Protein kinase C inhibitors stimulate arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids release from uterine stromal cells through a Ca2+-independent pathway.

The mechanisms underlying arachidonic acid (AA) release by uterine stromal (U(III)) cells were studied. Stimulation of AA release by calcium ionophore and PMA are inhibited by various PKC inhibitors and by calcium deprivation. These results suggest the involvement of an AA-specific cPLA2 as the release of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from prelabelled cells is much lower than the release of AA. The results also show a more original stimulation of AA and DHA release induced by PKC inhibitors, which is insensitive to calcium deprivation. This stimulation is not due to acyltransferase inhibition, suggesting the participation of a Ca2+-independent PLA2 (iPLA2). However, iPLA2 activity measured in U(III) cells is inhibited by the specific iPLA2 inhibitor, BEL, and is not stimulated by PKC inhibitors, in contrast with the AA and DHA release. It seems therefore that this iPLA2 cannot be involved in this mechanism. The participation of another iPLA2, BEL-insensitive, is discussed.