Prostacyclin receptor‐independent inhibition of phospholipase C activity by non‐prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transiently transfected with the mouse prostacyclin (mIP) receptor to examine IP agonist‐mediated stimulation of [ 3 H]‐cyclic AMP and [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production. The prostacyclin analogues, cicaprost, iloprost, carbacyclin and prostaglandin E 1 , stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity with EC 50 values of 5, 6, 25 and 95 n M , respectively. These IP agonists also stimulated the phospholipase C pathway with 10 – 40 fold lower potency than stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. The non‐prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics, octimibate, BMY 42393 and BMY 45778, also stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, with EC 50 values of 219, 166 and 398 n M , respectively, but failed to stimulate [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production. Octimibate, BMY 42393 and BMY 45778 inhibited iloprost‐stimulated [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production in a non‐competitive manner. Activation of the endogenously‐expressed P 2 purinergic receptor by ATP led to an increase in [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production which was inhibited by the non‐prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics in non‐transfected CHO cells. Prostacyclin analogues and other prostanoid receptor ligands failed to inhibit ATP‐stimulated [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production. A comparison between the IP receptor‐specific non‐prostanoid ONO‐1310 and the structurally‐related EP 3 receptor‐specific agonist ONO‐AP‐324, indicated that the inhibitory effect of non‐prostanoids was specific for those compounds known to activate IP receptors. The non‐prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics also inhibited phospholipase C activity when stimulated by constitutively‐active mutant Gα q RC, Gα 14 RC and Gα 16 QL transiently expressed in CHO cells. These drugs did not inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity when stimulated by the constitutively‐active mutant Gα s QL. These results suggest that non‐prostanoid prostacyclin mimetics can specifically inhibit [ 3 H]‐inositol phosphate production by targeting G q/11 and/or phospholipase C in CHO cells, and that this effect is independent of IP receptors.British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 134 , 1375–1384; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704388