Group V Phospholipase A^sub 2^ Mediates Barrier Disruption of Human Pulmonary Endothelial Cells Caused by LPS In Vitro

We examined the functional role of 14-kD secretory group V phospholipase A(2) (gVPLA(2)) on the barrier function of pulmonary endothelial cells (ECs) after LPS activation in vitro. Expression of gVPLA(2) was elicited by 20 ng/ml LPS as demonstrated by increased (1) mRNA, (2) protein content, and (3) cell surface expression of gVPLA(2) within 4 hours. The effect of LPS on EC barrier function was measured by transendothelial monolayer electrical resistance (TER). LPS increased permeability across EC monolayers at 2-3 hours, and was sustained for 10 hours or more. Blockade of gVPLA(2) with mouse monoclonal 3G1 (MCL-3G1) monoclonal antibody directed against gVPLA(2) inhibited EC barrier dysfunction elicited by LPS in a time- and concentration-dependent manner; control IgG had no effect on TER. Like LPS, exogenous gVPLA(2) caused increased EC permeability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner; neither gIIaPLA(2), a close homolog of gVPLA(2), nor W31A, an inactive mutant of gVPLA(2), caused a decrease in EC TER. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed comparable F-actin stress fiber and intercellular gap formation for ECs treated with either gVPLA(2) or LPS. Treatment with gVPLA(2) disrupted vascular endothelial-cadherin junctional complexes on ECs. Coincubation of ECs with MCL-3G1 substantially attenuated the structural changes caused by gVPLA(2) or LPS. We demonstrate that (1) gVPLA(2) is constitutively expressed in ECs and is up-regulated after LPS activation, (2) endogenously secreted gVPLA(2) from ECs after LPS increases EC permeability through F-actin and junctional complex rearrangement, and (3) inhibition of endogenous gVPLA(2) from ECs is sufficient to block disruption of the EC barrier function after LPS in vitro.