Modulation of prostacyclin biosynthesis by calcium entry blockers and extracellular calcium

The influence of variations in the availability of extracellular Ca2+ and of Ca2+-entry blockers on prostacyclin production by mesothelial cells in culture was studied. The Ca2+-entry blockers nifedipine and verapamil suppressed the basal, as well as the thrombin-, bradykinin-, and ionophore A23187-stimulated biosynthesis by about 50-60%, but high concentrations were required and the inhibition was never complete. Basal prostacyclin formation was unaffected by a Ca2+-poor buffer, but showed 50% reduction in the Ca2+-free buffer. Although the thrombin-stimulated prostacyclin formation was not significantly influenced by a Ca2+-poor or a Ca2+-free buffer, prostacyclin release stimulated by A23187 and bradykinin was diminished in the presence of these modified incubation media; the reduction of bradykinin stimulated biosynthesis was rather small (30%). These results suggest that the Ca2+ from intracellular stores is sufficient for half maximal stimulation of the phospholipases involved in the biosynthetic pathway of prostacyclin and that--depending on the nature of the stimulus--different phospholipases are activated with varying requirements for free Ca2+.