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

Glucagon, vasopressin and angiotensin all elicit a rapid, transient increase in hepatocyte protein kinase C activity

Challenge of intact hepatocytes with one of the hormones vasopressin, angiotensin and glucagon or with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) led to a rapid increase in the activity of protein kinase C found in both cytosol and membrane fractions. Maximal activation by hormones occurred within 1-6 min of challenge of cells, after which activity declined. In membrane fractions protein kinase C activity return to basal levels some 15 min after exposure of cells to either angiotensin or glucagon. In cytosol fractions of cells challenged with hormones a second phase of activation ensued after about 10 min, with levels of protein kinase C activity remaining elevated above basal level 15 min afterwards. Activity changes elicited by PMA were rather different; it took about 15 min to achieve maximal activation of cytosolic protein kinase C activity. In membranes of cells challenged with PMA, an initial rapid and transient activation was followed by a sustained increase in activity occurring about 10 min after exposure of cells to this ligand. Only when hepatocytes were challenged with PMA was the translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to membrane fraction observed. The kinetics of PMA-induced translocation suggested that it accounted for the second phase of the increase in membrane protein kinase C activity which was unique to this ligand.

PKC modulation of inhibitory coupling of angiotensin II receptors with adenylate cyclase in lactotroph cells

Angiotensin II (AII) and thyreoliberin (TRH) have recently been shown to stimulate intracellular cAMP formation in rat lactotroph cells, in addition to their already documented coupling to phospholipase C. The effect on intracellular cAMP is unaffected by pertussis toxin (PTX) and is not due to a direct coupling to adenylate cyclase (AC); it results instead from a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent process. In contrast, when tested in membrane preparations, AII, but not TRH, induces a PTX-sensitive inhibition of AC. The present work indicates that AII, but not TRH, is also able to inhibit intracellular cAMP formation in mixed as well as in lactotroph-enriched cells. Two conditions are required to reveal this effect: desensitization of PKC by prior exposure to TPA and concomitant stimulation of CAMP level. This effect is observed only in the presence of vasoactive intestinal peptide, whose receptor is directly coupled to AC, but not in the presence of other AC-stimulating agents such as cholera toxin and forskolin. This AII inhibitory effect is dose dependent and sensitive to PTX as is AII membrane inhibition of AC activity. PTX also reverses DA inhibition of AC, on both membrane preparations and intact cells. However different G proteins seem to be involved in the negative coupling of AII and DA receptors, since both effects do not exhibit the same PKC sensitivity in entire cells and GTP dependency in membrane preparations. An inhibitory coupling of the AII receptor with AC thus exists in intact cells but is masked by PKC interactions. Under specific conditions, this AII inhibition of intracellular cAMP formation might be implicated in the regulation of PRL secretion.

Inhibition by noradrenaline and adrenaline of the increase in glucose and lactate output and decrease in flow after sympathetic nerve stimulation in perfused rat liver: possible involvement of protein kinase C

In perfused rat liver stimulation of the hepatic nerve plexuses increased via alpha 1-receptors glucose and lactate output decreased flow and caused an overflow of noradrenaline into the hepatic vein. Infusion of noradrenaline and adrenaline also elicited similar metabolic and hemodynamic alterations via alpha 1-receptors, whereas infusion of isoproterenol via beta 2-receptors enhanced glucose output and slightly reduced lactate release without affecting flow. The influence of circulating catecholamines on the nerve stimulation-dependent changes was investigated. Noradrenaline (100 nmol/L) or adrenaline (40 nmol/L) but not isoproterenol (1 mumol/L), which themselves caused about half-maximal alterations, strongly inhibited the nerve stimulation-induced increase in glucose and lactate output and decrease in flow but had no effect on noradrenaline overflow. The protein kinase C activator (4 beta)phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (100 nmol/L) but not its analog (4 alpha)phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (100 nmol/L) strongly inhibited the metabolic and hemodynamic changes caused by nerve stimulation or noradrenaline infusion. The protein kinase C inhibitor H7 (20 mumol/L) partially prevented the inhibition of the nerve actions by noradrenaline. The results lead us to conclude that noradrenaline and adrenaline inhibited the metabolic and hemodynamic nerve actions by means of a mechanism involving protein kinase C rather than presynaptic alpha-receptors or beta-receptors. The catecholamines apparently increased via alpha 1-receptors inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which in turn enhanced cytosolic Ca2+ and thus altered metabolism and in part hemodynamics, and diacylglycerol, which in turn activated protein kinase C and thus feedback inhibited the signal chain from alpha 1-receptors via G proteins to phospholipase C.

Isozymes of cyclic-3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterases in renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells

Metabolism of cAMP and cGMP by the major types (families) of cyclic-3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE) was studied in confluent renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells grown in vitro. LLC-PK1 cells mainly contain the cAMP-specific rolipram-sensitive PDE type-IV (PDE-IV), the Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent PDE type-I and cGMP-specific PDE type-V; all these PDEs are mainly localized in cytosol. Analysis of PDE activities in soluble extract of LLC-PK1 cell homogenate by FPLC ionex chromatography on Mono-Q column also disclosed the presence of low activities of cGMP-stimulated PDE-II and PDE-III. Moreover, activity of PDE-IV was resolved into four distinct chromatographic peaks. The increase of cAMP level in response to incubation of intact LLC-PK1 cells with vasopressin (AVP) was markedly enhanced in the presence of rolipram, but not in the presence of other PDE isozyme-specific inhibitors. Incubation with AVP and atriopeptin (ANP) together resulted in increase in cGMP and a small decrease of cAMP accumulation in LLC-PK1 cells. Results of these studies first show that the LLC-PK1 cells contain all five major types of PDE isozymes where PDE-IV, PDE-I and PDE-V are quantitatively predominant. The rolipram-sensitive PDE-IV, present in several chromatographically distinct forms, appears to be the key PDE isozyme involved in control of cAMP generated in response to stimulation by AVP in LLC-PK1 cells.

Comparison of the actions of adenosine at pre- and postsynaptic receptors in the rat hippocampus in vitro

1. Intracellular microelectrode recordings were used to study the cellular location, the receptor pharmacology, and the mechanism of action of adenosine on pyramidal cells and presynaptic axonal endings in area CA3 of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. 2. Adenosine (bath applied at 50 microM) caused a 10-15 mV hyperpolarization of CA3 cells, as well as a 75-100% decrease in the amplitude of excitatory and polysynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs and IPSPs). Adenosine had no effect on the amplitude of monosynaptic IPSPs elicited in the presence of excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists, but did reduce the amplitude of isolated EPSPs, elicited after blocking GABAA receptors and reducing subsequent epileptic bursts with excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists. These data indicate that adenosine receptors are located on excitatory, but not inhibitory, presynaptic elements. 3. The A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, bath applied at 200 nM) blocked the pre- and postsynaptic actions of adenosine. DPCPX had no effect on the amplitude of control synaptic responses, suggesting that there is no tonic activation of adenosine receptors in hippocampal slice cultures under control conditions. The A1 receptor agonists R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) mimicked all pre- and postsynaptic actions of adenosine. 4. Pertussis toxin pretreatment (500 ng/ml for 48 h) prevented adenosine from activating postsynaptic K+ conductance, but not from inhibiting EPSPs. In contrast, stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol ester (phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate, 1 microM for 10 min) reduced the presynaptic, but not the postsynaptic, actions of adenosine. 5. Barium (bath applied at 1 mM) blocked the adenosine-activated K+ conductance, but not the inhibition of isolated EPSPs by adenosine. 6. Adenosine at 0.03-1 microM reduced the frequency of, or blocked, spontaneous epileptiform bursting produced by bicuculline. DPCPX (200 nM) increased the rate of spontaneous bursting, consistent with a tonic activation of adenosine receptors during hyperactivity, and led to the development of prolonged ictal-like bursts, suggesting that the endogenous release of adenosine may contribute to the termination of epileptic bursts. 7. We conclude that adenosine acts at pre- and postsynaptic receptors which are pharmacologically indistinguishable. Postsynaptically, adenosine increases a barium-sensitive K+ conductance via a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein. The presynaptic action of adenosine must, however, be mediated by some other mechanism.

Phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) stimulates a differential expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) and c-fos mRNA in a human neuroblastoma cell line

Regulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) and the proto-oncogene c-fos mRNA expression was studied in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC. Cells were treated either with the tumor promoting phorbol-ester phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX), which results in an elevated intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level, or with a combination of PMA and IBMX. The level of CCK and c-fos mRNA was determined by Northern-blot analysis with CCK and c-fos specific antisense RNA probes after 4-24 h of drug treatment. Treatment with PMA and IBMX for 4-24 hours transiently raised the CCK mRNA level approximately 1.5-3.5 times compared to the controls, and the combination PMA and IBMX had an additive effect and elevated CCK mRNA abundance 1.5-6.5 times. Under the same experimental conditions, both PMA and IBMX elevated the c-fos mRNA level approximately 3-5.5 times. The drug combination showed a pronounced synergistic effect and raised the c-fos mRNA level approximately 3-20 times as compared to controls. Apparently, CCK and c-fos mRNA expression appears to be regulated by similar protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent mechanisms in SK-N-MC cells.

Rapid purification and characterization of protein kinase C from bovine retinal rod outer segments

A rapid FPLC procedure for the purification of protein kinase C from bovine rod outer segments is described. The enzyme is essentially homogeneous after purification and exhibits a molecular mass of approximately 85 kDa, as determined by SDS/PAGE. From its chromatographic behaviour on hydroxyapatite, and from Western-blotting experiments using isoenzyme-specific antibodies, we were able to identify the bovine rod outer segment protein kinase C as being of the alpha or type-III form. The purified protein kinase C has a specific activity of 1066 nmol 32P.min-1.mg protein-1, and shows a 30-fold activation upon the addition of the effectors Ca2+, PtdSer and 1,2-diacylglycerol. Arachidonic acid and linoleic acid were also found to enhance significantly the activity of the purified enzyme.

Treatment of intact hepatocytes with synthetic diacyl glycerols mimics the ability of glucagon to cause the desensitization of adenylate cyclase

Incubation of intact hepatocytes with either of the synthetic diacyl glycerols 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol (OAG) or dihexanoyl glycerol (DHG) caused the transient uncoupling of the ability of glucagon to stimulate adenylate cyclase in membranes prepared from those cells. No change occurred in either the activity of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase or the coupling of Gs to adenylate cyclase. Diacyl glycerol action appeared to mimic glucagon-mediated desensitization of adenylate cyclase, suggesting that protein kinase C activation may provide the molecular trigger for glucagon desensitization.