Unique targeting of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) to plasma membranes mediated by the NADPH oxidase in phagocytes

Cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2))–generated arachidonic acid (AA) has been shown to be an essential requirement for the activation of NADPH oxidase, in addition to its being the major enzyme involved in the formation of eicosanoid at the nuclear membranes. The mechanism by which cPLA(2) regulates NADPH oxidase activity is not known, particularly since the NADPH oxidase complex is localized in the plasma membranes of stimulated cells. The present study is the first to demonstrate that upon stimulation cPLA(2) is transiently recruited to the plasma membranes by a functional NADPH oxidase in neutrophils and in granulocyte-like PLB-985 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments and double labeling immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated the unique colocalization of cPLA(2) and the NADPH oxidase in plasma membranes of stimulated cells, in correlation with the kinetic burst of superoxide production. A specific affinity in vitro binding was detected between GST-p47(phox) or GST-p67(phox) and cPLA(2) in lysates of stimulated cells. The association between these two enzymes provides the molecular basis for AA released by cPLA(2) to activate the assembled NADPH oxidase. The ability of cPLA(2) to regulate two different functions in the same cells (superoxide generation and eicosanoid production) is achieved by a novel dual subcellular localization of cPLA(2) to different targets.