Phospholipase A2(PLA2) could be the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) derived from membrane phospholipid to thromboxane A2 (TXA2). Mal- ondialdehyde (MDA) production, which is considered to be an index of TXA2 synthesis, is increased in platelets which have been enriched in cholesterol by incubation with cholesterol-rich phospholipid dispersions in vitro.Rabbits were fed a diet supplemented with 0.5% w/w cholesterol for 4 weeks after which serum cholesterol was determined and the platelets examined and compared with rabbits fed a control diet. The cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio (c/p) in the platelets, MDA production (stimulated by AA (imM) and basal) and PLA2 activity were estimated. PLA2 activity was estimated by measuring the % inversion by resuspended washed platelets of 1-acyl-2-(l- 14C)arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine to (1- 14C)arachidonic acid on stimulation with collagen (2μg/ml). Serum cholesterol in the cholesterol-fed group (n=9) was 488 ± 104 mg/ 100ml compared with the control group (n=3) which was 34 ± 4.7 mg/l00ml. Platelets from the cholesterol-fed rabbits showed a 20% increase in C/P (p<0.05); basal and AA stimulated MDA production was increased by 40% and 27% respectively compared with platelets from the control group. PLA2 activity was 1.26% conversion to products in the cholesterol-enriched platelets compared with 0.10% in the control platelets. This increase in activity was significant (p < 0.05).These results suggest that increased AA metabolism in cholesterol-enriched platelets may in part be due to increased PLA2 activity. This may reflect a physical effect of cholesterol on the platelet membrane predisposing arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine to PLA2 catalysed hydrolysis.
Kinetic analysis of phospholipase A2 activity toward mixed micelles and its implications for the study of lipolytic enzymes