Effect Of Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate Research Articles

Nicotinic Agonists, Phorbol Esters, and Growth Factors Activate Two Extracellular Signal‐Regulated Kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, in Bovine Chromaffin Cells

Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with nicotinic agonists, phorbol esters, and growth factors increases protein kinase activity toward microtubule-associated protein-2 and myelin basic protein (MBP) in vitro. To characterize the kinases that are activated by these agents, we separated chromaffin cell proteins by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels into which MBP had been incorporated, allowed the proteins to renature, and then assayed MBP kinase activity by incubating the gels with [gamma-32P]ATP. Chromaffin cells contain a family of kinases that phosphorylate MBP in vitro. Two of these kinases, of M(r) 46,000 and 42,000 (PK46 and PK42), were activated by treatment of the cells with dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whereas the effects of PDBu and IGF-I were Ca2+ independent. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by incubation of the cells with PDBu abolished the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP, PDBu, and IGF-I. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, prevented the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP and PDBu but did not block the activation of these kinases by IGF-I. Immunoblotting experiments with antiphosphotyrosine (anti-PTyr) antibodies demonstrated that agents that increased the kinase activities of PK46 and PK42 also increased the apparent PTyr content of M(r) 46,000 and 42,000 proteins. PK46 and PK42 comigrated with proteins that reacted with antibodies against extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). Thus, PK46 and PK42 appear to be the bovine homologues of ERK1 and ERK2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bradykinin and Phorbol Dibutyrate Activate Phospholipase D in PC12 Cells by Different Mechanisms

Bradykinin is known to activate phospholipase D in PC12 cells. Because bradykinin may also activate protein kinase C in these cells, the possible role of this kinase in mediating the action of bradykinin was investigated. Phospholipase D activity in PC12 cells was assayed by measuring the formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol in cells prelabeled with [3H]palmitic acid and incubated in the presence of ethanol. The phorbol ester phorbol dibutyrate mimicked the effect of bradykinin on [3H]phosphatidylethanol formation. The protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (1 microM) significantly attenuated the effect of phorbol dibutyrate (35-70%) but did not block bradykinin-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylethanol formation. In addition, the effect of phorbol dibutyrate was additive with that of bradykinin. Prolonged treatment of PC12 cells with phorbol dibutyrate (24 h), which depletes cells of protein kinase C, greatly attenuated bradykinin-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylethanol accumulation in intact cells. This treatment caused a 55% decrease in both fluoride-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylethanol production in the intact cell and phospholipase D activity as assessed by an in vitro assay using an exogenous substrate. Therefore, the effect of prolonged phorbol dibutyrate pretreatment on bradykinin-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylethanol production could not be attributed exclusively to the depletion of protein kinase C. Thus, although the data with phorbol ester suggest that activation of protein kinase C leads to an increase in phospholipase D activity, this kinase probably does not play a role in mediating the effect of bradykinin. Finally, although pretreatment with phorbol dibutyrate completely blocked bradykinin-stimulated [3H]phosphatidylethanol production in the intact cell, it only partially (approximately 50%) inhibited bradykinin-stimulated [3H]diacylglycerol formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protein kinase C activator phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate inhibits platelet activating factor-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide turnover in neurohybrid NG108-15 cells.

The protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) dose-dependently inhibited platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced [Ca2+]i elevation and inositol monophosphate (IP1) accumulation in neurohybrid NG108-15 cells with IC50 values of 162 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Pretreatment of NG108-15 cells with PKC inhibitor H-7 partially prevented the inhibitory effect of PDBu on PAF-induced [Ca2+]i elevation as well as PI metabolism in NG108-15 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of PAF-induced IP1 and IP3 accumulation but only slightly affected PAF-induced [Ca2+]i elevation in NG108-15 cells. The results reveal that PAF receptor-mediated Ca2+ mobilization and PI metabolism in NG108-15 cells are regulated by PKC while a PTX-sensitive G protein is coupled to PAF receptor for inducing activation of phospholipase C.

Classical conditioning and protein kinase C activation regulate the same single potassium channel in Hermissenda crassicornis photoreceptors.

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the effects of classical conditioning and protein kinase C (PKC) activation on K+ channels of identified neurons in the snail Hermissenda crassicornis. Here we present evidence that classical conditioning and PKC activation similarly modify the same K+ channel. K+ channels were recorded in cells from animals with different training experience. The 64-pS K+ channel appeared with significantly lower frequency in the conditioned group compared to the frequencies in control animals (naive and unpaired). In addition, when present, the 64-pS channel exhibited a lower percentage of open time and an increased interval between opening bursts in cells from conditioned animals. The 42-pS K+ channel was observed with about the same frequency in all three groups, and its percentage of open time was invariant, regardless of the animal's experience. Incubation of the photoreceptor with the PKC activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) led to a profound decrease in the percentage of open time of the 64-pS K+ channel, from 35.7% in the control group to 2.5% in the PDBu-treated group. The inactive phorbol 4 alpha-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect. The use of the PKC inhibitor H-7 significantly blocked the phorbol effect. Inside-out patches obtained from phorbol preincubated cells likewise showed the same effect of PDBu on K+ channels, but the effect was not observed when phorbol was added after the cell-free patches were obtained from nontreated cells. By contrast, the percentage of open time of the 42-pS K+ channel remained unchanged after phorbol treatment.

Phorbol esters inhibit ionomycin-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholine in bovine corneal epithelial cells.

The effects of phorbol esters on phospholipase C (PLC) activity towards phosphoinositides and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in bovine corneal epithelial cells were examined. The cells were labeled with 32Pi, myo[3H]inositol or methyl[14C]choline, and PLC stimulated by incubation of the cells with Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. The PLC activity was assessed by monitoring the loss of radioactivity from the labeled phospholipids or the accumulation of their radioactive metabolites. The data from this study can be summarized as follows: Addition of 20 microM ionomycin to the prelabeled cells resulted in a rapid hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and somewhat slower hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) with concomitant several-fold increase in phosphatidic acid (PA). The effects of the ionophore were time- and dose-dependent. Incubation of the cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused increased radioactivity in PC and PA, whereas the radioactivity in PI and PIP2 remained unchanged. The effects of PDBu were inhibited by staurosporine and H-7, and inactive derivatives of phorbol esters failed to exert any effect on phospholipid metabolism. Pretreatment of the corneal epithelial cells with PDBu or PMA abolished the ionomycin-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and PC. The data suggest that activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters in corneal epithelial cells results in inhibition of PLC activity towards phosphoinositides and PC through a mechanism probably involving phosphorylation of the enzyme.

Role of a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein in mediating the effects of phorbol esters on receptor activated cyclic AMP accumulation in Jurkat cells.

In the human T-cell line, Jurkat, the accumulation of cyclic AMP induced by adenosine is enhanced by tumor-promoting phorbol esters, whereas prostaglandin E2 receptor-stimulated cAMP accumulation is antagonized (Nordstedt et al. 1989). In the present study we examine the involvement of pertussis toxin sensitive guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) in producing the phorbol ester effects. Pertussis toxin pretreatment of the Jurkat cells invariably caused an ADP ribosylation of two G-proteins that inhibit adenylyl cyclase, tentatively identified as Gi2 and Gi3, using Western blots. Pertussis toxin treatment had little effect on basal cAMP accumulation, but sometimes inhibited, sometimes stimulated agonist and cholera toxin induced cAMP accumulation. The latter effect was not mimicked by the B-oligomer. Irrespective of whether pertussis toxin stimulated or inhibited NECA and cholera toxin-induced cAMP accumulation it could not block the effect of phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). The inhibitory effect of PDBu on prostaglandin E2-induced cAMP accumulation was, however, invariably eliminated by pertussis toxin treatment. In conclusion, activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters reveals a Gi-mediated prostaglandin E receptor-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase in addition to the prostaglandin E receptor-mediated stimulation of cAMP accumulation in Jurkat cells. The enhancement of adenosine A2 receptor stimulated cAMP accumulation by PDBu, on the other hand, does not involve a PTX sensitive Gi-protein.

Differential expression of two classes of lck transcripts upon phorbol ester treatment of human leukemic T cells

The human lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase gene, lck, is transcribed from two distinct promoters, resulting in two classes of transcripts (type I and II) differing in their 5' untranslated regions. The steady-state levels of the type I and II lck transcripts were measured in a variety of lymphoid and non-lymphoid human tumor cell lines by S1 nuclease mapping and by a sensitive assay system using the polymerase chain reaction. Human thymocytes and all the leukemic T cell lines tested express both type I and II lck transcripts, albeit at different relative levels. Peripheral blood T cells express mainly type II lck transcripts, whereas two colonic carcinoma lines, COLO 201 and COLO 205, express exclusively type I lck transcripts. Treatment of the leukemic T cell lines, P30/OKUBO and Jurkat, by the phorbol esters tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) or phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) results in the down-regulation of the type I, and the up-regulation of the type II, lck transcript levels. The effect of PDB on the in vitro differentiation of Jurkat cells, and the expression of lck transcripts, is reversible. The modulation of lck transcript levels in TPA-treated Jurkat cells is not due to differential RNA stability, suggesting that the two lck promoters are utilized differentially during T cell differentiation. The leukemic T cell line, Jurkat, may thus serve as a model for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that regulate lck transcription and T cell differentiation.

Ontogeny of the regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in the renal proximal tubule cell.

This study examines the ontogeny of the regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in the proximal tubule (PT) by a first messenger, dopamine (DA), and by direct stimulation of a third messenger, protein kinase C (PKC). PT segments dissected from 10- (PT10), 15-(PT15), 20- (PT20), and 40- (PT40) d-old rats were preincubated with DA 10(-5) M, diacylglycerol (DAG) 10(-5) M (an endogenous activator of PKC), or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) 10(-6) M (an exogenous activator of PKC). DA inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in PT40. In PT20, DA also inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity, but the inhibitory effect in PT20 was less pronounced than in PT40. In PT15, DA had no effect on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. DAG significantly inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in PT40. DAG also inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in PT20, but the inhibition was slightly less pronounced than in PT40. DAG had no effect on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in PT15. Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in PT40 and PT20 preincubated with PDBu was significantly lower than with vehicle. The inhibitory effect in PT20 was less pronounced than in PT40. When PT40 and PT20 were preincubated with both PDBu and 5 x 10(-5) M sphingosine, an inhibitor of PKC activation, the inhibitory effect of PDBu was abolished. In both PT40 and PT20 incubated with 4-alpha-12,13 phorbol didecanoate 10(-7) M, a phorbol ester that will not activate PKC, Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity was not different from the control. In PT10, Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity was the same after PDBu incubation and after vehicle incubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bimodal effect of phorbol ester on B cell activation: Implication for the role of protein kinase C

The role of protein kinase C PKC in B cell activation is controversial. These studies were undertaken to determine whether protein kinase C has a stimulatory or inhibitory role in B cell activation. We found that treatment of B cells for a short period of time (30 min) with the PKC activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBU) primed the cells for enhanced proliferative responses to anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) antibody whereas treatment for a longer period of time (3 h or more) resulted in suppression of proliferation. The enhanced proliferative response to treatment of B cells with PDBU for short periods of time was associated with inhibition of anti-Ig-stimulated increases in phosphatidyl 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis and inhibition of increases in [Ca2+]i, indicating that activation of PKC per se might be sufficient for enhancing B cell activation. The time-dependent effect of phorbol esters on the inhibition of B cell proliferation was found to be closely correlated with the kinetics of disappearance of PKC as measured by Western blot and by enzymatic activity but not with inhibition of [Ca2+]i and PIP2. These data demonstrate a bimodal time-dependent effect of PDBU on B cell activation and suggest that (a) the inhibitory effect of phorbol ester on anti-Ig-induced proliferation may be due to the disappearance of PKC rather than to the inhibition of PIP2 and Ca2+; and (b) the early activation of PKC is a stimulatory rather than an inhibitory signal in the induction of B lymphocyte proliferation by anti-Ig.

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis is not negatively regulated by protein kinase C in the peripheral tissues of rat and chick.

1. Phorbol esters are known to inhibit phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositide. This inhibition is attributed to participation of protein kinase C (PKC) in a negative-feedback control of phosphoinositide metabolism. We have tested this hypothesis by using different types of activators and inhibitors of PKC. 2. Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) inhibited the stimulatory effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP) formation in cultured sympathetic neurons of the chick embryo and adrenal medulla of the rat. 3. Acetylcholine (ACh) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activated neuronal PKC by 3- to 8-fold. The extent of PKC activation by 100 microM-ACh was comparable to that of 100 nM-PDB. Activation of PKC by pre-incubation of sympathetic neurons with ACh (or 5-HT) did not inhibit the stimulatory effects of ACh (or 5-HT) on [3H]IP formation. 4. Pre-treatment of sympathetic neurons or adrenal medulla with a PKC inhibitor H7 (1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulphonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine) almost completely blocked activation of the enzyme induced by PDB, ACh or 5-HT. However, blockade of PKC did not prevent the inhibitory effects of PDB on ACh-induced [3H]IP formation. 5. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and muscarine induced catecholamine secretion from the perfused adrenal medulla via formation of inositol-1,4,5-tirisphosphate (IP3). Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate decreased muscarine-induced catecholamine secretion. However, activation of PKC by VIP had no effect on muscarine-induced catecholamine secretion and vice versa. 6. These results suggest that PKC is not negatively coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells. Phorbol esters must have targets other than PKC to interfere with the phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate increases vascular tone but has a dual action on intracellular calcium levels in porcine coronary arteries

The effects of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). a protein kinase C activator, on the tone and intracellular calcium level (Cai2+) of vascular smooth muscles were simultaneously measured by use of a force-displacement transducer and the fura-2 microscopic fluorometric technique in porcine coronary arteries. Cumulatively applied PDBu produced a slowly developing and concentration-dependent contraction in the concentration range of 10(-8)-10(-6) mol/l. Contractions induced by PDBu were sustained after removal of PDBu. Changes in Cai2+ produced by PDBu were very slight, although Cai2+ was increased at lower concentrations (3 x 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/l) and decreased at higher concentrations (3 x 10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/l). Verapamil 10(-6) mol/l partially inhibited the contractions throughout the concentration range of PDBu and the increase in Cai2+ induced by lower concentrations of PDBu. When the effects of PDBu were compared with those of the 90 mmol/l KCl medium, the force of contraction induced by a single concentration of 10(-7) mol/l PDBu was about 50% and the increase in Cai2+ was about 10%. Removal of extracellular calcium by 1 mmol/l EGTA decreased Cai2+ by about 20% but vascular tone did not change. PDbu (10(-7) mol/l) produced a small contraction without an increase in Cai2+ in the Ca2+-free medium. Depolarization by the 20 mmol/l KCl medium increased Cai2+ by about 20%, whereas vascular tone did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enhancement of cyclic AMP modulated salivary amylase secretion by protein kinase C activators

The effect of protein kinase C activators on isoproterenol-induced amylase secretion were investigated in isolated rat parotid cells. Pretreatment with phorbol dibutyrate potentiated isoproterenol-induced amylase secretion. This effect of phorbol dibutyrate was mimicked by dioctanoylglycerol or carbachol. Phorbol dibutyrate also potentiated secretion evoked by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and by dibutyryl cAMP. Neither phorbol dibutyrate nor carbachol enhanced isoproterenol-induced cAMP accumulation. The present study reveals a coordinate interaction between cAMP and protein kinase C at a step in the secretory mechanism distal to cAMP generation.

Absence of active protein kinase C in ram spermatozoa

At fertilization, mammalian spermatozoa undergo a Ca2+-dependent exocytotic event known as the acrosome reaction. As protein kinase C (PKc) has been implicated in exocytosis in some other cell systems, we have searched for PKc in ram spermatozoa. We have found that: (a) no changes in protein phosphorylation pattern could be induced in the intact cells by phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), a compound which binds to and stimulates PKc; (b) no changes in protein phosphorylation pattern could be detected during the course of the Ca2+/ionophore-induced acrosome reaction (when greater than 95% of the cells underwent exocytosis); (c) there was no effect of PDBu on the exocytotic response to various Ca2+ and ionophore levels; (d) no specific PDBu binding could be detected in the cells (this binding is considered to be indicative of the presence of active PKc). We conclude that potentially active PKc is not present in ram spermatozoa.

Effect of phorbol ester on contractile response of aorta from endotoxic rats

The influence of phorbol ester on the isometric contractile response of aorta from endotoxic rats was examined. In endotoxic rat aorta, the contractile responses to KC1 and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) were both remarkably diminished, compared to those in control rat aorta. Preincubation with PDBu augmented the aortic contractile response to CK1 in both control and endotoxic rats. This augmentative effect of PDBu was significantly more pronounced in endotoxic rats than in controls. When the contractile response to 80 mM KC1 reached a plateau after PDBu pretreatment, addition of 5 mM CaCl2 (final concentration) to the organ bath completely reversed the diminished contractile response of endotoxic rat aorta to the control level. These results suggest that the hyporesponsiveness of endotoxic rat aorta to KC1 may be caused by decreases in both protein kinase C mediated response and calcium sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Phorbol esters: voltage-dependent effects on calcium-dependent action potentials of mouse central and peripheral neurons in cell culture

The beta-phorbol esters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), which activate protein kinase C, were applied to mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and cerebral hemisphere neurons grown in primary dissociated cell culture. Phorbol esters did not modify the membrane potential or input resistance of either type of neuron. To assess the effects of beta-phorbol esters on voltage-dependent conductances, the effects of PDBu and TPA on action potentials evoked from these neurons were determined. The neurons were bathed in a solution containing 5 mM tetraethylammonium and action potentials that contained sodium and calcium components were evoked. When applied at resting membrane potential and at more negative potentials, PDBu and TPA reversibly increased action potential duration. The alpha-phorbol ester 4-alpha-phorbol, which does not activate protein kinase C, did not modify action potential duration. The effects of the beta-phorbol esters, however, were voltage-dependent. When the neurons were depolarized to membrane potentials less negative than -50 mV, PDBu and TPA reduced action potential duration. The effects of both PDBu (10 nM-1 microM) and TPA (100 pM-100 nM) on action potential duration were dose-dependent. The prolongation of action potentials produced at large negative potentials may be due to a reduction in voltage-and/or calcium-dependent potassium conductance, since the prolongation was associated with a reduction in the potassium-dependent afterhyperpolarization; following membrane depolarization in control solution, action potential duration was increased for several minutes, while the afterhyperpolarization was reduced and, following this prolongation, phorbol esters no longer prolonged the action potentials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phorbol diesters increase the phosphorylation of the leukocyte common antigen CD45 in human T cells.

We have studied the phosphorylation of the human leukocyte surface glycoprotein CD45, formerly known as leukocyte common antigen or T200, following activation of peripheral T cells with tumor-promoting phorbol diesters. The cells were incubated with [32P]orthophosphate, treated with phorbol diesters, and the CD45 was immunoprecipitated using the monoclonal antibody T29/33. CD45 was weakly phosphorylated in nonactivated T cells, but a treatment of the cells with 10, 60 or 200 nM phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) markedly increased the phosphorylation of the glycoprotein. This effect of PDBu was relatively selective for CD45 since the activation of the cells did not affect the phosphorylation of all membrane phosphoglycoproteins. The effect of another tumor promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), was comparable to that of PDBu, but a nontumor-promoting phorbol derivative, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, did not change the level of CD45 phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of CD45 was found to clearly increase after a treatment of T cells with 60 nM PDBu for only 30 s, and the phosphorylation reached its maximum in about 5 min.

Transmembrane signals mediating neural peptide secretion: role of protein kinase C activators and arachidonic acid metabolites in luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion.

The present experiments were designed to determine the effects of different activators of protein kinase C on the secretion of LHRH from median eminence nerve terminals incubated in vitro. The release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a metabolite of arachidonic acid intimately involved in the secretion of LHRH, was also evaluated. Synthetic diacylglycerol [1,2-didecanoylglycerol (DiC10)] significantly enhanced PGE2 release in a concentration-dependent manner. Blockade of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity nullified this effect. LHRH release, on the other hand, was not increased by DiC10. However, in the presence of a lipoxygenase inhibitor, DiC10 produced a concentration-related increase in LHRH release, which paralleled that in PGE2. Phospholipase C (PLC) increased both PGE2 and LHRH secretion. Again, blockade of the lipoxygenase pathway enhanced the release of LHRH by PLC without affecting the stimulated secretion of PGE2. A phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), markedly increased LHRH secretion while inducing a modest increase in PGE2 release. Both effects of PDBu were unaffected by lipoxygenase inhibition. DiC10, PDBu, and PLC significantly augmented LHRH secretion from tissues in which metabolism of arachidonic acid had been prevented by inhibition of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, suggesting that activation of protein kinase C, independent of PLA2 activation, can lead to the secretion of this neural peptide. Some lipoxygenase metabolites had either no effect on [5- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (5- and 15-HETE)] or induced a marginal stimulation of (12-HETE) LHRH release. At certain concentrations, 12-HETE enhanced the stimulatory effect of the phorbol ester on LHRH release. Our results suggest that activation of protein kinase C can stimulate LHRH secretion from nerve terminals in vitro and, further, that diacylglycerol may represent an important intracellular messenger participating in the events leading to LHRH secretion. In addition, stimulation with DiC10 and PLC uncovered inhibitory [unknown arachidonic acid metabolite(s) via lipoxygenase] and stimulatory (PGE2 via cyclooxygenase) pathways through with arachidonic acid metabolites may participate in the intracellular transduction of signals modulating neural peptide secretion.

Inhibition by phorbol esters of antiimmunoglobulin-induced calcium signalling and B-cell activation.

The inhibitory effect of phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) on B-cell stimulation was evaluated using a model in which activation is induced by modest doses of antiimmunoglobulin antibody (anti-Ig) and progression to DNA synthesis is induced by cytochalasin. PDB preferentially inhibited anti-Ig-induced activation and did so during brief (2 hr) preincubation with anti-Ig. Activation was inhibited whether PDB was added before or shortly after anti-Ig. Since activation for cytochalasin responsiveness appears to be mediated by Ca2+, the effect of PDB on the anti-Ig-induced rise in intracellular Ca2+ was evaluated. PDB (and other phorbol esters that activate protein kinase C) inhibited the rise in Ca2+ normally associated with anti-Ig treatment; moreover, PDB reversed an established anti-Ig-induced Ca2+ response. These data suggest that phorbol esters inhibit B-cell activation by interfering with the elevated levels of intracellular Ca2+ produced by cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin by anti-Ig. This could represent a "feedback inhibition" type of response, but it remains to be seen if this occurs under physiological conditions of protein kinase C activation.

Effects of 6-thioguanine on communication competence and factors affecting reversibility of phorbol ester inhibition in V79 cells measured by the metabolic cooperation assay and by dye coupling.

One assay used to study the role of intracellular communication in tumor promotion examines chemically-induced inhibition of metabolic cooperation between 6-thioguanine (6-TG) sensitive (HGPRT+) V79 Chinese hamster cells in co-culture with 6-TG resistant (HGPRT-) cells. In the present study metabolic cooperation and Lucifer Yellow dye coupling were applied to detect intercellular communication. HGPRT+ cells were still communication competent when pre-incubated with 6-TG for up to 48 h before HGPRT- cells were plated. In both assays the phorbol esters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) inhibited intercellular communication completely at 1 ng/ml. Using 6-TG metabolic cooperation, extensive washing of cells failed to reverse the inhibition caused by 100 ng TPA/ml after exposure for as little as 1 h. However, the effect of PDBu was completely eliminated if the drug was removed within 24 h. Complete blockade of dye coupling by 1, 10 or 100 ng TPA/ml was reversible after washing only at 1 ng/ml. Cells cultured in the presence of these TPA concentrations displayed significant reversal of dye coupling inhibition after 40 h. The results indicate that the onset of communication competence impairment between V79 cells by 6-TG is much slower than hitherto implied. Failure of intercellular communication to recover even from short exposure to 100 ng TPA/ml appears to be attributable to its lipophilic nature. Not enough TPA can be removed by washing to overcome its potent inhibitory action. These observations indicate that the physicochemical properties of a chemical must be taken into consideration before making judgements about the duration of inhibition.