Partial characterization of epidermal protein kinase C in mice sensitive or resistant to phorbol ester

The effect of plant phenols on the expression and activity of phorbol ester-induced PKC in mouse epidermis

Protein kinase C (PKC) is thought to be a major intracellular receptor for the mouse skin tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The diversity of PKC isoforms, and their central role in many signaling pathways, makes them important targets for potential chemopreventive agents. Our earlier studies showed that the plant phenols protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid and tannic acid alter the activity of enzymes involved in carcinogen activation, inhibit the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts in mouse epidermis and decrease the level of lipid peroxidation in the epidermal microsomes. In the present study the effects of protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid and tannic acid on TPA-stimulated PKC isozymes alpha, beta(1), beta(2), gamma and zeta activity, and their distribution in mouse epidermis, was examined. The application of these phenolics 15 min before a single dose (3.4 nmol) of TPA resulted in significant inhibition of PKC translocation and a subsequent decrease in classical and novel/atypical PKC isoforms in comparison to a group of mice treated with TPA alone. The most potent inhibitor of PKC translocation and activity was tannic acid. This compound increased the levels of PKCalpha, beta(1), beta(2) in the cytosolic fraction by between 127% and 492% in comparison with TPA treated group of mice. Tannic acid decreased the activities of all three PKC classes by approximately 94% in the membrane fraction in comparison with the TPA treated group of animals. The effect of protocatechuic and chlorogenic acids on the distribution and activity of PKC isozymes was moderate. These compounds mostly affected translocation of PKCalpha and subsequently the activity of classical PKC. The enzyme activity in the particulate fraction was reduced by 59% and 43% in comparison with the TPA group, respectively. Thus, the results of these studies suggest that the subcellular distribution of PKC isoforms, and the activity of PKCs, can be modulated by plant phenolic acids, particularly tannic acid, and that such actions represent a part of the anti-promotional activity of these substances in mouse epidermis.

Procyanidin B-2, extracted from apples, promotes hair growth: a laboratory study

BACKGROUND

We have previously reported that several selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, including procyanidin B-2, promote hair epithelial cell growth and stimulate anagen induction.

OBJECTIVES

We discuss the hypothesis that the hair-growing activity of procyanidin B-2 is related to its downregulation or inhibition of translocation of PKC isozymes in hair epithelial cells.

METHODS

We examined the effect of procyanidin B-2 on the expression of PKC isozymes in cultured murine hair epithelial cells as well as PKC isozyme localization in murine dorsal skin at different stages in the hair cycle.

RESULTS

We observed that procyanidin B-2 reduces the expression of PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII and -eta in cultured murine hair epithelial cells and also inhibits the translocation of these isozymes to the particulate fraction of hair epithelial cells. Our immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII and -eta are specifically expressed in the outer root sheaths of both anagen and telogen hair follicles. The hair matrix at the anagen stage showed no positive staining for these PKC isozymes. Moderate to intense staining for PKC-betaI and -betaII in the epidermis and hair follicles was observed in a telogen-specific manner; however, expression of PKC-alpha and -eta during the telogen stage was not conspicuous. Gö 6976, an inhibitor of calcium-dependent (conventional) PKC, proved to promote hair epithelial cell growth.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that PKC isozymes, especially PKC-betaI and -betaII, play an important role in hair cycle progression and that the hair-growing mechanisms of procyanidin B-2 are at least partially related to its downregulation of PKC isozymes or its inhibition of translocation of PKC isozymes to the particulate fraction of hair epithelial cells.

Evidence against a role of general protein kinase C downregulation in skin tumor promotion

Using isoenzyme-specific antibodies, we have performed an immunoblot analysis of the PKC isoenzyme pattern during the course of TPA-induced tumor promotion in the epidermis of NMRI mice. The TPA-sensitive PKC isoforms alpha, delta, straightepsilon, eta, nu (and TPA-insensitive PKCzeta), but not PKCbeta and gamma, were found to be expressed in both normal and neoplastic epidermis. The immune signals of all TPA-sensitive PKC isoforms were moderately and reversibly attenuated upon a single TPA treatment. Using different antibodies against PKCeta and PKCmu, this apparent downregulation could mainly be attributed to epitope changes of these enzymes, whereas for the other PKC species no such conclusion could be drawn. Except for PKCstraightepsilon, no substantial long-term attenuation of the immune signals of the other PKC isoforms occurred upon chronic phorbol ester treatment (i.e., 14 applications of 5 nmol TPA each over 7 weeks), which led to tumor development in initiated mouse skin. Specific PKC activity (related to tissue weight) was 40-50% lower in TPA-treated as compared with control epidermis whereby no clearcut difference was found between single and chronic TPA treatment. Benign and malignant skin tumors generated according to the initiation-promotion protocol did not exhibit consistent alterations in the immune pattern of the PKC isoenzymes with the exception of a decrease of PKCstraightepsilon and an increase of PKCmicro signal in carcinomas. Our data indicate that, in contrast with earlier assumptions, no general long-lasting PKC downregulation plays a critical role in skin tumor promotion.

Lack of effect of a 60 Hz magnetic field on biomarkers of tumor promotion in the skin of SENCAR mice

It has been proposed that extremely low frequency magnetic fields may enhance tumorigenesis through a co-promotional mechanism. This hypothesis has been further tested using the two-stage model of mouse skin carcinogenesis, i.e. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced promotion of skin carcinogenesis in mice initiated by a single subcarcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Experimentation utilized three different doses of TPA within its dose-response range (0.85, 1.70 or 3.40 nmol) and examined the following early biomarkers of tumor promotion after 1, 2 and 5 weeks of promotion: increases in epidermal thickness and the labeling index of epidermal cells, induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and down-regulation of epidermal protein kinase C activity. Mice exposed to a 60 Hz magnetic field having a flux density of 2 mT for 6 h/day for 5 days/week were compared with mice exposed to an ambient magnetic field. Within the sensitivity limits of the biomarker methodology and the exposure parameters employed, no consistent, statistically significant effects indicative of promotion or co-promotion by the magnetic field were demonstrated.

Differential effects of phorbol ester on growth and protein kinase C isoenzyme regulation in human hepatoma Hep3B cells

PMA has both mitogenic and antiproliferative effects on human hepatoma Hep3B cells. In response to low PMA concentration (10 nM), Hep3B cells displayed an increasing proliferation potentiation. At high PMA concentration (1 microM) Hep3B cells exhibited modest cytostatic effects. Determinations of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in PMA-treated cells revealed that alterations in PKC activity are associated with proliferative capacity. The decrease in PKC activity mediated by a high dose of PMA was accompanied by cell growth inhibition. Increases in PKC activity mediated by a low dose of PMA were consistent with proliferation stimulation. Immunoblot analysis showed that there are at least six PKC isoenzymes: alpha, delta, epsilon, mu, zeta and iota/lambda, constitutively expressed in Hep3B cells. Cellular fractionation and immunocytochemical staining results demonstrated that both 10 nM and 1 microM PMA treatments induced a marked translocation of PKC-alpha from cytosol to membrane or nuclear fraction within 5-30 min. At the same time PKC-delta and epsilon were translocated from the membrane to nuclear fraction. In addition, prolonged treatment with 1 microM PMA, but not with 10 nM PMA, selectively mediated the down-regulation of these three PKC isoenzymes. The distinct effects of different concentrations of PMA on cell proliferation and PKC-alpha, delta and epsilon isoenzyme modulation support the involvement of these three PKC isotypes in the mechanism of action of Hep3B cells in cell growth events.

Epidermal protein kinase C-beta 2 is highly sensitive to downregulation and is exclusively expressed in Langerhans cells: downregulation is associated with attenuated contact hypersensitivity

Treatment of mice with multiple topical applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or diacylglycerol resulted in a preferential decrease in epidermal protein kinase C-beta 2 (PKC-beta 2) compared with PKC-alpha as determined by western analysis. When PKC-alpha was decreased by 40%, PKC-beta 2 could no longer be detected, suggesting that PKC-beta 2 is more sensitive to downregulation, and/or specific epidermal cell types that contain PKC-beta 2 are more sensitive to TPA/diacylglycerol. To address this issue, we isolated Langerhans cells (LCs) from epidermal cell suspensions with immunomagnetic beads and an antibody to the class II major histocompatibility complex. Northern blot analysis revealed a PKC-beta 2 signal in isolated LCs that was 40-fold greater than that observed in unfractionated epidermal cells, and no PKC-beta 2 signal was detected in epidermal cells depleted of LCs, indicating that PKC-beta 2 is expressed exclusively in LCs within the epidermis. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of PKC-beta 2 in LCs. PKC-beta 2 was highly sensitive to downregulation, because a single application of TPA resulted in a 90% loss of PKC-beta 2 within 6 h without a decrease in the number of LCs. To determine whether the decreased level of PKC-beta 2 within LCs was associated with an alteration in contact hypersensitivity, we treated mice with only a single application of TPA, and 6 hours later mice were sensitized with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene on the same dorsal area. Subsequent challenge revealed a 60% decrease in contact hypersensitivity in TPA-treated mice. These data indicate that (i) within the epidermis, PKC-beta 2 is highly sensitive to downregulation and is exclusively expressed in LCs, and (ii) the downregulation of PKC-beta 2 is associated with impaired LC function with respect to contact hypersensitivity.

Elevation of transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA and protein expression by diverse tumor promoters in SENCAR mouse epidermis

The study presented here was designed to further investigate the role of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) in skin tumor promotion by examining the ability of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and several non-phorbol ester promoters to alter TGF alpha mRNA and protein levels in mouse epidermis. Total RNA was isolated from SENCAR mouse epidermis at various times after single topical treatments with TPA (3.4 nmol), chrysarobin (220 nmol), okadaic acid (2.5 nmol), and thapsigargin (8.5 nmol). Northern analyses of these isolated RNA samples revealed that all four tumor promoters transiently elevated TGF alpha mRNA levels. Whereas TPA, okadaic acid, and thapsigarin elevated TGF alpha mRNA levels over similar time courses (peak at 4-8 h), chrysarobin elevated TGF alpha mRNA levels with a markedly delayed time course (peak at 24-48 h). More detailed studies with TPA also revealed that multiple treatments (four over a 2-wk period) transiently elevated TGF alpha mRNA in both the epidermis and the dermis. The time courses for changes in TGF alpha mRNA after multiple TPA treatments were similar for both tissues. To facilitate studies of altered TGF alpha mRNA expression in mouse epidermis and possibly other mouse tissues, a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method was developed. This method faithfully revealed changes in TGF alpha mRNA levels with all four tumor-promoting agents similar to those determined by northern blot analyses. Immunofluorescence analysis of frozen sections from promoter-treated skin revealed elevated TGF alpha protein levels in both epidermis and dermis, although staining was most intense in the epidermal layer. Immunofluorescence analysis of epidermal hyperplasia adjacent to a full-thickness wound also demonstrated significant epidermal TGF alpha staining. Collectively, these results indicate that mechanistically diverse tumor promoter stimuli elevate TGF alpha mRNA and protein in SENCAR mouse epidermis. Elevated levels of TGF alpha may play an essential role in mitogenic stimulation during tumor promotion by diverse promoting stimuli.

Expression of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase and nuclear proto-oncogenes in phorbol ester tumor promotion-sensitive and -resistant mice

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of a single or two sequential topical applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the expression of c-fos, c-jun, junB, c-myc, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in promotion-sensitive SSIN mice and the relatively promotion-resistant C57BL/6 strain. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that a single promoting dose of TPA induced ODC mRNA expression 10- to 15-fold in both strains. Treatment of each strain with a second dose of TPA, 48 h (in C57BL/6 mice) or 72 h (in SSIN mice) after the first, led to hyperinduction of ODC activity. Although this involved transcription of new ODC mRNA, the hyperinduction of ODC enzyme activity was primarily posttranscriptional. Induction of c-fos mRNA or protein was maximal about 3 h after a single treatment in either strain but was sustained for at least 6 h in C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, two treatments of SSIN mice with TPA caused a rapid, strong c-fos induction 1-2 h after treatment, whereas C57BL/6 mice responded no more strongly than after a single treatment. c-jun mRNA and protein were induced only slightly in either strain, but junB was induced about fivefold in SSIN mice and tenfold in C57BL/6 mice. Although c-myc was induced to comparable levels in both strains, the response was more prolonged in C57BL/6 mice. Compared with SSIN mice, C57BL/6 mice responded to TPA treatment, in general, with changes in proto-oncogene mRNA to a higher level or for longer or both. Thus, although small differences in the expression of these genes were observed, they were not positively correlated with the differential sensitivity of SSIN and C57BL/6 mice toward tumor promotion by phorbol esters, with the possible exception of c-fos.

Overexpression of protein kinase C beta I in a murine keratinocyte cell line produces effects on cellular growth, morphology and differentiation

The present study demonstrates that the murine keratinocyte cell line 3PC expresses the Ca(2+)-insensitive isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) delta, epsilon, zeta and (at both the mRNA and protein levels), but does not express the Ca(2+)-sensitive PKC isoforms alpha, beta or gamma. Recombinant retroviral gene transduction was used to develop derivatives of this cell line that stably express high levels of 1 PKC beta I-related transcripts and proteins, and have increased levels of Ca(2+)-stimulated PKC enzyme activity. Functional overexpression of the PKC beta I isoform in 3PC cells enhances both 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate-induced growth inhibition, and Ca(2+)-induced morphologic differentiation.

In vitro activation of mouse skin protein kinase C by fatty acids and their hydroxylated metabolites

To understand how dietary fatty acids differentially modulate mouse skin tumorigenesis, the ability of specific fatty acids and their derivatives to activate murine epidermal protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro was investigated. Total PKC from untreated female SSIN mouse skin was partially purified and incubated with specific fatty acids at concentrations up to 300 microM in the presence of Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine. The cis-unsaturated fatty acids tested, ranging from 16:1 to 22:6, stimulated PKC activity in a similar dose-dependent manner with an approximate threefold maximum increase over control. Neither the number of cis-double bonds nor the chainlength of these fatty acids affected their relative ability to activate PKC. trans-Fatty acids, with the exception of linoelaidic acid (t,t-18:2n-6), exhibited about half of the potency of their corresponding cis-isomers in stimulating PKC at the plateau concentration (200 microM) or lower. Substitutions close to the double bond on cis-fatty acids abolished their ability to activate PKC. The hydroxylated metabolites of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and linoleic acid (c,c-18:2n-6), i.e., the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODE), also activated mouse skin PKC in vitro, but only about half as effectively as did the respective parent fatty acids. The results suggest that both hydroxyl substitution and trans-configuration of HETE and HODE are responsible for their reduced ability to activate PKC. Overall the data suggests that the reduced skin tumor yield observed in mice fed diets high in c,c-18:2n-6 is not likely to be due to differences in the ability of c,c-18:2n-6 or 20:4n-6, or their metabolites, to activate PKC.

KP-10, a novel protein kinase C substrate in intact mouse epidermal cells, is phosphorylated by novel protein kinase C eta and/or zeta

Recently this group found an endogenous substrate protein for Ca(2+)-independent novel protein kinase C (nPKC), i.e. KP-10 (pI 4.7/25,500 M(r)), in primary cultured mouse epidermal cells [Nishikawa, K. et al. (1992) Cell. Signal. 4, 757-776]. In the present study, the nPKC isozymes which phosphorylate KP-10 in these cells were determined. Western blot analysis revealed that PKC alpha, eta and zeta were present in epidermal cell 105,000 g supernatants and that the content of PKC zeta was much higher than those of PKC alpha and eta. Neither PKC beta, delta nor epsilon was detected in the 105,000 g supernatants. Phosphatidylserine and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-dependent KP-10 phosphorylating activity was immunoprecipitated by anti-PKC eta and zeta antibodies, but not by antiPKC alpha antibody. These results suggest that PKC eta and/or zeta phosphorylate KP-10 and play pivotal roles in intracellular signal pathways in intact epidermal cells.

Further identification of protein kinase C isozymes in mouse epidermis

In the current study, the protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes present in mouse epidermis have been identified using immunological and chromatographic methods. Six PKC isozymes, PKC alpha, PKC beta, PKC gamma, PKC delta, PKC epsilon, and PKC zeta, were identified in unfractionated epidermal preparations by protein immunoblotting. The subcellular distribution and presence of these isozymes was further verified by hydroxyapatite (HA) chromatography with the exception of PKE epsilon, which could not be detected following HA chromatography. The five PKC isozymes recovered following HA chromatography were detected in both epidermal cytosol and particulate fractions, although PKC delta was found in a much higher proportion relative to the other PKC isozymes in the particulate fraction using histone H1 as the substrate. The biochemical properties of the epidermal PKC isozymes partially purified by HA chromatography agreed with those reported for other tissues and further supported their immunological identification in epidermal preparations. The activities of HA chromatography peaks corresponding to PKC alpha, PKC beta, and PKC gamma were found to be dependent on both Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), whereas, the activities of HA peaks corresponding to PKC delta and PKC zeta were Ca(2+)-independent but PtdSer-dependent. The HA peak corresponding to PKC gamma also displayed a characteristic biphasic modulation by arachidonic acid (activation at low, inactivation at high concentrations) and inactivation by preincubation with PtdSer. PKC zeta activity was also characteristic, in that it was dependent on PtdSer and was not increased by the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Some differences in substrate specificity were also observed between the epidermal PKC isozymes. The presence of multiple isozymes of PKC in mouse epidermis suggests that the different isozymes may play distinct roles in signal transduction and tumor promotion in this tissue.

Association of protein kinase C activation with induction of ornithine decarboxylase in murine but not human keratinocyte cultures

The goal of this study was to compare the response of mouse epidermal keratinocytes (MEKs) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) with respect to the activation and downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC), the expression of c-jun and c-fos, and the expression and induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. Keratinocytes from adult CD-1 mice and from discarded adult human skin were grown in primary culture in a high-calcium serum-free medium that supported proliferation and differentiation. Immunoblotting of freshly isolated and cultured MEKs and HEKs for isozymes of protein kinase C revealed that fresh HEKs contained PKC alpha, PKC beta, and PKC delta; no PKC gamma, PKC epsilon, or PKC zeta were detected. In fresh MEKs, PKC alpha, PKC beta, PKC delta, and PKC zeta were observed, but not PKC gamma or PKC epsilon. After 2 wk in culture, the isozyme profiles of MEKs and HEKs were similar except that PKC gamma was noticeably present in HEK cultures. Activation of partially purified total PKC by TPA was similar in freshly isolated and cultured MEKs and HEKs, indicating that the two species were similar in this regard and that 2 wk of culture did not alter this characteristic. When MEK and HEK cultures were treated with TPA for 3 h, less than 30% of the control level of PKC activity was detected, indicating that TPA-induced downregulation of PKC was similar in MEKs and HEKs. After treatment with TPA, MEK cultures produced a large induction of both c-jun and c-fos mRNA by 60 min, as determined by northern blot analysis, and a large induction of ODC mRNA and enzyme activity by 6 h. TPA treatment of cultured HEKs, however, did not induce ODC activity; in fact, less activity, compared with that of control cultures, was observed. Northern blot analysis also revealed no increase in c-jun, c-fos, and ODC mRNA in HEKs. However, c-jun and c-fos mRNA and both ODC mRNA and enzyme activity were induced in HEKs fed growth factors after several days of deprivation. This suggests that the lack of ODC induction by TPA in HEKs is probably due to species differences in downstream steps in PKC signal transduction.

Phorbol ester-mediated suppression of cytochrome P450 Cyp1a-1 induction in murine skin: involvement of protein kinase C

Epidermal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was elevated greater than 100-fold within 4 to 7 h of topical treatment of SENCAR mice with 100 nmol dibenz[a,c]anthracene (DB[a,c]A). Treatment of skin with 2 micrograms of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) 2 to 8 h prior to DB[a,c]A application suppressed induction by 80%. Suppression was dose-dependent over the range of 0.01 to 5 micrograms TPA (ID50 approximately 0.6 nmol). EROD activities in normal and TPA-treated epidermis paralleled steady state P450 CYP1A1 mRNA content. Analogs of TPA incapable of activating or down-regulating protein kinase C (PKC) did not suppress induction. Pretreatment of skin with sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol, an activator of PKC which causes translocation but no down-regulation, did not suppress EROD induction. However, induction was suppressed by chrysarobin, an anthralin analog that causes PKC down-regulation in the absence of prior activation. These studies suggest that PKC participates in the processes associated with Cyp1a-1 induction and that TPA effects Cyp1a-1 induction through its down-regulation of PKC.

Protein kinase C zeta and eta in murine epidermis. TPA induces down-regulation of PKC eta but not PKC zeta

Murine epidermis contains PKC zeta and eta as evidenced by the application of specific antisera. PKC zeta predominates in the cytosol and PKC eta in the particulate fraction. PKC zeta is shown to be present also in other murine tissues, with large amounts found in lung. Whereas epidermal PKC eta is completely down-regulated by treatment of mouse skin with TPA or bryostatin 1 for 18 h, PKC zeta is neither translocated by treatment with TPA for 20 min, nor down-regulated by treatment with TPA or bryostatin 1 for 18 h. PKC zeta is activated by phosphatidyl serine alone and does neither respond to Ca2+ nor to TPA. It is inhibited by staurosporine with an IC50 of 16 nM, which is within the same range of other PKC isoenzymes. The sensitivity of PKC zeta towards the staurosporine derivative K252a is similar to that of PKC alpha,beta,gamma but much higher than that of PKC delta and epsilon.

Transcripts encoding protein kinase C-alpha, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta, and -eta are expressed in basal and differentiating mouse keratinocytes in vitro and exhibit quantitative changes in neoplastic cells

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of phospholipid-dependent serine-threonine kinases has been implicated in keratinocyte differentiation and neoplastic transformation. To determine if Ca(2+)-mediated keratinocyte differentiation is associated with changes in PKC isozyme gene expression, RNA was isolated from primary mouse keratinocytes grown in medium with 0.05, 0.12, or 1.4 mM Ca2+. Based on northern blot analysis, primary keratinocytes expressed mRNA encoding PKC-alpha, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta, and -eta, but not PKC-beta or -gamma. Relatively little change was detected in the level of these transcripts in cells induced to differentiate by exposure to elevated extracellular Ca2+. Interestingly, the PKC-zeta transcripts detected in RNA isolated from keratinocytes were approximately 200 nucleotides longer than those from mouse brain, suggesting the existence of an alternative form of this isozyme. An early change in benign neoplastic transformation of keratinocytes is the inability to differentiate in response to Ca2+ or the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, which is consistent with altered PKC function in these cells. The PKC isozyme mRNA profile was examined in two benign neoplastic keratinocyte cell lines, 308 and SP-1, which contain an activating mutation of the c-Ha-ras gene. Like normal keratinocytes. 308 and SP-1 cells expressed mRNA encoding PKC-alpha, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta, and -eta. However, the abundance of PKC-zeta transcripts in both cell lines was reduced by 74-89% when compared with normal keratinocytes at similar Ca2+ levels. In addition, SP-1 but not 308 cells exhibited a sevenfold increase in PKC-eta mRNA when cultured in medium with 1.4 mM Ca2+. To address whether these changes were related to the presence of an activated ras gene, RNA was isolated from primary keratinocytes transduced to a benign neoplastic phenotype with the v-Ha-ras oncogene. As with normal, 308, and SP-1 cells, v-Ha-ras keratinocytes expressed mRNA encoding PKC-alpha, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -eta. The level of PKC-zeta transcripts was similar in normal and v-Ha-ras keratinocytes, indicating that reduction of this mRNA in both 308 and SP-1 cells was not a direct result of ras activation. As in SP-1 cells, PKC-eta in v-Ha-ras keratinocytes was responsive to extracellular Ca2+, with a four-fold increase in transcript abundance in 0.12 mM Ca2+ medium relative to 0.05 mM Ca2+ medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Multistage carcinogenesis in mouse skin

The mouse skin model of multistage carcinogenesis has for many years provided a conceptual framework for studying carcinogenesis mechanisms and potential means for inhibiting specific stages of carcinogenesis. The process of skin carcinogenesis involves the stepwise accumulation of genetic change ultimately leading to malignancy. Initiation, the first step in multistage skin carcinogenesis involves carcinogen-induced genetic changes. A target gene identified for some skin tumor initiators is c-Ha-ras. The second step, the promotion stage, involves processes whereby initiated cells undergo selective clonal expansion to form visible premalignant lesions termed papillomas. The process of tumor promotion involves the production and maintenance of a specific and chronic hyperplasia characterized by a sustained cellular proliferation of epidermal cells. These changes are believed to result from epigenetic mechanisms such as activation of the cellular receptor, protein kinase C, by some classes of tumor promoters. The progression stage involves the conversion of papillomas to malignant tumors, squamous cell carcinomas. The accumulation of additional genetic changes in cells comprising papillomas has been correlated with tumor progression, including trisomies of chromosomes 6 and 7 and loss of heterozygosity. The current review focuses on the mechanisms involved in multistage skin carcinogenesis, a summary of known inhibitors of specific stages and their proposed mechanisms of action, and the relevance of this model system to human cancer.

Dithranol (anthralin)-induced skin irritation in C57BL/6, NMRI and SENCAR mice

Dithranol-induced skin irritation was compared in C57BL/6, NMRI and SENCAR mice, the strains representing different sensitivity to tumour promotion. Skin irritation was assessed using ear thickness and skin weight measurements, visual estimation of back skin irritation and histopathology. Both single and repeated applications of dithranol caused a delayed skin irritation resulting in the maximal response between 7-11 days after the beginning of the treatment. Contrary to the findings with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), C57BL/6 mice were the most sensitive and SENCAR mice the most resistant to the dithranol-induced skin irritation up to 30 days from the beginning of the treatment. NMRI mice were intermediate. Differences were found in the ear swelling, epidermal hyperplasia, amount of inflammatory cell infiltrate and skin ulceration. During repeated treatment of about 40 days, however, the responsiveness of SENCAR mice increased over that of C57BL/6 and NMRI mice. SENCAR mice had also more epidermal hyperplasia than the other strains at the end of the 74 day period of 3 times weekly applications. The magnitude of epidermal hyperplasia after long term treatment seems to correlate with the sensitivity to tumor promotion in the different mouse strains.

Evidence for autocrine/paracrine growth stimulation by transforming growth factor-alpha during the process of skin tumor promotion

A single topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin decreased 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding in epidermal membrane preparations within 1 h while 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9-anthrone (chrysarobin) gradually reduced binding with maximum inhibition at 15 h. Subsequently, 125I-EGF binding increased to approximately 200% of control in epidermal membrane preparations from both TPA- and chrysarobin-treated mice. A single application of TPA but not chrysarobin resulted in a rapid translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) to the membrane; however, treatment with both promoters ultimately led to a time-dependent loss of PKC activity in both membrane and cytosol fractions. The initial inhibition of 125I-EGF binding was sustained for at least 24 h after single and multiple treatments with both promoting agents. Acid washing restored EGF binding to control levels in membrane preparations obtained 24 h after a single application, whereas acid washing of membrane preparations obtained 24 h after a second application of TPA or chrysarobin increased binding (2.5-fold and 1.5-fold that of the control, respectively). The presence of increased amounts of ligands for the EGF receptor in tumor promoter-treated epidermis was initially confirmed in 125I-EGF binding competition experiments using NRK-49F cells. A single topical application of TPA or chrysarobin induced elevated levels of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) mRNA at 6 h or 15-24 h, respectively. Elevated levels of a TGF-alpha precursor (21 kDa) were subsequently observed in cytosol and membrane preparations after single and multiple applications of TPA or chrysarobin. These results suggest that repeated topical application of tumor promoters may lead to sustained loss of a negative-feedback mechanism involving phosphorylation at Thr-654 of the EGF receptor by PKC. The concomitant elevation of ligands, such as TGF-alpha, may provide a mechanism for sustained cell proliferation essential for skin tumor promotion.