The protein kinase C inhibitor, CGP 41 251, reverses decreased daunomycin uptake in a human drug-resistant ovarian carcinoma cell line

Protein kinase inhibitor-induced alterations of drug uptake, cell cycle and surface antigen expression in human multidrug-resistant (Pgp and MRP) promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells

Protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine and CGP 41251, a benzoylated derivative of staurosporine with selective PKC inhibitory activity, reversed the decreased rhodamine 123 uptake in HL-60/VCR (with Pgp-mediated drug resistance) but not in HL-60/ADR (MRP-mediated drug resistance) cells. CGP 41251 reversed the decreased rhodamine 123 uptake in HL-60/VCR cells more efficiently (when compared on a equimolar basis) than staurosporine. However, the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein unexpectedly modulated the decreased rhodamine 123 uptake in Pgp positive (HL-60/VCR) cells, but not in HL-60/ADR (MRP positive) cells. Cell surface phenotype of both HL-60 drug-resistant cell sublines was compared with that of the parental, drug-sensitive HL-60 cells. Both drug-resistant cell lines expressed markedly decreased levels of cell surface HLA class I antigen in comparison with the parental HL-60 cells. A similar decreased cell surface expression of HLA class II/DR on both drug-resistant, as well as of CD59 (protectin) on HL-60/ADR cells was found. Both protein kinase C inhibitors studied (staurosporine and CGP 41251) exhibited variable effects on cell surface antigen (HLA, ICAM-1, CD59) expression, suggesting complex interactions between PKC-dependent and -independent mechanisms in the regulation of surface antigen expression in these cell lines. Staurosporine differed from CGP 41251 in the cell cycle alterations induced in the HL-60 cell lines examined. Staurosporine induced the accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and the appearance of pre-G0 (apoptotic) cells in both examined drug-resistant cell lines. Staurosporine induced the appearance of cells with high DNA content in HL-60/ADR, but not in HL-60/VCR cells.

Circumvention of P-glycoprotein-mediated multiple drug resistance by phosphorylation modulators is independent of protein kinases

Expression of P-glycoprotein by tumor cells confers resistance to multiple natural product drugs because of its ability to export these compounds. This transporter is a substrate for several protein kinases; however, the functional significance of its phosphorylation is not defined. We examined the effects of many activators and inhibitors of protein kinases on the activity of P-glycoprotein in drug-resistant human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7/ADR). Several phorbol esters sensitized these cells to P-glycoprotein substrate drugs; however, there was no correlation with activation of protein kinase C. The 4 alpha- and 4 beta-isomers of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate were equally potent in sensitizing the cells to actinomycin D and daunomycin and in increasing the intracellular accumulation of [3H]vinblastine. These effects of 4 beta-phorbol myristate acetate required much higher concentrations than were needed to increase P-glycoprotein phosphorylation and were not antagonized by staurosporine. Similar to verapamil, the phorbol esters did not sensitize MCF-7/ADR cells to cisplatin, nor parental MCF-7 cells to any of the anticancer drugs. Mezerein, K-252a, and H-89 sensitized MCF-7/ADR cells, increased intracellular accumulation of [3H]vinblastine, and antagonized photolabeling of P-glycoprotein by [3H]azidopine. Therefore, phosphorylation does not appear to play a significant role in regulating P-glycoprotein activity in MCF-7/ADR cells.

The protein kinase C inhibitor H7 blocks phosphorylation of stathmin during TPA-induced growth inhibition of human pre-B leukemia REH6 cells

The human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line REH6 was used to analyze the regulation of a ubiquitous intracellular phosphoprotein stathmin (Mr 19,000, pl = 5.6-6.2). We demonstrated by 32P-labeling that the short (1 h) treatment of the REH6 cells with the tumor promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), resulted in a rapid phosphorylation of at least three (P1, P2 and P3) stathmin isoforms without an alteration of stathmin isoform expression. Furthermore, Western blot analysis with specific antiserum showed that the prolonged period (48 h) of TPA treatment partially reduced protein levels particularly of two (N2 and P2) stathmin isoforms. The potent and relatively specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 1,(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)2methylpiperasine dihydrochloride (H7), partially inhibited these TPA effects, whereas the specific calmodulin inhibitor R24571 (calmidazolium) had no effect upon these events. Our findings suggest that stathmin phosphorylation in REH6 cells could be in part mediated by PKC activation.