Phospholipase D mediates matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion in phorbol ester-stimulated human fibrosarcoma cells

Phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in vesicle trafficking in the Golgi and hence secretion. In this study, we show that the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from HT 1080 human fibrosarcoma cells was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in a time- and dose-dependent manner that involved protein kinase C. The phorbol ester also increased PLD activity in the cells. Evidence that PLD was involved in the stimulation of MMP-9 secretion was provided by the observations that the secretion of MMP-9 was stimulated by the introduction of short-chain phosphatidic acid (PA) into the growth medium and that inhibition of PA production by 1-propanol inhibited secretion. Using a short-chain diacylglycerol we excluded the possibility that MMP-9 secretion was induced by diacylglycerol formed from PA by phosphatidic acid phosphatase. Furthermore, propranolol, an inhibitor of this enzyme, had no effect on secretion induced by either phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or PA. The data presented here indicate that activation of protein kinase C increases MMP-9 secretion in HT 1080 cells and implicate PLD and PA formation in the effect.