Protein Kinase C Signal Transduction Pathway Research Articles

Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone, lysine vasopressin, oxytocin, and angiotensin II on adrenocorticotropin secretion from porcine anterior pituitary cells

The aim of this study was to determine the ability of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), lysine vasopressin (LVP), oxytocin (OT), and angiotensin II (AII) to stimulate adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion from porcine anterior pituitary (AP) cells in vitro and to evaluate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the interaction between CRH and LVP. In this study, porcine AP cells were enzymatically and mechanically dispersed, cultured (150,000 cells/well) for 4 d, and then challenged with doses of various neuropeptides for 3 hr. CRH (10 −7−10 −10 M) was the most potent of the peptides tested in stimulating ACTH release from porcine AP cells. In fact, none of the other peptides consistently affected ACTH concentrations relative to basal levels. However, LVP potentiated CRH action, even though by itself, it failed to stimulate ACTH production. Neither OT or AII potentiated CRH-stimulated ACTH release from porcine AP cells. To determine whether the interaction between CRH and LVP was regulated partially by the protein Kinase C (PKC) pathway, we challenged AP cells in a 30-min incubation with 10 −7 M staurosporine (ST), a treatment predicted to decrease PKC activity. Then, cells were washed and challenged with 10 −9 M LVP, 10 −9 M CRH, and 10 −9 M CRH + LVP. Treatment with ST decreased (P < 0.05) CRH + LVP-stimulated ACTH release. To further demonstrate an interaction between protein kinase A (PKA) and PKC transduction pathways in the observed synergism between CRH and LVP to enhance ACTH secretion, we also challenged AP cells with 10 −7 M phorbol 12, 13-myristate acetate (PMA) and 5 μM forskolin (FOR) for 3 hr. This treatment was predicted to enhance PKA and PKC activities, respectively, and thereby enhance ACTH concentrations. Challenging cells with FOR + PMA enhanced (P < 0.001) ACTH release above basal concentrations, but more important, it increased (P < 0.001) ACTH concentration above that elicited by either drug given alone. Taken together, our in vitro studies support the conclusion that CRH is the principal regulator of ACTH secretion in the pig. In contrast to the results in most other species evaluated, vasopressin alone did not affect ACTH release. However, LVP can enhance the effectiveness of CRH in releasing ACTH, and this enhancement appears to rely, at least in part, on the activation of the PKC signal transduction pathway.

Induction of neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells by astroglial-secreted factors is mediated by protein kinase C

Astroglial cells secrete a variety of growth factors that support neuronal survival induce neuritogenesis; this has been demonstrated experimentally by treating neuronal cells with that has been conditioned by being in contact with glial cells for 24hr (glial conditioned medium or GCM). We have also previously demonstrated that neuritogenesis is influenced by alterations in signal transduction protein kinases, including induction by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition and by protein kinase A (PKA) activation. In the present study, we sought to determine whether or not GCM induced neuritogenesis via signal transduction pathway(s) mediated by either PKA or PKC. Treatment for 4hr with GCM, the PKA activator dbcAMP, or the PKC inhibitors H7 and staurosporine increased the percentage of neuritic cells. The effect of GCM on neurite induction was additive to that of dbcAMP, but not to that of H7 or staurosporine. TPA treatment for 30min, which translocated PKC to the membrane, attenuated the extent of neuritogenesis induced by 30min GCM treatment. By contrast, TPA treatment for 4hr, which virtually depleted PKC from the cell, induced marked neuritogenesis and no longer attenuated GCM-induced neuritogenesis. These results suggest that GCM mediates its influence on neuronal differentiation via the PKC signal transduction pathway and is independent of PKA-mediated pathways.

Comparison of protein kinase C activity and isoform expression in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.

Cellular sensitivity to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cDDP) can be regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway. Activators of PKC were shown to enhance the sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells to cDDP. We have examined whether or not the PKC signal transduction pathway is affected during development of resistance by tumor cells to cDDP. A 2-fold decrease in PKC activity was observed in cDDP-resistant ovarian carcinoma 2008/C13*5.25 cells compared with the drug-sensitive 2008 cells. Subcellular distribution studies revealed a reduction in both cytosolic and particulate PKC activities in 2008/C13*5.25 cells. The pattern of PKC isoform expression was compared in cDDP-sensitive and -resistant cell lines by Western blot analysis with isoform-specific antibodies to PKC. The parental cells expressed PKC alpha, -epsilon, and -zeta isoforms. The abundance of PKC alpha decreased significantly in 2008/C13*5.25 cells, whereas the amount of PKC epsilon increased moderately in the resistant variant, with no alteration in PKC zeta content. Therefore, a reduction in PKC alpha and/or an increase in PKC epsilon expression may be associated with the drug-resistant phenotype.

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN PROTEIN-KINASE-C (PKC) AND ESTROGENS (REVIEW)

The interactions between protein kinase C (PKC) and the steroid hormone estradiol or its receptor (ER) are reviewed. Estradiol upregulates PKC both in vitro and in vivo in the ovary, the anterior pituitary and in mammary tissue of several mammalian species. The antiestrogen tamoxifen inhibits PKC. Activation of PKC leads to a marked decrease of ER protein and ERmRNA in human breast cancer cells and some other cell lines. Inhibition or down-regulation of PKC enhances ER binding. These results indicate that there are links between the PKC signal transduction pathway and the steroid receptor family. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of PKC isoforms in normal and cancerous tissues which are known to be influenced by estradiol.

Distribution of Protein Kinase Ca and Accumulation of Extracellular Ca2+ During Early Dentin and Enamel Formation

Activation of the protein kinase C (PKC)-related signal transduction system has been associated with phenotypic expression in a wide variety of cell types. In in vitro studies, it has often been activated by relatively small increases in the Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) in the medium. The studies reported here explored the hypothesis that localized increases in the extracellular [Ca2+] and activation of the PKC-related pathway may be involved in early dentin and enamel formation. Whole-head, freeze-dried sections through the developing molars of 5-day-old rats were evaluated by methods that localized non-crystalline Ca2+. Immunohistochemical methods were adapted for use with the freeze-dried sections, and two monoclonal antibodies were used to localize PKC alpha in the formative cells of the developing teeth. Low concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ were observed in the early, unmineralized dentin in the area of ameloblast differentiation. Increased concentrations occurred at the point of initial dentin mineralization, immediately before the beginning of enamel matrix deposition. PKC alpha was localized in the differentiating odontoblasts, at the beginning of dentin matrix deposition. It was intensely localized in the distal borders of the pre-ameloblasts, and appeared to redistribute in the cells during ameloblast differentiation. These observations suggest that local increases in the extracellular [Ca2+] and the PKC signal transduction pathway may be involved in key inductions in the early stages of dentin and enamel formation.

The Regulation of GRP78 and Messenger RNA Levels by Hypoxia Is Modulated by Protein Kinase C Activators and Inhibitors

In this study, we have shown that steady-state levels of glucose-regulated 78 kDa (GRP78) protein and messenger RNA increase during a 5-h exposure to 0.02% oxygen. This increase in GRP78 protein and mRNA induced by hypoxia can be abolished by a 1-h pretreatment of cells before hypoxia with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine and H7 at concentrations at which the drugs themselves do not cause cytotoxicity. Although all studies using protein kinase inhibitors must be interpreted with caution, staurosporine and H7 have been shown to be potent inhibitors of PKC activity, suggesting a role for PKC in mediating the transcriptional regulation of GRP78 by hypoxia. Further support for PKC in regulating GRP78 gene expression by hypoxia stems from gel-mobility shift studies in mixtures of nuclear extracts from aerobic or hypoxic cells with a 36 bp region of the GRP78 promoter (-170 to -135). Binding of this factor could be inhibited by pretreating cells with the PKC inhibitor staurosporine before hypoxia or activated by treating cells with the PKC-activating phorbol ester TPA. These data suggest that activation of this hypoxia-responsive factor is sensitive to oxygen levels and seems to be mediated through a PKC signal transduction pathway.

E2F1, B-MYB and Selective Members of Cyclin/CDK Subunits Are Targets for Protein Kinase C-Mediated Bimodal Growth Regulation in Vascular Endothelial Cells

In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the protein kinase C (PKC) stimulation during the early G1 phase leads to potentiations in growth factor-stimulated DNA synthesis, the activation of cdc2 and cdk2 cyclin-dependent kinases, and the mRNA expression of cdc2 cyclins A, D1 and E, but not cdk2 or cdk4. Conversely, the PKC stimulation in the late G1 phase completely inhibits DNA synthesis, the activation of cyclin-dependent kinases, and the mRNA expression of the same set of molecules except cyclin D1. Further, we found that the PKC stimulation bimodally regulates the message levels of E2F1 and B- myb, which are transcription factors implicated in the control of the mammalian cell cycle progression. These results indicate that the PKC signal transduction pathway, depending on the timing of activation in the G1 phase, either positively or negatively regulates the message level of growth-regulating genes that are crucial for the G1 to S phase progression.

Norepinephrine regulates human chorionic gonadotrophin production by first trimester trophoblast tissue in vitro

The effect of norepinephrine (NE) upon human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) production by 6-8 week gestation placental explants has been investigated. NE (5 micrograms/ml) enhanced hCG secretion significantly from the second day of treatment. The stimulatory effect of NE on hCG secretion could be abolished by the alpha 1-receptor specific antagonist prazosin (10(-4) M) and partly diminished by the beta 1-receptor specific antagonist atenolol (10(-4) M), but was not influenced by the alpha 2-receptor specific antagonist yohimbine (10(-4) M). The involvement of the alpha-receptor in the regulation of hCG secretion was further confirmed by addition of the alpha-receptor agonist clonidine (10(-6) M) which had a similar stimulatory effect on hCG release but the effect was antagonized by both prazosin and yohimbine. Further study showed that NE induced a significant increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production by trophoblast tissue. Cyclic AMP secretion in the NE-treated group was fivefold higher than that of the control group. Both the protein kinase C (PKC) specific activator 1-deoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) and the PKC non-specific activator phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) had a stimulatory effect on hCG secretion, while the PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H7) diminished the hCG secretion stimulated by NE. The effect of NE was blocked by the voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker nifedipine but not by the voltage-independent calcium channel blocker gadolinium chloride (GdCl3). On the other hand, anti-gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) IgG and the GnRH antagonist (D-Phe2, D-Trp6)-GnRH did not influence the stimulatory effect of NE on hCG release. The results indicate that NE regulates hCG production in human first trimester trophoblast tissue. The effect of NE was mainly mediated by alpha 1 and partly by beta 1 receptors. Cyclic AMP, the PKC signal transduction pathway and the voltage-dependent calcium channels were involved in NE action.

Regulation of expression of the chicken ovalbumin gene: interactions between steroid hormones and second messenger systems.

The chicken ovalbumin gene is subject to multihormonal regulation. Maximal expression of it requires not only the synergistic effects of estrogen and corticosterone, but also the permissive effects of insulin. In addition to effects on transcription, the stability of its message is greatly enhanced by estrogen. Furthermore, two signal transduction pathways involving protein kinases have been implicated in the regulation of the ovalbumin gene. To better define the role of second messengers on expression of the ovalbumin gene, the effects of the protein kinase-C (PKC) and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathways on the endogenous levels of ovalbumin mRNA and the transcription of an ovalbumin fusion gene were investigated. Primary cultures of oviduct cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristilate 13-acetate (an activator of PKC) or with forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (an activator of PKA) alone, activators plus estrogen and corticosterone, or activators plus both steroids and insulin. The results indicate that phorbol 12-myristilate 13-acetate causes a dramatic destabilization of ovalbumin message, resulting in a reduction in ovalbumin mRNA levels. In contrast, the activators of the PKA system can substitute for insulin and, thereby, increase expression of the ovalbumin gene synergistically with the steroids. The effect of the activators of the PKA system is at the level of transcription. Thus, in chicken oviduct cell cultures, the PKA and PKC signal transduction pathways act in opposing ways to modulate the steroid-induced expression of the ovalbumin gene.

MARCKS is an actin filament crosslinking protein regulated by protein kinase C and calcium-calmodulin.

AGONISTS that stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) induce profound changes in cell morphology correlating with the reorganization of submembranous actin, but no direct connection between PKC and actin assembly has been identified. The myristoylated, alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) binds calmodulin and is a predominant, specific substrate of PKC which is phosphorylated during macrophage and neutrophil activation , growth factor-dependent mitogenesis and neurosecretion; it is redistributed from plasma membrane to cytoplasm when phosphorylated and is involved in leukocyte motility. Here we report that MARCKS is a filamentous (F) actin crosslinking protein, with activity that is inhibited by PKC-mediated phosphorylation and by binding to calcium-calmodulin. MARCKS may be a regulated crossbridge between actin and the plasma membrane, and modulation of the actin crosslinking activity of the MARCKS protein by calmodulin and phosphorylation represents a potential convergence of the calcium-calmodulin and PKC signal transduction pathways in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.

Hormone- and phorbol ester-activated protein kinase C isozymes mediate a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton associated with prolactin secretion in GH4C1 cells.

TRH regulates PRL secretion and synthesis in GH4C1 rat pituitary cells. TRH responses are associated with activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and elevation of cytosolic calcium. To determine which PKC isozymes are involved in TRH-directed responses, we evaluated the effect of TRH on GH cell alpha-, beta-, delta-, and epsilon-PKC isozymes. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that TRH caused rapid redistribution of all isozymes to a Triton X-100-insoluble (i.e. cytoskeletal) fraction. Corollary immunocytofluorescence studies demonstrated that redistributed PKCs accumulate in cell peripheries. Exocytosis involves reorganization of the cytoskeleton, therefore, each of the GH cell PKCs is appropriately located to phosphorylate proteins important for cytoskeleton organization. To determine the relative contributions of calcium and PKC signal transduction pathways in mediating TRH responses, the effects of potassium depolarization (which increases cytosolic calcium) and phorbol dibutyrate (which activates all PKC isozymes without increasing calcium) were compared. The data indicate that TRH-mediated reorganization of vinculin proceeds via a calcium-mediated pathway, whereas fragmentation of actin filaments proceeds via a PKC-dependent pathway. Selective down-modulation of epsilon-PKC with prolonged TRH-treatment was used to demonstrate that epsilon-PKC is not necessary for certain TRH-stimulated biological responses.

Altered expression of protein kinase C, lck, and CD45 in a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-dependent leukemic T-cell variant that expresses a high level of interleukin-2 receptor.

The compound 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is extremely toxic to the P13 subclone of the Jurkat human T-cell leukemia line. By selecting for growth in the presence of TPA, we have isolated two TPA-resistant variants of these cells, P13-50 and P13-5/A8. Studies of protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity, immunoblot analyses, and assays for PKC mRNAs indicate that both of these variants express lower levels of PKC than do the parental P13 cells. We suggest that this protects them from the toxic effects of TPA. The P13-5/A8 cells are of particular interest because not only are they resistant to TPA toxicity but they actually require TPA for optimal growth. These cells have a more profound decrease in PKC expression that do P13-50 cells. In addition, P13-5/A8 cells display very little, if any, surface expression of CD45, a receptor-linked tyrosine protein phosphatase, and lck, a lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase. On the other hand, they express a very high level of interleukin-2 receptor. A model is proposed that suggests that these cells are dependent on TPA because they have defects in both the PKC and tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways, and that TPA compensates for these defects by providing a strong stimulus to the residual level of PKC. This variant may be useful for studying the interactions between tyrosine kinase and PKC pathways in controlling the various functions of T lymphocytes.

Altered expression of protein kinase C, lck, and CD45 in a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-dependent leukemic T-cell variant that expresses a high level of interleukin-2 receptor.

The compound 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is extremely toxic to the P13 subclone of the Jurkat human T-cell leukemia line. By selecting for growth in the presence of TPA, we have isolated two TPA-resistant variants of these cells, P13-50 and P13-5/A8. Studies of protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity, immunoblot analyses, and assays for PKC mRNAs indicate that both of these variants express lower levels of PKC than do the parental P13 cells. We suggest that this protects them from the toxic effects of TPA. The P13-5/A8 cells are of particular interest because not only are they resistant to TPA toxicity but they actually require TPA for optimal growth. These cells have a more profound decrease in PKC expression that do P13-50 cells. In addition, P13-5/A8 cells display very little, if any, surface expression of CD45, a receptor-linked tyrosine protein phosphatase, and lck, a lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase. On the other hand, they express a very high level of interleukin-2 receptor. A model is proposed that suggests that these cells are dependent on TPA because they have defects in both the PKC and tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways, and that TPA compensates for these defects by providing a strong stimulus to the residual level of PKC. This variant may be useful for studying the interactions between tyrosine kinase and PKC pathways in controlling the various functions of T lymphocytes.

Human vitamin D receptor is selectively phosphorylated by protein kinase C on serine 51, a residue crucial to its trans-activation function.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is known to be a phosphoprotein and inspection of the deduced amino acid sequence of human VDR (hVDR) reveals the conservation of three potential sites of phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC)--namely, Ser-51, Ser-119, and Ser-125. Immunoprecipitated extracts derived from a rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cell line that contains the VDR in high copy number were incubated with the alpha, beta, and gamma isozymes of PKC, and VDR proved to be an effective substrate for PKC-beta, in vitro. When hVDR cDNAs containing single, double, and triple mutations of Ser-51, Ser-119, and Ser-125 were expressed in CV-1 monkey kidney cells, immunoprecipitated and phosphorylated by PKC-beta, in vitro, the mutation of Ser-51 selectively abolished phosphorylation. Furthermore, when transfected CV-1 cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a PKC activator, phosphorylation of wild-type hVDR was enhanced, whereas that of the Ser-51 mutant hVDR was unaffected. Therefore, Ser-51 is the site of hVDR phosphorylation by PKC, both in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate the functional role of Ser-51 and its potential phosphorylation, hVDR-mediated transcription was tested using cotransfection with expression plasmids and a reporter gene that contained a vitamin D response element. Mutation of Ser-51 markedly inhibited transcriptional activation by the vitamin D hormone, suggesting that phosphorylation of Ser-51 by PKC could play a significant role in vitamin D-dependent transcriptional activation. Therefore, the present results link the PKC signal transduction pathway of growth regulation and tumor promotion to the phosphorylation and function of VDR.

Phosphorylation-dependent binding of a synthetic MARCKS peptide to calmodulin.

A 25-amino acid peptide, containing the four protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation sites and the calmodulin (CaM) binding domain of the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein, has been synthesized and used to determine the effects of phosphorylation on its binding and regulation of CaM. PKC phosphorylation of this peptide (3.0 mol of Pi/mol of peptide) produced a 200-fold decrease in its affinity for CaM. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide resulted in its dissociation from CaM over a time course that paralleled the phosphorylation of 1 mol of serine/mol of peptide. The peptide inhibited CaM's binding to myosin light chain kinase and CaM's stimulation of phosphodiesterase and calcineurin. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide resulted in a rapid release of bound CaM, allowing its subsequent binding to myosin light chain kinase (t1/2 = 1.6 min), stimulation of phosphodiesterase (t1/2 = 1.2 min) and calcineurin (t1/2 = 1.7 min). Partially purified MARCKS protein produced a similar inhibition of CaM-phosphodiesterase which was reversed by PKC phosphorylation. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide occurred primarily at serine 8 and serine 12, and phosphorylation of serine 12 regulated peptide affinity for CaM. Thus, PKC phosphorylation of the peptide and the MARCKS protein results in the rapid release of CaM and the subsequent activation of CaM-dependent enzymes. This process might allow for interplay between PKC and CaM-dependent signal transduction pathways.

Interaction of signal transduction pathways in mediating acid secretion by rat parietal cells

To examine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) on the acid secretory activity of isolated rat parietal cells, histamine-and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP)-stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation was determined in the presence of agents that redistribute PKC activity to plasma membranes. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), and phospholipase C inhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, histamine- and DBcAMP-stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation. Because PKC inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) reversed the effect, the results suggest that inhibition of histamine- or DBcAMP-stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation induced by PMA, OAG, or phospholipase C was caused by increased activity of PKC in plasma membrane. To determine where in the cascade of events PKC inhibits acid secretion, histamine-, cholera toxin-, and forskolin-stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation was measured with or without PMA. Because the percent of inhibition by PMA of [14C]aminopyrine accumulation was similar with the three secretagogues, the results suggest that PKC inhibits acid secretion at a point beyond adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production. This was supported by the fact that PMA had no effect on histamine-stimulated production of cAMP and by the finding that activation of PKC had the same effect on histamine- or DBcAMP-stimulated [14C]aminopyrine accumulation. Histamine and DBcAMP inhibited PKC activity, suggesting a reciprocal interaction between PKC and histamine-triggered signal transduction pathway.