Calcium-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A sub(2) (cPLA sub(2)) is expressed in human brain astrocytes

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 637; no. 1-2; pp. 97 - 105
• Main Authors: Stephenson, D T, Manetta, J V, White, D L, Chiou, X G, Cox, L, Gitter, B, May, P C, Sharp, J D, Kramer, R M, Clemens, JA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1994
• ISSN: 0006-8993

Calcium-sensitive cytosolic phospholipase A sub(2) (cPLA sub(2)) is responsible for receptor-mediated liberation of arachidonic acid, and thus plays an important role in the initiation of the inflammatory lipid-mediator cascade generating eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor. In this study we have investigated the cellular distribution of cPLA sub(2) in brain using a monoclonal antibody raised against cPLA sub(2) to immunostain tissue sections of human cerebral cortex. We have localized cPLA sub(2) in astrocytes of the gray matter. Colocalization with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) confirmed that cPLA sub(2) is associated predominantly with protoplasmic astrocytes. Astrocytes of the white matter, on the other hand, were not immunoreactive. In experiments using different human astrocytoma cell lines we found that cPLA sub(2) can be immunochemically localized in UC-11 MG cells, but cannot be detected in U-373 MG cells. This finding is consistent with the observation that cPLA sub(2) mRNA as well as cPLA sub(2) enzymatic activity can be readily measured in UC-11 MG astrocytoma cells, yet cannot be detected in U-373 MG cells.