'Crosstalk': a pivotal role for protein kinase C in modulating relationships between signal transduction pathways

Protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation and desensitization of human alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors

Human alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors stably expressed (B(max) approximately 800 fmol/mg membrane protein) in mouse fibroblasts were able to increase intracellular Ca(2+) and inositol phosphate production in response to noradrenaline. Activation of protein kinase C desensitized the alpha(1b)-adrenergic-mediated actions but did not block the ability of the cells to respond to lysophosphatidic acid. Inhibition or downregulation of protein kinase C also blocked the action of the tumor promoter on the adrenergic effects. Photolabeling experiments indicated that the receptor has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 80 kDa. The receptors were phosphorylated in the basal state and such phosphorylation was increased when the cells were incubated with phorbol myristate acetate or noradrenaline. Incubation of the cells with phorbol myristate acetate or noradrenaline blocked noradrenaline-promoted [35S]GTP-gamma-S binding to membranes, suggesting receptor-G protein uncoupling. The results indicate that activation of protein kinase C blocked/desensitized human alpha(1b)-adrenoceptors and that such effect was associated to receptor phosphorylation.

Signalling pathways in the brain: cellular transduction of mood stabilisation in the treatment of manic-depressive illness

The long-term treatment of manic-depressive illness (MDI) likely involves the strategic regulation of signalling pathways and gene expression in critical neuronal circuits. Accumulated evidence has identified signalling pathways, in particular the family of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, as targets for the long-term action of lithium. Chronic lithium administration produces a reduction in the expression of PKC alpha and epsilon, as well as a major PKC substrate, MARCKS, which has been implicated in long-term neuroplastic events in the developing and adult brain. More recently, studies have demonstrated robust effects of lithium on another kinase system, GSK-3beta, and on neuroprotective/neurotrophic proteins in the brain. Given the key roles of these signalling cascades in the amplification and integration of signals in the central nervous system, these findings have clear implications not only for research into the neurobiology of MDI, but also for the future development of novel and innovative treatment strategies.

Alpha 1-adrenoceptors: subtypes, signaling, and roles in health and disease

Alpha 1-adrenoceptors mediate some of the main actions of the natural catecholamines, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. They participate in many essential physiological processes, such as sympathetic neurotransmission, modulation of hepatic metabolism, control of vascular tone, cardiac contraction, and the regulation of smooth muscle activity in the genitourinary system. It is now clear that alpha 1-adrenoceptors mediate, in addition to immediate effects, longer term actions of catecholamines such as cell growth and proliferation. In fact, adrenoceptor genes can be considered as protooncogenes. Over the past years, considerable progress has been achieved in the molecular characterization of different alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes. Three main subtypes have been characterized pharmacologically and in molecular terms. Splice variants, truncated isoforms, and polymorphisms have also been detected. Similarly, it is now clear that these receptors are coupled to several classes of G proteins that, therefore, are capable of modulating different signaling pathways. In the present article, some of these aspects are reviewed, together with the distribution of the subtypes in different tissues and some of the known roles of these receptors in health and disease.

Expression of enzymes of covalent protein modification during regulated and dysregulated proliferation of mammary epithelial cells: PKA, PKC and NMT

Three proteins are functionally interlinked in the targeting of protein phosphorylation catalyzed by the C-subunit of PKA: PKA itself, AKAPs and NMT. Furthermore, in a variety of biological contexts, mechanisms exist whereby PKA and PKC are able to modulate the activity of one another. We have investigated the expression and subcellular distribution of these proteins in two models of mammary cell proliferation and differentiation--the normal rat mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation and human breast tissue before and after malignant transformation. Modulation of PKA does not acutely affect activity or sub-cellular distribution of PKC in mammary acini, nor does modulation of PKC acutely affect PKA activity or subcellular distribution. Therefore, the co-ordinate expression of these two protein kinases in normal and cancerous mammary epithelial cells and the greater basal activation level of them both accompanying increased mitogenic activity, which we have reported, does not result from short-term cross-talk between them. Although basal and total levels of PKA diminish in rodent mammary epithelial cells during the transition from proliferative to secretory functional mode, the level of expression of AKAPs increases. The expression of two apparently mammary-specific and mostly membrane-associated AKAPs is tightly linked to the onset and maintenance of differentiated function in rat mammary tissue. Paradoxically, the probable analogues of these two AKAPs in human mammary tissue are hyperexpressed when normal epithelial cells transform to a cancer phenotype--conventionally regarded as a process involving a degree of dedifferentiation. Mammary AKAP hyperexpression in breast cancers is accompanied by increases in the levels of total and basal PKA. One mechanism whereby NMT is targeted to membranes, via interaction with ribosomal proteins, has recently been elucidated. Our data support the contention that the localization of NMT is an important variable in the regulation of cellular proliferation, but they do not characterize the mechanisms whereby the differential targeting of NMT is achieved. As yet we lack a full tool-kit with which to examine NMT either to draw firm conclusions regarding the identity of particular isoforms found in particular sub-cellular locations or to define the relationships between these different molecular variants. However, it is technically possible to transfect cells with inducible NMT expression constructs engineered in such a way that the recombinant, catalytically competent, NMT that they encode is targeted either to membranes or to cytosol: an exploration of the effects of such transfections on cellular proliferation would afford a critical test of the mechanistic involvement of NMT in the control of mitogenesis.

Insulin signaling is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of H(2)O(2). Evidence for a role of H(2)O(2) in tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated insulin resistance

Both hyperglycemia and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) were found to induce insulin resistance at the level of the insulin receptor (IR). How this effect is mediated is, however, not understood. We investigated whether oxidative stress and production of hydrogen peroxide could be a common mediator of the inhibitory effect. We report here that micromolar concentrations of H(2)O(2) dramatically inhibit insulin-induced IR tyrosine phosphorylation (pretreatment with 500 microM H(2)O(2) for 5 min inhibits insulin-induced IR tyrosine phosphorylation to 8%), insulin receptor substrate 1 phosphorylation, as well as insulin downstream signaling such as activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (inhibited to 57%), glucose transport (inhibited to 36%), and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation (inhibited to 7.2%). Both sodium orthovanadate, a selective inhibitor of tyrosine-specific phosphatases, as well as the protein kinase C inhibitor Gö6976 reduced the inhibitory effect of hydrogen peroxide on IR tyrosine phosphorylation. To investigate whether H(2)O(2) is involved in hyperglycemia- and/or TNFalpha-induced insulin resistance, we preincubated the cells with the H(2)O(2) scavenger catalase prior to incubation with 25 mM glucose, 25 mM 2-deoxyglucose, 5.7 nM TNFalpha, or 500 microM H(2)O(2), respectively, and subsequent insulin stimulation. Whereas catalase treatment completely abolished the inhibitory effect of H(2)O(2) and TNFalpha on insulin receptor autophosphorylation, it did not reverse the inhibitory effect of hyperglycemia. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations is a potent inhibitor of insulin signaling and may be involved in the development of insulin resistance in response to TNFalpha.

A dominant role for the Raf-MEK pathway in forskolin, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol acetate, and platelet-derived growth factor-induced CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein) activation, uncoupled from serine 133 phosphorylation in NIH 3T3 cells

In this study we describe that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-acetate (TPA), and forskolin induced CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein) Ser-133 phosphorylation with comparable magnitude and kinetics in NIH 3T3 cells. While forskolin was the most potent activator of CREB, TPA or PDGF modestly increased CREB activity. The role of protein kinase C, protein kinase A, and the Raf-MEK kinase pathway in the activation and Ser-133 phosphorylation of CREB by these three stimuli was investigated. We found that inhibition of the Raf-MEK kinase pathway efficiently blocks transcriptional activation of CREB by all three stimuli. This dominant involvement of Raf-MEK in CREB transcriptional activation seems to be uncoupled from CREB Ser-133 phosphorylation. We further demonstrate that although inhibition of Raf-MEK represses forskolin-induced CREB activation, forskolin by itself failed to activate ERK1/2 and Elk-1 mediated transcription. These results suggest that a basal level of Raf-MEK activity is necessary for both PDGF- and forskolin-induced CREB activation, independent of CREB Ser-133 phosphorylation.

Role of protein kinase C in mitochondrial KATP channel-mediated protection against Ca2+ overload injury in rat myocardium

Growing evidence exists that ATP-sensitive mitochondrial potassium channels (MitoKATP channel) are a major contributor to the cardiac protection against ischemia. Given the importance of mitochondria in the cardiac cell, we tested whether the potent and specific opener of the MitoKATP channel diazoxide attenuates the lethal injury associated with Ca2+overload. The specific aims of this study were to test whether protection by diazoxide is mediated by MitoKATP channels; whether diazoxide mimics the effects of Ca2+ preconditioning; and whether diazoxide reduces Ca2+ paradox (PD) injury via protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways. Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were subjected to the Ca2+ PD (10 minutes of Ca2+ depletion followed by 10 minutes of Ca2+ repletion). The effects of the MitoKATP channel and other interventions on functional, biochemical, and pathological changes in hearts subjected to Ca2+ PD were assessed. In hearts treated with 80 micromol/L diazoxide, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and coronary flow were significantly preserved after Ca2+ PD; peak lactate dehydrogenase release was also significantly decreased, although ATP content was less depleted. The cellular structures were well preserved, including mitochondria and intercalated disks in diazoxide-treated hearts compared with nontreated Ca2+ PD hearts. The salutary effects of diazoxide on the Ca2+ PD injury were similar to those in hearts that underwent Ca2+ preconditioning or pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate before Ca2+ PD. The addition of sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate, a specific MitoKATP channel inhibitor, or chelerythrine chloride, a PKC inhibitor, during diazoxide pretreatment completely abolished the beneficial effects of diazoxide on the Ca2+ PD. Blockade of Ca2+ entry during diazoxide treatment by inhibiting L-type Ca2+ channel with verapamil or nifedipine also completely reversed the beneficial effects of diazoxide on the Ca2+ PD. PKC-delta was translocated to the mitochondria, intercalated disks, and nuclei of myocytes in diazoxide-pretreated hearts, and PKC-alpha and PKC-epsilon were translocated to sarcolemma and intercalated disks, respectively. This study suggests that the effect of the MitoKATP channel is mediated by PKC-mediated signaling pathway.

Serotonin, bradykinin and endothelin signalling in a sheep choroid plexus cell line

The secretion of cerebrospinal fluid by the epithelial cells of choroid plexus is regulated by membrane receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclases or to phospholipase C. These intracellular signalling pathways as their interactions were investigated in a sheep choroid plexus cell line. Endothelin-1, bradykinin and serotonin induced a transient dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium. EC 50 were 10(-8) M for endothelin-1, 10(-8) M for bradykinin and 10(-6) M for serotonin. Maximal increase in intracellular calcium was comparable for bradykinin and serotonin, but was 3 to 5 fold larger for endothelin-1. Successive stimulations with endothelin-1, serotonin or bradykinin elicited calcium increases similar to single stimulations reflecting absence of heterologous desensitization between these receptors. Forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation was potentiated by bradykinin, but not by serotonin and endothelin-1. This potentiation resulted from an increase in cAMP production rather than to an inhibition of cAMP hydrolysis. These data suggest that serotonin, endothelin-1 and bradykinin each use specific signalling pathways in the sheep choroid plexus cells.

Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) mimics suckling-induced sensitization of mammotropes: involvement of a pertussis toxin (PTX) sensitive G-protein and the adenylate cyclase (AC)

In lactating rats, suckling renders mammotropes more responsive to prolactin (PRL)-releasing stimuli and less responsive to PRL-inhibiting secretagogues. We have previously shown that a decrease in the activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) may be responsible for the decrease in responsiveness to the inhibitory secretagogue dopamine (DA). In our present experiments, we have studied the involvement of the adenylate cyclase (AC), stimulatory and inhibitory GTP-binding proteins and also the role of PP2A in the sensitization phenomenon. Pituitary cells obtained from mother rats separated from their pups for 4 h prior to dispersion (non-suckled), suckled for 10 or 30 min after the separation period (suckled) and without separation (continual suckling) were incubated in the presence of different doses of forskolin to activate AC and DA. In a further study, pituitary cells of non-suckled rats were pretreated with cholera toxin (CTX) or pertussis toxin (PTX) and tested for the stimulatory action of forskolin or TRH on PRL release. Ocadaic acid (OA) pretreatment has been used to investigate the involvement of PP2A. Hormone secretion was measured by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA). Our results have shown that cells from non-suckled rats were unresponsive to forskolin. A 10-min suckling stimulus sensitizes pituitary mammotropes to respond with a PRL release to a dose-dependent activation of AC by forskolin. This sensitization of AC becomes a permanent feature of the cells when suckling continues for an additional 20 min. We have also found that pituitary mammotropes from non-suckled dams respond to forskolin or TRH with PRL release when they were preincubated with either PTX or the PP2A inhibitor OA. It clearly indicates that the non-responsive pituitary can be shifted to the responsive stage by uncoupling of inhibitory G-protein from its receptor as well as by inhibition of PP2A. This latter finding, consonant with our previous results, suggests that suckling may cause selective changes in the function of G(i) of mammotropes due to a rapid phosphorylation which can remove tonic, GTP-dependent inhibitory function.

Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and glucagon: the evolution of their receptors

Insulin and glucagon, two of the most studied pancreatic hormones bind to specific membrane receptors to exert their biological actions. Insulin-like growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II are structurally related to insulin, although they are expressed ubiquitously. The biological functions of the IGFs are mediated by different transmembrane receptors, which includes the insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II receptors. The interaction of insulin, insulin related peptides and glucagon with the corresponding receptors has been studied extensively in mammals and continues to be so. At the same time, research on ectothermic animals has made enormous progress in the recent years. This paper summarizes current knowledge on insulin, IGF-I and glucagon receptors, from a comparative point of view with special attention to non-mammalian vertebrates. The review covers adult and mostly typical target tissues, and with very few exceptions, developmental aspects are not considered. Binding characteristics, tissue distribution and structure of insulin and IGF-I receptors will be considered first, because both ligands and receptors are structurally related and have overlapping functions. These sections will be followed by similar distribution of information on glucagon receptors. Readers interested in either structure or functions of insulin, IGFs and glucagon in nonmammalian vertebrates are referred to other reviews (Mommsen TP, Plisetskaya EM. Insulin in fishes and agnathans: history, structure and metabolic regulation. Rev Aquat Sci 1991;4:225-259; Mommsen TP, Plisetskaya EM. Metabolic and endocrine functions of glucagon-like peptides: evolutionary and biochemical perspectives. Fish Physiol Biochem 1993;11:429-438; Duguay SJ, Mommsen TP. Molecular aspects of pancreatic peptides. In: Sherwood NM, Hew CL, editors, Fish Physiology. vol 13. 1994:225-271; Plisetskaya EM, Mommsen TP. Glucagon and glucagon-like peptides in fishes. Int Rev Citol 1996;168:187-257.).

Activation of a cGMP-stimulated cAMP phosphodiesterase by protein kinase C in a liver Golgi-endosomal fraction

The ability of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C, PKC) to stimulate cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in a liver Golgi-endosomal (GE) fraction was examined in vivo and in a cell-free system. Injection into rats of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a known activator of PKC, caused a rapid and marked increase in PKC activity (+325% at 10 min) in the GE fraction, along with an increase in the abundance of the PKC alpha-isoform as seen on Western immunoblots. Concurrently, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment caused a time-dependent increase in cAMP PDE activity in the GE fraction (96% at 30 min). Addition of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) to GE fractions from control and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-treated rats led to a comparable increase (130-150%) in PDE activity, suggesting that PKA is probably not involved in the in-vivo effect of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. In contrast, addition of purified PKC increased (twofold) PDE activity in GE fractions from control rats but affected only slightly the activity in GE fractions from 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-treated rats. About 50% of the Triton-X-100-solubilized cAMP PDE activity in the GE fraction was immunoprecipitated with an anti-PDE3 antibody. On DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, three peaks of PDE were sequentially eluted: one early peak, which was stimulated by cGMP and inhibited by erythro-9 (2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA); a selective inhibitor of type 2 PDEs; and two retarded peaks of activity, which were potently inhibited by cGMP and cilostamide, an inhibitor of type 3 PDEs. Further characterization of peak I by HPLC resolved a major peak which was activated (threefold) by 5 microM cGMP and inhibited (87%) by 25 microM EHNA, and a minor peak which was insensitive to EHNA and cilostamide. 4 beta-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment caused a selective increase (2.5-fold) in the activity associated with DEAE-Sephacel peak I, without changing the K(m) value. These results suggest that PKC selectively activates a PDE2, cGMP-stimulated isoform in the GE fraction.

PMA inhibits both spontaneous and glucocorticoid-mediated leptin secretion by human omental adipose tissue explants in vitro

The activation of PKC by the acute administration of the phorbol ester PMA (1 microM, 2h) to omental adipose tissue explants in vitro resulted in a marked (about 75%) and persistent (up to at least 96 h) inhibition of leptin secretion. This PKC-mediated inhibition was not observed after the administration of an inactive phorbol ester (phorbol 12,13-dicecanoate). The inhibition by PMA of leptin secretion was not restricted to the spontaneous secretion, but blocked also effectively the leptin response to a powerful stimulus, such as the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. As the PKC activity has been shown to be elevated during fasting, the negative relation here described between PKC activity and leptin secretion could be of physiological relevance.

Combined effects of insulin and dexamethasone on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 3 and glycogen metabolism in cultured rat hepatocytes

Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were used to study the combined effects of insulin and dexamethasone on cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE 3) and glycogen metabolism. PDE activity was measured in extracts obtained by hypotonic shock treatment of the particulate fraction from cultured hepatocytes. PDE 3 was identified by inhibition with ICI 118233, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation of the activity with the use of a new PDE 3B-specific anti-peptide antibody and stimulation of the activity after adding insulin, glucagon and okadaic acid to the culture medium. Specific PDE inhibitors were always used to identify the measured PDE activities. Hypotonic extracts contained 30% PDE 3 and 50% PDE 4. Both PDE types show a nearly constant level during cultivation up to 48 h. Long-term exposure of dexamethasone alone has no effect on PDE 3 activity, whereas, in combination with insulin, the insulin stimulation of PDE 3 activity was found to be increased between 48 and 72 h of cultivation. Additionally, db-cAMP was able to stimulate PDE 3. A possible effect of insulin or db-cAMP on PDE 3B expression could not be found. On the other hand, activation of PDE 3B after 48 h of culturing decreased rapidly after removal of insulin or db-cAMP from the culture medium. Insulin-stimulated incorporation of 14C-glucose into glycogen was inhibited by PDE 3- and PDE 4-specific inhibitors as well as by the unspecific PDE inhibitor IMBX. Inhibitions by PDE 3- and PDE 4-specific inhibitors were found to be additive and reached the same extent as with IMBX. Summarising our results, we can conclude that PDE 3 and PDE 4 effectively control the hepatic glycogen metabolism. Insulin effects on PDE activity and glycogen metabolism require the presence of dexamethasone. Insulin-stimulated PDE seems to play an important role in realising insulin effects on hepatic glycogen metabolism.

Neurotensin enhances agonist-induced cAMP accumulation in PC3 cells via Ca2+ -dependent adenylyl cyclase(s)

A human prostate cancer cell line (PC3) with abundant neurotensin (NT) receptors was used to demonstrate that NT potentiated 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophate (cAMP) accumulation in response to a variety of stimuli, including both direct forskolin (F) and indirect (prostaglandin, (PGE2), isoproterenol (ISO) and cholera toxin (CTx)) activators of adenylyl cyclase. Several mechanisms were investigated and our results indicated an effect on the rate of cAMP formation and not on degradation or extrusion. For each stimulus, NT enhanced efficacy without altering EC50. The effect of NT did not involve stimulatory G-protein (Gs)-activation or interference with a tonic inhibitory G-protein (Gi)-mediated inhibition. A similar response was obtained when NT was added with the stimulus or given as a two minute pulse which was removed prior to addition of stimulus. The potentiating activity disappeared with a t1,2 of approximately 15 min. NT transiently elevated cellular [Ca2+]i and its effects on cAMP could be mimicked by [Ca2+]i-elevating agents (uridine triphosphate (UTP), thapsigargin and ionomycin). Buffering cellular [Ca2+]i with 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM) inhibited cAMP responses to ISO and F in presence and absence of NT. These data support the idea that NT potentiated cAMP formation in response to a variety of stimuli by facilitating the activation of Ca2+ -dependent adenylyl cyclases.

Varying very low-density lipoprotein secretion of rat hepatocytes by altering cellular levels of calcium and the activity of protein kinase C

BACKGROUND

Calcium antagonists lower plasma levels of lipoproteins and suppress hepatic very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion. Similar effects have been observed with the calcium ionophore A23187. We studied further the effect of calcium on VLDL metabolism.

METHODS

Hepatocytes from male Wistar rats were isolated and cultured in the presence or absence of calcium-mobilizing hormones, or compounds that either stimulate or inhibit the activity of protein kinase C. Secreted VLDL (d < 1.006 g mL-1) was isolated by centrifugation (145,000 x g), and lipids and apolipoprotein B were analysed.

RESULTS

VLDL secretion reached maximum in hepatocytes cultured in medium containing calcium 0.8-2.4 mmolL-1. Depleting the cells of calcium by incubating in calcium-free medium or by treating the cells with the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (5 x 10-7 molL-1) suppressed lipid secretion to less than 15% of control, and this was accompanied by an increase in cellular levels of triacylglycerol. Calcium loading (medium calcium > 2.4 mmolL-1) suppressed both lipoprotein secretion and cellular levels of lipids, suggesting a reduced overall rate of lipid synthesis. At an extracellular calcium concentration of 0.8 mmolL-1, angiotensin II, vasopressin, endothelin-1 (10(-7) molL-1) or phenylephrine (10(-4) molL-1) suppressed VLDL secretion (maximum to 37% of control), and elevated medium calcium attenuated this effect. The protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine (5 x 10(-5) molL-1) and the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (10(-6) molL-1), suppressed VLDL secretion to 18% and 60% of control, respectively, whereas the protein kinase C-inactive 4 alpha-PMA was without an effect. No effect on ketogenesis was observed by these compounds, indicating that suppressed lipid secretion was not due to an enhanced oxidation of lipids.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic VLDL secretion can be related to changes in hepatocyte levels of calcium and the activity of protein kinase C.

Protein kinase C isoforms play differential roles in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation

In this study we first established, by immunoblotting with specific antibodies, the temporal changes in cellular levels of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms during differentiation of 3T3-F442A pre-adipocytes. Both pre-adipocyte and adipocyte 3T3-F442A cells were found to express PKC-alpha, -gamma, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -mu. However we were unable to detect PKC-beta, -eta or -theta. The same PKC isoform expression profile was found in rat adipocytes. The alpha, delta and gamma isoforms displayed similar temporal patterns of expression during differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells; all increased rapidly, peaking at day 2 of differentiation. Subsequently, the expression of these isoforms decreased, resulting in lower levels in fully differentiated adipocytes than in pre-adipocytes. The expression of PKC-epsilon increased steadily during differentiation, resulting in markedly elevated levels in adipocytes. Although expression of PKC-mu increased during differentiation, this was attributable to prolonged confluence rather than to the differentiation process itself. No change was observed in PKC-zeta levels during adipocyte development. Anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were used to deplete selectively the individual PKC subtypes. Each of the ODNs used effectively depleted the specific isoforms to undetectable levels and did not affect expression of the other PKC subtypes. This approach indicated that pre-adipocyte differentiation is not dependent upon PKC-zeta but that PKC-alpha,-delta and -mu each exert an inhibitory influence upon differentiation. Use of anti-sense ODNs to deplete PKC-epsilon and -gamma revealed that pre-adipocyte differentiation is dependent upon each of these isoforms. However, PKC-gamma, but not PKC-epsilon, appeared to be necessary for the clonal expansion of differentiating cells, suggesting that PKC-epsilon is required at a later phase in the differentiation process, when its expression is elevated, for the attainment and maintenance of the adipocyte phenotype.

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) does not act via the human growth hormone-releasing factor receptor in GC cells

Effect of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on ovine somatotrophs is abolished by a growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) receptor antagonist, which raises the possibility that GHRP-2 may act on GRF receptors. In the present study, we used rat pituitary GC cells with or without stable transfection of cDNA coding for the human GRF receptor (GC/R+ or GC/R-) to determine whether or not GHRP-2 acts via the GRF receptor. Northern blot analysis indicated that GRF receptor mRNA was undetectable in GC/R-cells, whereas a high level of expression occurred in GC/R+ cells that were transfected by GRF receptor cDNA. In GC/R- cells, incubation with up to 10(-7)M of either hGRF or GHRP-2 did not alter the intracellular cAMP, [Ca2+]i, or GH secretion. In GC/R+ cells, hGRF (10(-11)-10(-7)M) increased cAMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner up to 20-fold. This increase in cAMP levels was blocked by a GRF receptor antagonist, [Ac-Tyr1, D-Arg2]-GRF 1-29, but not by a Ca2+ channel blocker, NiCl2 (0.5 mM). GH secretion and [Ca2+]i were, however, not increased by hGRF. Incubation of the transfected cells with 10(-1)-10(-8)MGH RP-2 did not modify intracellular cAMP levels. This result suggests that GHRP-2 does not act through the GRF receptor.

Opposing regulatory effects of protein kinase C on the cAMP cascade in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells

The functional role of protein kinase C in the cAMP signaling cascade was investigated in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Protein kinase C activation after short exposure to 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased the intracellular cAMP level up to 3- to 5-fold after 30 min. Such enhancement was almost completely blocked by the selective protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (GF 109203X). In addition, PMA, but not 4-alpha-PMA, synergistically elevated cAMP levels when adenylyl cyclase was activated directly by forskolin or indirectly by G protein activation after cholera toxin treatment or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) treatment in digitonin-permeabilized cells. The results indicate that protein kinase C directly increases adenylyl cyclase activity and synergistically enhances it, when it is simultaneously activated otherwise. On the other hand, a 10-min treatment with PMA cut the cAMP accumulation induced by histamine, prostaglandin E2, or isoproterenol by 50-70%. However, the binding affinity and total binding of [3H]histamine to membrane receptors was not effected by PMA, suggesting that the site of protein kinase C's action is not at the receptor level. Western blot analysis of protein kinase C isozymes revealed that PMA (100 nM) caused translocation of cytosolic protein kinase C such as alpha, beta and epsilon to the particulate/membrane fraction. Treatment with a lower concentration of PMA (10 nM) translocated the protein kinase C-epsilon within 2 min, while it had little effect on the translocation of protein kinase C-alpha and -beta up to 20 min. However, simultaneous treatment with 10 nM PMA plus histamine for 5 min significantly inhibited the histamine-mediated cAMP generation, indicating that the protein kinase C-epsilon could be involved in the inhibition of receptor-mediated cAMP generation. Taken together, we conclude that PMA, through the activation of protein kinase C, has two opposite effects on the cAMP signaling cascade in HL-60 cells: a direct activation of adenylyl cyclase and an inhibition of receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Protein kinase C-mediated down-regulation of beta1-adrenergic receptor gene expression in rat C6 glioma cells

In the current study, we investigated the mechanism by which protein kinase C (PKC) regulates the expression of beta1-adrenergic receptor (beta1AR) mRNA in rat C6 glioma cells. Exposure of the cells to 4beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), an activator PKC, resulted in a down-regulation of both beta1AR binding sites and mRNA levels in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This effect was not observed with phorbol esters that do not activate PKC and was blocked by bisindolylmaleimide, a specific PKC inhibitor. Activation of PKC did not reduce the half-life of beta1AR mRNA but significantly decreased the activity of the beta1AR promoter, as determined by reporter analysis. A putative response element, with partial homology to a consensus cAMP response element, was identified by mutation analysis of the promoter at positions -343 to -336, relative to the translational start site. Mutation of this putative regulatory element, referred to as a beta1AR-PKC response element, completely blocked the PKC-mediated down-regulation of beta1AR promoter activity. Gel mobility shift analysis detected two specific bands when C6 cell extracts were incubated with a labeled DNA probe containing the beta1AR-PKC response element sequence. Formation of one of these bands was inhibited by an oligonucleotide probe containing a consensus CRE and disrupted by an antibody for cAMP response element binding protein. Based on these studies, we propose that the PKC-induced down-regulation of beta1AR gene transcription in C6 cells is mediated in part by a cAMP response element binding protein-dependent mechanism acting on a novel response element.

Characterization of prostanoid receptor-evoked responses in rat sensory neurones

1. Prostanoid receptor-mediated sensitization, or excitation, of sensory nerve fibres contributes to the generation of hyperalgesia. To characterize the prostanoid receptors present on sensory neurones, biochemical assays were performed on primary cultures of adult rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the F-11 (embryonic rat DRG x neuroblastoma hybrid) cell line. 2. In DRG cultures, the IP receptor agonists, cicaprost and carbaprostacyclin (cPGI2) stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also increased cyclic AMP levels, but to a lesser extent, while carbocyclic thromboxane A2 (cTxA2), PGD2 and PGF2alpha had negligible effects. The rank order of agonist potency was cicaprost>PGE2=BMY45778=cPGI2=PGI2. In the F-11 cells, the rank order of agonist potency for the stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation was: cicaprost>iloprost=cPGI2=PGI2=BMY45778>PGE2=cTXA2++ +. In DRG cultures, cicaprost induced significantly more accumulation of inositol phosphates than PGE2. 3. To examine the effects of prostanoids on C-fibre activity, extracellular recordings of d.c. potentials from the rat isolated vagus nerve were made with the 'grease-gap' technique. PGI2 (0.1 nM-10 microM) produced the largest depolarizations of the nerve. The rank order of agonist potency was: PGI2=cPGI2=PGE1>cTXA2>PGE2=PGD2=TXB2>PGF2alpha. 4. Prior depolarization of nerves with either forskolin (10 microM) or phorbol dibutyrate (1 microM) alone significantly reduced the response to PGI2 (10 microM), while simultaneous application of both forskolin and phorbol dibutyrate attenuated PGI2 responses almost completely. 5. Putative EP1 and/or TP receptor-selective antagonists had no effect on the responses to PGI2, cPGI2 or PGE2 in the three preparations studied. 6. Collectively, these data are consistent with a positive coupling of IP receptors to both adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C in sensory neurones. These findings suggest that IP receptors play a major role in the sensitization of rat sensory neurones.

A novel lipid-anchored A-kinase Anchoring Protein facilitates cAMP-responsive membrane events

Compartmentalization of protein kinases with substrates is a mechanism that may promote specificity of intracellular phosphorylation events. We have cloned a low-molecular weight A-kinase Anchoring Protein, called AKAP18, which targets the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) to the plasma membrane, and permits functional coupling to the L-type calcium channel. Membrane anchoring is mediated by the first 10 amino acids of AKAP18, and involves residues Gly1, Cys4 and Cys5 which are lipid-modified through myristoylation and dual palmitoylation, respectively. Transient transfection of AKAP18 into HEK-293 cells expressing the cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel promoted a 34 9% increase in cAMP-responsive Ca2+ currents. In contrast, a targeting-deficient mutant of AKAP18 had no effect on Ca2+ currents in response to the application of a cAMP analog. Further studies demonstrate that AKAP18 facilitates GLP-1-mediated insulin secretion in a pancreatic beta cell line (RINm5F), suggesting that membrane anchoring of the kinase participates in physiologically relevant cAMP-responsive events that may involve ion channel activation.

Cell signalling and the hormonal stimulation of the hepatic glycine cleavage enzyme system by glucagon

The glycine cleavage enzyme system (GCS) is found in mitochondria. In liver it is activated by glucagon and other hormones but it is not known how the hormonal signal is transmitted to the mitochondria. We found that the cell-permeant protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid stimulated flux through GCS and could induce a significant increase in the sensitivity of GCS and of glycogenolysis to glucagon. Half-maximal stimulation of GCS by glucagon occurred at 3.2+/-0.6 nM, whereas it was fully activated at 0.3 nM in the presence of 1 microM okadaic acid. The protein kinase A agonist adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Sp isomer (10 microM) stimulated the GCS flux by approx. 100%. This stimulation was inhibited by the protein kinase A antagonist 8-bromoadenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Rp isomer (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS). Although Rp-8-Br-cAMPS significantly inhibited glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis it had no effect on the glucagon-stimulated GCS flux. These results indicate that a cytoplasmic phosphorylated protein is involved in transmitting glucagon's effect to the mitochondria. However, protein kinase A does not have a necessary role in transmitting glucagon's signal. We also examined the role of protein kinase C because angiotensin II also stimulated flux through GCS. However, the phorbol ester PMA had no effect on either GCS or on glycogenolysis.

Effect of PGE2 on the cell surface molecule expression in PMA treated thymocytes

PGE2 is produced by cells of the thymic microenvironment. The effects of PGE2 are mediated by cAMP through binding to its intracellular receptor protein kinase A (PKA). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) is known to modulate CD molecule expression on thymocytes, probably through activation of protein kinase C (PKC). We have hypothesized that cross-talk between these two signalling pathways may affect modulation of the CD molecules on the cell surface of thymocytes. For this purpose, we compare the effects of PMA alone or combined with PGE2 on CD3, CD4 and CD8 expression on mouse thymocytes by flow-cytometric analysis. PMA treatment almost completely abolished CD4 expression and slightly decreased CD3 and CD8 expression. PGE2 alone did not change the CD3, CD4 and CD8 molecule expression. Combined with PMA, PGE2 can overcome the decrease induced by PMA of the CD3 expression and partially reduced the disappearance of the CD4 molecule. On the other hand PGE2 accelerated the loss of CD8 molecule expression. These events occurred only in CD4+ CD8+ immature thymocytes. An analogue of cAMP (dibutyryl cAMP) mimics the effect of PGE2, but not Br-cGMP. This differential regulation by PGE2 of the CD molecule expression on immature thymocytes may provide additional evidence on the role of PGE2 during the process of thymic differentiation.

Anoxic injury of endothelial cells causes divergent changes in protein kinase C and protein kinase A signaling pathways

Alterations in protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent kinase have been documented in anoxic brain injury. However, the regulation of these signaling enzymes in the cerebrovasculature has not been explored. In this study, cultured brain endothelial cells exposed to anoxic injury (anoxia--20 min/reoxygenation--40 min) showed both a significant increase (p < 0.001) in PKC and decrease (p < 0.01) in cAMP-dependent kinase activity. Analysis of PKC by Western blot indicated an increase in kinase level in response to anoxic injury, whereas there was no change in the level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, as measured by labeled cAMP binding. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase did not affect these changes. Addition of the nitric oxide-releasing compound sodium nitroprusside caused a dose-dependent increase in the activity of both signaling systems in endothelial cells. These data demonstrate that anoxic injury of brain endothelial cells in culture causes significant and divergent changes in signaling kinase activity. Abnormalities in brain endothelial PKC and cAMP-dependent kinase could have important consequences for the blood-brain barrier in anoxic brain injury.

Staurosporine and H7 attenuate ethanol-induced elevation in [Ca2+]i in cultured canine cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells

Chronic exposure of cultured canine cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells to ethanol (10-400 mM) for 1-5 days resulted in significant concentration-dependent elevation in resting intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels. Preincubation of these cultured vascular cells with inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), staurosporine and H7, induced no apparent changes from the control resting levels of [Ca2+]i. However, the increases of [Ca2+]i due to ethanol treatment were attenuated markedly by staurosporine and H7. Our data suggest that activation of PKC plays an important role in ethanol's action in producing a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i in cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells. Activation of PKC could thus play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced cerebral ischemia and stroke.

cAMP and Ca2+ involvement in the mitochondrial response of cultured fetal rat hepatocytes to adrenaline

The effect of adrenaline on the control of respiratory activity of mitochondria from fetal hepatocytes in primary culture was studied. In the absence of adrenaline, the respiratory control ratio (RCR) of mitochondria increased during the first 3 days of culture due to a decrease in the rate of state 4 respiration. The presence of adrenaline in the incubation medium further increased the mitochondrial RCR through a decrease in the rate of respiration in state 4 and to an increase in the respiration rate in state 3. The effect of adrenaline was mimicked by dibutyryl-cAMP, forskolin, and isobutyl methyl xanthine. All these compounds increased cAMP concentrations, suggesting that cAMP may be involved in the effect of adrenaline. The increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations caused by phenylephrine, vasopressin, or thapsigargin was also accompanied by an increase in the RCR, suggesting that both phenomena are associated. Dibutyryl-cAMP also increased free Ca2+ concentrations, suggesting that the effects of cAMP may be mediated by free Ca2+ concentrations. Adrenaline, dibutyryl-cAMP, phenylephrine, vasopressin, and thapsigargin promoted adenine nucleotide accumulation in mitochondria; this may be an intermediate step in the activation of mitochondrial respiratory function. These results suggest that the stimulatory effect of adrenaline on mitochondrial maturation in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes may be exerted through a mechanism in which both cAMP and Ca2+ act as second messengers. It is concluded that the effect of adrenaline on mitochondrial maturation is exerted by both alpha- and beta-adrenergic mechanisms and is mediated by the increase in adenine nucleotide contents of mitochondria.

Regulation of rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity by PKC is modulated by state of phosphorylation of Ser-943 by PKA

We have previously shown that the rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1-isoform is phosphorylated at Ser-943 by protein kinase A (PKA) and at Ser-23 by protein kinase C (PKC), which in both cases results in inhibition of enzyme activity. We now present evidence that suggests that the phosphorylation of Ser-943 by PKA modulates the response of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase to PKC. Rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1 or a mutant in which Ser-943 was changed to Ala-943 was stably expressed in COS cells. The inhibition of enzyme activity measured in response to treatment with the phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu; 10(-6) M), was significantly reduced in the cells expressing the Ala-943 mutant compared with that observed in cells expressing wild-type enzyme. In contrast, for cells expressing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1 in which Ser-943 was mutated to Asp-943, the effect of PDBu was slightly enhanced. The PDBu-induced inhibition was not mediated by activation of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate/PKA system and was not achieved via direct phosphorylation of Ser-943. Sp-5,6-DCI-cBIMPS, a specific PKA activator, increased the phosphorylation of Ser-943, and this was associated with an enhanced response to PDBu. Thus the effect of PKC on rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1 is determined not only by the activity of PKC but also by the state of phosphorylation of Ser-943.

Infarct size-reducing effect of ischemic preconditioning is related to alpha1b-adrenoceptors but not to alpha1a-adrenoceptors in rabbits

In rabbits and rats, both stimulation of alpha-adrenoceptors and ischemic preconditioning (PC) reduce infarct size. Activation of alpha1b-adrenoceptors play an important role in the PC effect on ventricular function in rats. However, the alpha1-adrenoceptors have not been reported to be related to the PC effect in rabbits, because the infarct size-reducing effect of PC is not blocked by the nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phenoxybenzamine (POB) or by the alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, BE2254. However, we speculated that alpha1b-adrenoceptors but not alpha1a-adrenoceptors may be related to the infarct size-reducing effect of PC in rabbit hearts. Thus we examined in rabbits whether the alpha1b-adrenoceptor blocker chloroethylclonidine (CEC), the alpha1a-adrenoceptor blocker 5-methylurapidil (5-MU), the selective alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist bunazosin (BN), and the nonselective apha-adrenoceptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine (POB) can block the PC effect on infarct size. Eighty-eight anesthetized open-chest Japanese white male rabbits were subjected to 30-min coronary occlusion and 48-h reperfusion. In five PC groups, the rabbits were subjected to a single 5-min occlusion and 5-min reperfusion before 30-min sustained ischemia. In the PC groups, those with CEC (3 mg/kg, n = 10), 5-MU (3 mg/kg, n = 10), BN (0.3 mg/kg, n = 10), POB (4 mg/kg, n = 10), or placebo saline (n = 10) were pretreated before PC. In the non-PC groups, those with CEC (3 mg/kg, n = 7), 5-MU (3 mg/kg, n = 7), BN (0.3 mg/kg, n = 7), POB (4 mg/kg, n = 7), or placebo saline (n = 10) were pretreated before 30-min sustained ischemia. After a 48-h reperfusion, the infarct size was measured histologically and expressed as a percentage of the area at risk. PC caused a marked reduction of infarct size as compared with the non-PC control (10 +/- 3% vs. 42 +/- 2%; p < 0.05). The PC effect was completely blocked by CEC (36 +/- 2%) and by BN (42 +/- 4%) but not by 5-MU (14 +/- 1%) or POB (13 +/- 2%). None of the drugs by itself affected the infarct size. Stimulation of alpha1b-adrenoceptors but not of alpha1a-adrenoceptors during PC plays an important role in the PC effect on infarct size. This may explain the previous confusion concerning the PC blocking effect of various alpha1-blockers.

Co-transfection with protein kinase D confers phorbol-ester-mediated inhibition on glucagon-stimulated cAMP accumulation in COS cells transfected to overexpress glucagon receptors

Glucagon elicited a profound increase in the intracellular cAMP concentration of COS-7 cells which had been transiently transfected with a cDNA encoding the rat glucagon receptor and under conditions where cAMP phosphodiesterase activity was fully inhibited. This was achieved in a dose-dependent fashion with an EC50 of 1.8+/-0.4 nM glucagon. In contrast with previous observations made using hepatocytes [Heyworth, Whetton, Kinsella and Houslay (1984) FEBS Lett. 170, 38-42], treatment of transfected COS-7 cells with PMA did not inhibit the ability of glucagon to increase intracellular cAMP levels. PMA-mediated inhibition was not conferred by treatment with okadaic acid, nor by co-transfecting cells with cDNAs encoding various protein kinase C isoforms (PKC-alpha, PKC-betaII and PKC-epsilon) or with the PMA-activated G-protein-receptor kinases GRK2 and GRK3. In contrast, PMA induced the marked inhibition of glucagon-stimulated cAMP production in COS-7 cells that had been co-transfected with a cDNA encoding protein kinase D (PKD). Such inhibition was not due to an action on the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase, as forskolin-stimulated cAMP production was unchanged by PMA treatment of COS cells that had been co-transfected with both the glucagon receptor and PKD. PKD transcripts were detected in RNA isolated from hepatocytes but not from COS-7 cells. Transcripts for GRK2 were present in hepatocytes but not in COS cells, whereas transcripts for GRK3 were not found in either cell type. It is suggested that PKD may play a role in the regulation of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase.

Phorbol ester and forskolin suppress the presynaptic inhibitory action of group-II metabotropic glutamate receptor at rat hippocampal mossy fibre synapse

Selective activation of second messenger pathways were tested on presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor action at mossy fibre-CA3 synapses, using a rat hippocampal slice preparation. Application of the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12,13-diacetate, or the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, markedly enhanced the mossy fibre field excitatory postsynaptic potentials, and suppressed the relative magnitude of the synaptic depression induced by (2S,1'R,2'R,3'R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine, an agonist at group-II metabotropic glutamate receptors. These effects were also observed in a low Ca2+ solution, suggesting that they were not due to saturation of transmitter release process. Inactive analogues of the respective activators (4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate and 1,9-dideoxyforskolin) neither enhanced the mossy fibre responses nor suppressed (2S,1'R,2'R,3'R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine-induced synaptic depression. These results suggest that the presynaptic inhibitory action of group-II metabotropic glutamate receptors at mossy fibre-CA3 synapses could be negatively regulated by protein kinase C- and cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms.

Phorbol esters affect cyclic nucleotide-mediated responses in cultured chick lens annular pad cells

Cultured chick lens annular pad cells were treated with a lipid soluble cAMP analog, the phorbol ester TPA or a combination of the two compounds in order to assess their effects on mitotic activity, cell spreading and the accumulation of differentiation marker proteins. Both 8b-cAMP and TPA were individually able to inhibit mitotic activity in cells cultured in the presence of 5% serum. The combination of the two produced a greater degree of mitotic inhibition. Both compounds were also able to inhibit cellular spreading onto laminin coated surfaces. Opposite effects on the accumulation of differentiation marker proteins were observed for the two compounds. While 8b-cAMP increased levels of marker proteins, TPA or the combination of TPA and 8b-cAMP reduced levels of marker proteins. These data indicate that crosstalk between two distinct signal transduction systems in the lens is able to influence cell behaviors implicated in the development of secondary or posterior subcapsular cataract. In addition, these data demonstrate that both positive and negative regulatory influences affect the accumulation of differentiated characteristics.

The thrombin receptor in adrenal medullary microvascular endothelial cells is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase through a Gi protein

The effects of thrombin on adenylyl cyclase activity were examined in rat adrenal medullary microvascular endothelial cells (RAMEC). Confluent RAMEC monolayers were stimulated for 5 min with cAMP-generating agents in the absence and presence of thrombin, and intracellular cAMP was measured with a radioligand binding assay. Thrombin (0.001-0.25 U/ml) dose-dependently inhibited IBMX-, isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. A peptide agonist of the thrombin receptor, gamma-thrombin, and the serine proteases trypsin and plasmin, also inhibited agonist-stimulated cAMP levels, while proteolytically inactive PPACK- or DIP-alpha-thrombins were without effect. Moreover, the thrombin inhibitor hirudin abolished the inhibitory effect of thrombin but not of the peptide agonist. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of thrombin on cAMP accumulation is mediated by a proteolytically-activated thrombin receptor. The inhibitor of G(i)-proteins pertussis toxin abolished the inhibitory effect of thrombin on isoproterenol- or IBMX-stimulated cAMP production, while the phorbol ester PMA partly impaired it. The protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine or H7 and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM were without effect. Collectively, our data suggest that the thrombin receptor in RAMEC is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i)-protein.

Growth hormone and phorbol esters require specific protein kinase C isoforms to activate mitogen-activated protein kinases in 3T3-F442A cells

Previous studies have shown that the activation of p44 and p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) by growth hormone (GH) and phorbol esters, but not by epidermal growth factor, in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes is dependent on protein kinase C (PKC). In the present study two approaches have been taken to determine the PKC isoform dependence of MAP kinase activation in these cells. By immunoblotting with specific antibodies, the cells were found to express PKC-alpha, -gamma,-delta, -epsilon and -zeta. Treatment of cells with 500 nM PMA for 3 h led to the complete depletion of PKC-delta and the partial depletion of PKC-alpha but did not significantly affect the expression of the other PKC isoforms. In parallel, such treatment severely attenuated the ability of GH to activate MAP kinase. The degree of this attenuation was not increased by more prolonged PMA pretreatment, indicating that PKC-delta and perhaps PKC-alpha are important for MAP kinase activation by GH. These experiments further revealed that additional PKC isoforms were required for the full activation of MAP kinases by acute treatment with PMA. A second approach involved the use of anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to deplete the individual PKC isoforms selectively. Each of the ODNs used effectively depleted the relevant isoform to undetectable levels and did not affect the expression of the other PKC isoforms. Pretreatment of cells with PKC-delta anti-sense ODN, but not with anti-sense ODN to the other phorbol ester-sensitive isoforms, severely attenuated the activation of MAP kinases by GH. PKC-delta anti-sense ODN also blocked (by approx. 50%) the activation of MAP kinases by PMA. Furthermore a combination of PKC-delta and -epsilon anti-sense ODNs completely blocked the effect of PMA on MAP kinases. Collectively, these results indicate that the novel PKC-delta and -epsilon isoforms can couple to the MAP kinase pathway in 3T3-F442A cells but that the activation of MAP kinases by GH specifically involves PKC-delta.

1 alpha,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 stimulates the adenylyl cyclase pathway in muscle cells by a GTP-dependent mechanism which presumably involves phosphorylation of G alpha i

To further understand the mechanism underlying 1,25(OH)2D3 activation of the cAMP pathway, the effect of the hormone on adenylyl cyclase (AC), GTPase and protein kinase A (PKA) activities as well as on the phosphorylation of G alpha i was studied in membranes from chick skeletal muscle cells. The sterol stimulated AC activity in a dose (0.1-10 nM) and time (1-5 min.) dependent fashion, provided GTP (10 microM) was present in the assay. High affinity GTPase activity was unaffected by the hormone. In the absence of GTP or in the presence of Mn2+ (20 mM), 1,25(OH)2D3 effects on AC were abolished. PKA activity was increased (+120%) in cells pretreated (1 nM, 5 min.) with the sterol. Moreover, immunoprecipitation of G alpha i from [32P]-labeled myoblast membranes showed that 5 min. exposure to 1 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 increased (1.5-2 fold) the phosphorylation of its alpha subunit. The present data suggest that in muscle cells, 1,25(OH)2D3 activates AC by a non direct, GTP-dependent action which could imply amelioration of Gi function by sterol-induced alpha i phosphorylation.

G-protein-mediated desensitization of metabotropic glutamatergic and muscarinic responses in CA3 cells in rat hippocampus

1. Desensitization of a metabotropic response was investigated in CA3 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slice cultures using the patch-clamp technique. 2. 1S,3R-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (1S,3R-ACPD), an agonist at metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), and metacholine (MCh), an agonist at muscarinic receptors, induced a cationic current that appears to be activated through a G-protein-independent transduction process, as previously shown. Prolonged or repetitive bath application of agonists led to rapid desensitization of the cationic current with a time constant of approximately 20 s. 3. Complete recovery from desensitization was observed within 6 min. 4. These responses mediated by mGluRs and muscarinic receptors cross-desensitized. 5. Preventing the activation of G-proteins by loading cells with GDP beta S strongly reduced or suppressed desensitization, and resulted in a sustained inward cationic current. When cells were filled with GTP gamma S to irreversibly activate G-proteins, the desensitization process was enhanced such that a first application of agonist caused a markedly reduced response. 6. These results show that a cationic current induced by metabotropic agonists in hippocampal pyramidal cells undergoes apparent desensitization and suggests that this process occurs through a G-protein-mediated inhibition of the underlying membrane conductance.

Cross-talk between cellular signaling pathways activated by substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in rat lactotroph-enriched pituitary cell cultures

We have investigated cross-talk between the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC)/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) messenger systems probed by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP), respectively, in rat pituitary cell cultures enriched in lactotrophs. VIP and forskolin had no effect on the basal distribution pattern of the four PKC isozymes (alpha, beta, delta, and zeta) detectable in lactotroph-enriched cell cultures derived from peripubertal male rats, whereas both compounds significantly increased translocation of PKC alpha and beta from the cytosol to the plasma membrane induced by SP. The delta and zeta subspecies were not affected by VIP and forskolin. Moreover, VIP and forskolin also stimulated SP-induced formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 while having no effect on basal inositol phosphate turnover. The effects of VIP and forskolin on PKC isozyme distribution could be blocked by pretreating cells with the PKA inhibitor rp-cAMP. On the other hand, SP potentiated the effect of VIP and forskolin on cAMP formation while having no effect on the cAMP pathway when it was not triggered by an appropriate agonist. Down-regulation of PKC activity by long term 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) treatment (24 h) diminished, but did not abolish, the effect of SP on VIP-stimulated cAMP production. Staurosporine and dopamine inhibited the potentiating effect of SP on cAMP accumulation. TPA, which translocates PKC alpha, beta, and delta in lactotrophs, had a synergistic effect on cAMP formation induced by VIP, but did also, unlike SP, display cAMP rising abilities when cells were not exposed to VIP and forskolin. Discharging intracellular Ca2+ by thapsigargin pretreatment had no effect on the basal cAMP concentration or the VIP-induced cAMP response, whereas exposure of cells to SP, thapsigargin, and VIP resulted in a decrease of the cAMP response compared with SP + VIP. The potentiating effect of SP on the VIP response could also be inhibited, but not blocked, by staurosporine. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that there exists substantial cross-talk between the cAMP/PKA and PKC/Ins(1,4,5)P3 messenger systems in lactotroph-enriched cell cultures. Key effectors seem to be PKA, one or more of PKC alpha, beta, deleta and Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ stores.

PKC-dependent long-term effect of PMA on protein cell surface expression in Caco-2 cells

Several recent data indicate that protein traffic is under the control of different phosphorylation pathways. In previous works, we have shown that cell surface expression of apical hydrolases and of a basolateral protein, "525" antigen, was impaired in Caco-2 cells treated with forskolin, a potent PKA activator (L. Baricault et al., 1995, J. Cell Sci., 108, 2109-2121). Surprisingly, in these experiments forskolin did not seem to act through PKA activation. These cAMP-independent effects of FK may rely on cross-talk between intracellular phosphorylation pathways as described recently for PKA and PKC pathways. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that PKC activation may induce effects comparable to those of FK on three brush border hydrolases as well as on 525 antigen cell surface expression in Caco-2 cells. Using enzymatic activity measurements and pulse-chase experiments combined with cell surface biotinylation assays, we show that long-term treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) impairs the overall expression of neither brush border hydrolases nor that of the 525 antigen but decreases total cell surface expression of these proteins. The apical and basolateral delivery pathways are equally affected. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy we show that the DPP IV and the 525 antigen that were not recovered from the cell surface were sequestrated in Lamp-1-positive lysosomal-related vesicles. PMA stimulates PKC translocation even after a 3-week treatment and induces PKC epsilon redistribution to a vesicular- and membrane-associated compartment also labeled with cytokeratins. These results demonstrate that PMA-dependent PKC activation strongly impairs protein cell surface targeting. They also suggest that these PKC-dependent effects which are similar to those previously obtained with FK are relevant to the described cross-talk between PKA- and PKC-dependent phosphorylation pathways.

Conformation-dependent activation of type II adenylyl cyclase by protein kinase C

Phorbol ester treatment enhanced the catalytic activity of type II adenylyl cyclase overexpressed in insect cells. In cells coexpressing type II adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase C-alpha, type II adenylyl cyclase catalytic activity was higher even in the absence of phorbol ester treatment; phorbol ester treatment further and markedly enhanced type II adenylyl cyclase catalytic activity. However, this enhancement, either by phorbol ester treatment or by coexpression of protein kinase C-alpha, was lost following membrane solubilization with detergents. This attenuation was unaffected by phosphatase inhibitor or salts. In contrast, membrane solubilization did not affect forskolin-stimulated type II adenylyl cyclase catalytic activity. Purified type II adenylyl cyclase was stimulated by forskolin and Gs alpha, but not by protein kinase C-alpha. Therefore, a specific mammalian protein kinase C isoenzyme can activate type II adenylyl cyclase, but the mechanism clearly differs from that underlying either Gs alpha- or forskolin-mediated stimulation.

Muscarinic control of airway function

Muscarinic M1, M2, and M3 receptor subtypes have been shown to be involved in the pre- and postjunctional control of airway diameter of various species, including man. In a guinea pig model of allergic asthma, the prejunctional M2 receptor was shown to become dysfunctional already during the early allergic reaction, thereby contributing to exaggerated vagal reflex activity and airway hyperreactivity. Moreover, a deficiency of endogenous nitric oxide was observed after allergen provocation, which may also contribute to an enhanced postjunctional M3 receptor-mediated cholinergic response. Both in human and in animal airway preparations it was shown that enhanced cholinergic contractions are relatively resistent to beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation. The reduced beta-adrenoceptor function may primarily be due to transductional cross-talk between PI metabolism and adenylyl cyclase, including protein kinase C-induced uncoupling of the beta-adrenoceptor from the effector system. Cross-talk between postjunctional M2 receptor-mediated inhibition and beta-adrenoceptor-induced activation of adenylyl cyclase appears to be of minor functional importance, but could be enhanced in allergic asthma due to increased expression of the inhibitory G protein as induced by cytokines.

Bombesin regulation of adrenocorticotropin release from ovine anterior pituitary cells

Mammalian members of the bombesin-like peptide family (gastrin releasing peptides; GRP) have been localized in the ovine median eminence and in hypophysial-portal blood, suggesting a role in the regulation of anterior pituitary function. In this study we have shown that although bombesin cannot stimulate ACTH secretion alone, it potentiates release by ovine CRF, an effect blocked by the GRP receptor antagonist D-Tyr6bombesin (6-13) propylamide. Bombesin did not potentiate AVP-stimulated ACTH release; instead release was attenuated when bombesin was given at a 10-fold or greater molar excess over AVP, with no interaction seen at lower concentrations. We conclude that ovine corticotrophs express bombesin receptors, and that GRP may act in concert with other hypothalamic releasing factors to regulate ACTH secretion.

Receptor-mediated stimulation of lipid signalling pathways in CHO cells elicits the rapid transient induction of the PDE1B isoform of Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulated cAMP phosphodiesterase

Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells) do not exhibit any Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulated cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE1) activity. Challenge of CHO cells with agonists for endogenous P2-purinoceptors, lysophosphatidic acid receptors and thrombin receptors caused a similar rapid transient induction of PDE1 activity in each instance. This was also evident on noradrenaline challenge of a cloned CHO cell line transfected so as to overexpress alpha 1B-adrenoceptors. This novel PDE1 activity appeared within about 15 min of exposure to ligands, rose to a maximum value within 30 min to 1 h and then rapidly decreased. In each case, the expression of novel PDE1 activity was blocked by the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D. Challenge with insulin of either native CHO cells or a CHO cell line transfected so as to overexpress the human insulin receptor failed to induce PDE1 activity. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses, using degenerate primers able to detect the PDE1C isoform, did not amplify any fragment from RNA preparations of CHO cells expressing PDE1 activity, although they did so from the human thyroid carcinoma FTC133 cell line. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses, using degenerate primers able to detect the PDE1A and PDE1B isoforms, successfully amplified a fragment of the predicted size from RNA preparations of both CHO cells expressing PDE1 activity and human Jurkat T-cells. Sequencing of the PCR products, generated using the PDE1A/B primers, yielded a novel sequence which, by analogy with sequences reported for bovine and murine PDE1B forms, suggests that the PDE1 species induced in CHO cells through protein kinase C activation and that expressed in Jurkat T-cells are PDE1B forms.

Calcium regulation of adenylyl cyclase relevance for endocrine control

A fundamental process in the hormonal regulation of body functions is the conversion of the intercellular signal into an intracellular signal. The first recognized intracellular messengers mediating the actions of hormones were calcium ions (Ca(2+)) and adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (cAMP), which is synthesized from ATP by adenylyl cyclase. Recent work on the structure of adenylyl cyclases has shown that these enzymes are individually tailored molecular machines controlled by diverse Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms. These include allosteric regulation of enzyme activity through the Ca(2+)-receptor protein calmodulin, apparently direct actions of Ca(2+)on the cyclase catalytic moiety and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation by Ca(2+)-regulated protein kinases and protein phosphatases. This article is a brief review of the recent developments in the area of cyclase control that forecast a major revival of the interest in cAMP-Ca(2+)interactions. (c) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc. (Trends Endocrinol Metab 1997;8:7-14).

Functional interaction between gonadotropin-releasing hormone and PACAP in gonadotropes and alpha T3-1 cells

Gonadotropes, like other cells, receive informational input from multiple receptor types, acting through multiple intracellular signaling pathways, and are therefore faced with the task of integrating this input in order to respond appropriately to their environment. In recent years an increasing number of examples of functional interactions occurring between the PIC and adenylyl cyclase signaling pathways in gonadotropes have been described, and the discovery that these cells are targets for PACAP has provided a physiological context for earlier work on gonadotrope regulation by cyclic AMP. The development of the alpha T3-1 cell line has greatly facilitated investigation of the interaction between these signaling systems. In these cells we have obtained no evidence for interaction between the GnRH and PACAP receptor-effector systems at the level of receptor occupancy or expression, but these systems clearly do have reciprocal modulatory effects on second messenger generation and/or mobilization. We are now faced with the challenge of determining the physiological and/or pathophysiological relevance of such interactions.

Protein kinase C in cultured human placental trophoblasts: identification of isoforms and role in cAMP signalling

The protein kinase C (PKC) superfamily is a family of serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of many cell functions. The objective of the present work was to identify the PKC isoenzymes present in human placental trophoblasts and to compare their relative responses to acute and chronic phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment. In addition, the effect of PMA treatment on ligand-stimulated cAMP production was determined. In total extracts prepared from cultured or freshly purified trophoblasts, PKC isoforms alpha, epsilon and zeta were detected. Following acute treatment with PMA, PKC alpha and PKC epsilon were translocated from the cytosol to the particulate fraction. Prolonged treatment (up to 36 h) with PMA resulted in the temporal down-regulation of PKC alpha and PKC epsilon. PKC zeta did not respond to either acute or chronic treatment with PMA. An acute 10 min treatment of the cells with PMA (10(-10)-10(-6) M) enhanced isoprenaline- and adrenaline-stimulated cAMP production. An enhanced response was observed at all concentrations of isoprenaline tested (10(-9)-10(-4) M), suggesting an increased capacity to respond. The acute PMA effect was evident within 2 min and near maximal by 5 min. The acute response to PMA was lost in cells where PKC was down-regulated by prior PMA treatment. Epidermal growth factor, a potential ligand for the activation of PKC in trophoblasts, enhanced isoprenaline-stimulated cAMP production. In summary, activation of PMA-responsive PKCs (PKC alpha or PKC epsilon) appears to enhance ligand-stimulated cAMP production in trophoblasts. This may be a physiologically important example of 'cross-talk' between various signalling pathways in human placental trophoblasts.

Complex regulatory activities associated with the histidine kinase PrrB in expression of photosynthesis genes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 synthesizes a specialized photosynthetic membrane upon reduction of the O2 tension below threshold levels. The genes prrB and prrA encode a sensor kinase and a response regulator, respectively, of a two-component regulatory system that presumably is involved in transduction of the signal(s) that monitors alterations in oxygen levels. A third gene, prrC, is also involved in this cascade of events. Previously, we described a mutant form of PrrB, namely, PrrB78 (J. M. Eraso and S. Kaplan, J. Bacteriol. 177:2695-2706, 1995), which results in aerobic expression of the photosynthetic apparatus. Here we examine three mutated forms of the prrB gene that have the potential to encode truncated polypeptides containing the N-terminal 6, 63, or 163 amino acids, respectively. The resulting mutant strains showed residual levels of the light-harvesting spectral complexes and had diminished photosynthetic growth rates at high light intensities with no discernible growth under intermediate or low light conditions. When either lacZ transcriptional fusions or direct mRNA determinations were used to monitor specific photosynthesis gene expression, all the mutant strains showed unexpectedly high levels of gene expression when compared to mutant strains affected in prrA. Conversely, when translational fusions were used to monitor photosynthesis gene expression in these mutant strains, expression of both puc and puf operons was reduced, especially puf expression. In light of these studies and those of the PrrB78 mutant, the data suggest that PrrA can be activated in situ by something other than PrrB, and it also appears that PrrB can function as a negative regulator acting through PrrA. Finally, we consider the role of the Prr regulatory system in the posttranscriptional control of photosynthesis gene expression.

Protein kinase C plays a key role in the cross-talk between intracellular signalings via prostanoid receptors in a megakaryoblastic cell line, MEG-01s

In a previous study, we characterized prostanoid and thrombin receptors expressed on a megakaryoblastic cell line, MEG-01s (Blood 78, 2328-2336, 1991). In this study, we examines the mechanism of cross-talk between intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and cAMP signalings through prostanoid and thrombin receptors. Addition of a thromboxane (TX)A2 mimetic (U46619 or STA2) or thrombin stimulated the formation of inositol phosphates and dose-dependently augmented a prostaglandin (PG)I2 mimetic (iloprost)- or forskolin-induced cAMP formation. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and ionomycin, to lesser extent, also augmented iloprost-induced cAMP formation. The enhancing effect of U46619 or TPA on cAMP formation was inhibited by prolonged pretreatment of the cells with TPA (2.5 microM, 24 h), but not with calmodulin-antagonists; W-7, W-5, or KN-62. The elevation of [Ca2+]i induced by thrombin, STA2 or PGE2 was significantly suppressed by pretreatment of the cells with TPA (100 nM) as well as cAMP mimetics such as dibutyryl cAMP (5 mM), forskolin (5 microM) and iloprost (1 microM). These results suggest the key role of PKC on the cross-talk between [Ca2+]i and cAMP signalings through prostanoid and thrombin receptors; PKC, which is activated with TXA2 or thrombin, concomitantly suppress further [Ca2+]i elevation and enhances the PGI2 receptor-mediated cAMP formation, which, in turn, suppress [Ca2+]i elevation.