Increased phospholipase D2 activity during hypoxia-induced death of PC12 cells: its possible anti-apoptotic role

During hypoxic incubation (1% O-2) of PC12 cells, the PLD activity was tran siently increased within 12 h, followed by a gradual decrease. In the in vi tro assay, the increased PLD activity was independent of GTP gammaS require d for PLDI or of oleic acid for PLDOA, suggesting the activation of PLD2. T he level of PLD2 protein showed no change up to 12 h but a gradual decrease after 24 h. pretreatment of cells with S. chromofuscus PLD resulted in inh ibition of hypoxia-induced apoptotic cell death, in contrast, 1-butanol, bu t not 2-butanol, potentiated cell death. Moreover, the number of apoptotic cells significantly reduced in PC12 cells over-expressing PLD2. These resul ts raise the possibility that PLD2 activation may play an anti-apoptotic ro le in hypoxia-induced cell death. NeuroReport 11:3647-3650 (C) 2000 Lippinc ott Williams & Wilkins.