. Alkylation of HSF-PLA2 with p-bromophenacyl bromide concomitantly inhibited both enzyme and edema-inducing activity. These results clearly demonstrate that the neutral-active, Ca2+-dependent PLA2 isolated from human synovial fluid is proinflammatory and that catalytic activity is positively correlated with in vivo proinflammatory effects.

The interaction of retinoids and flavonoids with phospholipases A2 (PLA2) was studied to assess the mechanism of inhibition. Retinoids, such as retinal, retinol, retinoic acid and retinol acetate, and flavonoids, such as quercetin, rutin, morin and sciadopitysin, inhibit Ca2+-dependent PLA2 activity of human synovial fluid (HSF) in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion; ID20S ranged from 2-8 microM. Retinal inhibited neutral active Ca2+-dependent PLA2S from human platelets, human plasma, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and Naja mossambica mossambica venom in a dose-dependent manner while quercetin inhibits extracellular PLA2 activities of human plasma, HSF and N. m. mossambica venom in a dose-dependent manner but not PLA2 activity derived from human platelets and polymorphomonuclear leukocytes. Inhibition of PLA2 activity by both flavonoid and retinoids were independent of Ca2+ or Na+. Increasing substrate concentration (9-144 nmols) relieved the inhibition of HSF-PLA2 activity by quercetin indicating probable interaction with the substrate. The inhibition by retinal is independent of substrate concentration suggesting that inhibition by retinal is probably due to direct interaction with the enzyme. both retinal and quercetin quenched the relative fluorescent intensity of N. m. mossambica PLA2 and in a dose-dependent manner in the same concentration range at which they inhibit in vitro PLA2 activity. Retinal and quercetin shift the thermotropic phase transition of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) liposomes. Both compounds broadened the transition peak, shifted the Tm to lower temperature, and decreased enthalpy significantly. These findings indicate that inhibition of non-pancreatic human PLA2S by retinoids and flavonoids can be mediated by interaction with enzyme and/or substrate.

No abstract

Cell-free, Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 activity (PLA2) was measured in human synovial fluid of patients with various kinds of arthritis using [1-14C] oleate-labelled autoclaved Escherichia coli as substrate. PLA2 activity at pH 7.0 and with 5 mM added Ca2+ was stimulated and then inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by NaCl; maximal stimulation of 8.8 fold was found at 150 mM Na+. Similar effects were obtained with K+, Li+ and Ru+. In the absence of added Na+, PLA2 activity was maximal with 25 mM Ca2+ (145 nmols/hr/mg), but in the presence of 150 mM Na+, activity was maximal with 4 mM Ca2+ (415 nmols/hr/mg). PLA2 activity was optimal between pH 6.5-8.0 in presence of 150 mM Na+1 and 4 mM Ca2+. There was no significant difference between PLA2 activity in synovial fluids from rheumatoid and other types of arthritis. Neutral active, Ca2+-dependent PLA2 activity in acid extracts of human platelets, plasma, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and synovial fluid varied in response to added Na+. In presence of 150 mM added Na+ and 5 mM Ca2+, PLA2 activity in human synovial fluid was inhibited by all multivalent cations tested. In the absence of Na+, Cu2+ and Mg2+ stimulated PLA2 activity in a dose dependent fashion; whereas, Fe2+, Fe3+ and Al3+ were inhibitory. The extent of stimulation by Mg2+ was inversely related to the concentration of added Ca2+.