[Signal transduction of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2]

The signal transduction of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid, was investigated in smooth muscle preparations and 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. While PGE2 has been known to stimulate (via EP2 receptor) or inhibit (via EP3 receptor) adenylate cyclase, PGE2 activated phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)-specific phospholipase C (PLase C) in non-vascular smooth muscles (via EP1 receptor), resulting in accumulations of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol to elicit intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. On the other hand, STA2, a TXA2 receptor analogue, also accumulated IP3 in human astrocytoma cells. [3H]SQ 29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, specifically bound to astrocytoma membranes. TXA2-receptor antagonists (ONO NT-126, S-145, SQ29548 and ONO3708) concentration-dependently inhibited PIP2-specific PLase C activation by STA2, and they also inhibited [3H]SQ 29548 binding in human astrocytoma cells. The Ki value of each antagonist in PIP2-specific PLase C inhibition was similar to that in [3H]SQ29548 binding inhibition. In membrane preparations, STA2 activated PIP2-specific PLase C in the presence of GTP gamma S. Pertussis toxin (IAP) did not affect STA2-induced PLase C activation. The results suggest that stimulation of TXA2 receptors activates PIP2-specific PLase C via an IAP-insensitive G-protein.