The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, like phorbol esters, induces the association of protein kinase C with membranes

Application of High-Throughput Assays to Examine Phospho-Modulation of the Late Steps of Regulated Exocytosis

Abstract: Regulated exocytosis enables a range of physiological functions including neurotransmission, and the late steps (i.e., docking, priming and Ca²⁺-triggered membrane fusion) are modulated by a highly conserved set of proteins and lipids. Many of the molecular components and biochemical interactions required have been identified; the precise mechanistic steps they modulate and the biochemical interactions that need to occur across steps are still the subject of intense investigation. Particularly, although the involvement of phosphorylation in modulating exocytosis has been intensively investigated over the past three decades, it is unclear which phosphorylation events are a conserved part of the fundamental fusion mechanism and/or serve as part of the physiological fusion machine (e.g., to modulate Ca²⁺ sensitivity). Here, the homotypic fusion of cortical vesicles was monitored by utilizing new high-throughput, cost-effective assays to assess the influence of 17 small molecule phospho-modulators on docking/priming, Ca²⁺ sensitivity and membrane fusion. Specific phosphatases and casein kinase 2 are implicated in modulating the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of fusion, whereas sphingosine kinase is implicated in modulating the ability of vesicles to fuse. These results indicate the presence of multiple kinases and phosphatases on the vesicles and critical phosphorylation sites on vesicle membrane proteins and lipids that directly influence late steps of regulated exocytosis.

Phosphorylation of Nonmuscle myosin II-A regulatory light chain resists Sendai virus fusion with host cells

Enveloped viruses enter host cells through membrane fusion and the cells in turn alter their shape to accommodate components of the virus. However, the role of nonmuscle myosin II of the actomyosin complex of host cells in membrane fusion is yet to be understood. Herein, we show that both (−) blebbistatin, a specific inhibitor of nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) and small interfering RNA markedly augment fusion of Sendai virus (SeV), with chinese hamster ovary cells and human hepatocarcinoma cells. Inhibition of RLC phosphorylation using inhibitors against ROCK, but not PKC and MRCK, or overexpression of phospho-dead mutant of RLC enhances membrane fusion. SeV infection increases cellular stiffness and myosin light chain phosphorylation at two hour post infection. Taken together, the present investigation strongly indicates that Rho-ROCK-NMII contractility signaling pathway may provide a physical barrier to host cells against viral fusion.

Staurosporine synergistically potentiates the deoxycholate-mediated induction of COX-2 expression

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer‐related death in western countries, and thus there is an urgent need to elucidate the mechanism of colorectal tumorigenesis. A diet that is rich in fat increases the risk of colorectal tumorigenesis. Bile acids, which are secreted in response to the ingestion of fat, have been shown to increase the risk of colorectal tumors. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, an inducible isozyme of cyclooxygenase, is induced by bile acids and correlates with the incidence and progression of cancers. In this study, we investigated the signal transduction pathways involved in the bile‐acid‐mediated induction of COX‐2 expression. We found that staurosporine (sts), a potent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, synergistically potentiated the deoxycholate‐mediated induction of COX‐2 expression. Sts did not increase the stabilization of COX‐2 mRNA. The sts‐ and deoxycholate‐mediated synergistic induction of COX‐2 expression was suppressed by a membrane‐permeable Ca²⁺ chelator, a phosphoinositide 3‐kinase inhibitor, a nuclear factor‐κB pathway inhibitor, and inhibitors of canonical and stress‐inducible mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways. Inhibition was also observed using PKC inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of certain PKC isozymes (η, θ, ι, ζ, or μ). Our results indicate that sts exerts its potentiating effects via the phosphorylation of p38. However, the effects of anisomycin did not mimic those of sts, indicating that although p38 activation is required, it does not enhance deoxycholate‐induced COX‐2 expression. We conclude that staurosporine synergistically enhances deoxycholate‐induced COX‐2 expression in RCM‐1 colon cancer cells.

e12143

The expression of COX‐2, an inducible isozyme of cyclooxygenase, correlates with the incidence and progression of cancers, and bile acids have been shown to induce COX‐2 expression. We investigated the signal transduction pathways involved in the bile‐acid‐mediated induction of COX‐2 expression, and we found that staurosporine, a potent PKC inhibitor, synergistically potentiated the deoxycholate‐mediated induction of COX‐2 expression. Staurosporine exerted its potentiating effects via the phosphorylation of p38, and the involvement of certain PKC isozymes was suggested.

Protein kinase C inhibitors: a patent review (2008 - 2009)

INTRODUCTION

The protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of multifunctional isoenzymes involved in apoptosis, migration, adhesion, tumorgenesis, cardiac hypertrophy, angiogenesis, platelet function and inflammation. It also plays a vital role in the regulation of signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation through positive and negative regulation of the cell cycle. In this work, we reviewed the existing PKC inhibitors and several patents linked to PKC inhibitors.

AREAS COVERED

Thorough survey on the PKC inhibitors having clinical importance and patents filed for these inhibitors from 2008 - 2009 is reported.

EXPERT OPINION

PKCs are highly potential therapeutic targets for treating diabetic complications, oncological, inflammatory, immunological and dermatological disorders. The clinical trial candidates of PKCs mainly target the catalytic domain, which is highly conserved throughout the PKC family making it difficult to target a particular isoform selectively. Relatively less chemical space and fewer bisubstrate inhibitors targeting both ATP and regulatory domain are explored for PKCs, more research in these areas will be helpful in overcoming existing problems.

Phosphorylation of NLRC4 is critical for inflammasome activation

NLRC4 is a cytosolic member of the NOD-like receptor family that is expressed in innate immune cells. It senses indirectly bacterial flagellin and type III secretion systems, and responds by assembling an inflammasome complex that promotes caspase-1 activation and pyroptosis. Here we use knock-in mice expressing NLRC4 with a carboxy-terminal 3×Flag tag to identify phosphorylation of NLRC4 on a single, evolutionarily conserved residue, Ser 533, following infection of macrophages with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (also known as Salmonella typhimurium). Western blotting with a NLRC4 phospho-Ser 533 antibody confirmed that this post-translational modification occurs only in the presence of stimuli known to engage NLRC4 and not the related protein NLRP3 or AIM2. Nlrc4(-/-) macrophages reconstituted with NLRC4 mutant S533A, unlike those reconstituted with wild-type NLRC4, did not activate caspase-1 and pyroptosis in response to S. typhimurium, indicating that S533 phosphorylation is critical for NLRC4 inflammasome function. Conversely, phosphomimetic NLRC4 S533D caused rapid macrophage pyroptosis without infection. Biochemical purification of the NLRC4-phosphorylating activity and a screen of kinase inhibitors identified PRKCD (PKCδ) as a candidate NLRC4 kinase. Recombinant PKCδ phosphorylated NLRC4 S533 in vitro, immunodepletion of PKCδ from macrophage lysates blocked NLRC4 S533 phosphorylation in vitro, and Prkcd(-/-) macrophages exhibited greatly attenuated caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion specifically in response to S. typhimurium. Phosphorylation-defective NLRC4 S533A failed to recruit procaspase-1 and did not assemble inflammasome specks during S. typhimurium infection, so phosphorylation of NLRC4 S533 probably drives conformational changes necessary for NLRC4 inflammasome activity and host innate immunity.

Are small GTPases signal hubs in sugar-mediated induction of fructan biosynthesis?

External sugar initiates biosynthesis of the reserve carbohydrate fructan, but the molecular processes mediating this response remain obscure. Previously it was shown that a phosphatase and a general kinase inhibitor hamper fructan accumulation. We use various phosphorylation inhibitors both in barley and in Arabidopsis and show that the expression of fructan biosynthetic genes is dependent on PP2A and different kinases such as Tyr-kinases and PI3-kinases. To further characterize the phosphorylation events involved, comprehensive analysis of kinase activities in the cell was performed using a PepChip, an array of >1000 kinase consensus substrate peptide substrates spotted on a chip. Comparison of kinase activities in sugar-stimulated and mock(sorbitol)-treated Arabidopsis demonstrates the altered phosphorylation of many consensus substrates and documents the differences in plant kinase activity upon sucrose feeding. The different phosphorylation profiles obtained are consistent with sugar-mediated alterations in Tyr phosphorylation, cell cycling, and phosphoinositide signaling, and indicate cytoskeletal rearrangements. The results lead us to infer a central role for small GTPases in sugar signaling.

IL-5 priming of the PMA-induced oxidative metabolism of human eosinophils from allergic and normal subjects during a pollen season

AIM

To study the effect of IL-5 priming on the PMA-induced oxidative metabolism of blood eosinophils from allergic patients and healthy controls, during pollen exposure.

METHODS

Twenty birch pollen allergic patients with seasonal symptoms of rhinitis or rhinitis plus asthma were studied during the birch pollen season of Sweden. Eosinophils were purified to > 95% by Percoll gradients followed by the MACS system. Oxidative metabolism was measured by a lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Eosinophils were primed with IL-5 and subsequently stimulated with PMA. The signal transduction mechanisms of IL-5 priming were studied using the MEK inhibitor PD 98059, the PkC inhibitors Staurosporine, Ro 318220, Gö 6983 and the PI3kinase inhibitor Wortmannin.

RESULTS

During the season, the eosinophils from the allergic patients showed a reduced t(1/2)rise compared to the non-allergic controls (P = 0.019) after stimulation. IL-5 reduced the total PMA CL response both in control and patients' cells (P = 0.012 and 0.0054 resp.), whereas it primed it in terms of the t(1/2)rise of the curves, in both groups (P = 0.012 and 0.0015 resp.). The PMA-induced CL reactions were inhibited by PD 98059, all PkC-inhibitors and Wortmannin. IL-5 priming counteracted only the MEK inhibition significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood eosinophils from allergic patients are primed in vivo, as compared to eosinophils from non-allergic controls, during a pollen season. Interleukin-5 primes equally the PMA-induced oxidative metabolism of human eosinophils from healthy or allergic subjects. The mechanism of IL-5 priming after PMA stimulation of oxygen radical production is MEK independent.

The mechanisms of serum-treated zymosan (STZ)-induced oxidative metabolism by human eosinophils and the effects of IL-5 priming

BACKGROUND

The aim of this work was to study the mechanisms of action of IL-5 on the subsequent stimulation of the oxidative metabolism of blood eosinophils by serum-treated zymosan (STZ), in terms of signal transduction characteristics, and by comparing the response of cells from healthy and allergic subjects during environmental exposure to birch pollen.

METHODS

Eosinophils from healthy controls and allergic patients were purified to over 95% by Percoll gradients and the MACS system. Oxidative metabolism was measured by a lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Eosinophils were primed with IL-5 and subsequently stimulated with STZ. The signal transduction mechanisms of IL-5 priming were studied with the MEK inhibitor PD 98059,the PkC inhibitors staurosporine and Ro 318220, and the PI3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin.

RESULTS

IL-5 increased the maximum radical production (P=0.0079) and reduced the t(1/2) rise (0.000018) of the CL reactions. The t(1/2) rise was PkC dependent and MEK independent, while the maximum radical production was PkC, MEK, and PI3 kinase dependent. During the pollen season, IL-5 reduced the total STZ-induced CL response in the patients' cells (P=0.016), but not in the control cells, whereas it primed the response to STZ of both cell populations in terms of the t(1/2) rise (P=0.012 and 0.00066, respectively).

CONCLUSION

STZ-induced oxidative metabolism consists of different stages. The initial stage (t(1/2) rises of the curves) is PkC dependent and MEK independent, while the end stage (maximum radical production) is PkC, MEK, and PI3 kinase dependent. IL-5 shortened the initial stage, and increased the end stage. During allergen exposure, however, the end stage was reduced by IL-5. This could be due to increased amounts of hypodense eosinophils and/or some abnormality in cell responses.

Isoform-specific translocation of protein kinase C following glutamate administration in primary hippocampal neurons

High concentrations of glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, lead to intracellular calcium overload resulting in excitotoxic damage and death of neurons. Since protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in neuronal degeneration resulting from cerebral ischemia and from glutamate excitotoxicity, we investigated the effect of glutamate on changes in the cellular distribution of various PKC isoforms in cultured hippocampal neurons in comparison with the effects elicited by the PKC activator phorbol ester. Out of the expressed PKC isoforms alpha, gamma, epsilon, zeta and lambda only the conventional isoforms PKC alpha and gamma responded to glutamate. Using subcellular fractionation and Western blotting with isoform-specific antibodies and immunocytochemical localization with confocal laser scanning microscopy, we observed that phorbol ester and glutamate have different effects on PKC isoform redistribution: Whereas phorbol ester resulted in translocation of PKC alpha and PKC gamma toward a membrane fraction, the glutamate-mediated rise in intracellular calcium concentration induced a translocation mainly toward a detergent-insoluble, cytoskeletal fraction. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed an isoform-specific translocation following glutamate treatment: PKC gamma was translocated mainly to cytoplasmic, organelle-like structures, whereas PKC alpha redistributed to the plasma membrane and into the cell nucleus. The latter result is of special interest, as it indicates that nuclear PKC may play a role in processes of excitotoxic cell damage.

Induction of neutrophil chemotactic factor production by staurosporine in rat peritoneal neutrophils

1. Incubation of rat peritoneal neutrophils in medium containing various concentrations of staurosporine (6.4-64 nM) increased the neutrophil chemotactic activity in the conditioned medium in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. 2. Separation of the neutrophil chemotactic activity in the conditioned medium by isoelectric focusing revealed that staurosporine (64 nM) stimulated the production of basic (pH > 8) neutrophil chemotactic factors, while TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, 49 nM) stimulated the production of both basic (pH > 8) and acidic (pH 5) neutrophil chemotactic factors. 3. Determination by immunoassay of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, -2 alpha, -2 beta and -3 in the conditioned medium at 4 h revealed that staurosporine (64 nM) and TPA (49 nM) strongly stimulated the production of CINC-3 (staurosporine, 133.0 +/- 3.8; TPA, 26.7 +/- 1.0; control, 0.32 +/- 0.01 ng ml-1, means +/- s.e.mean from four samples) compared to CINC-1 (staurosporine, 55.0 +/- 1.2; TPA, 12.2 +/- 0.3; control, 0.56 +/- 0.01 ng ml-1), and CINC-2 alpha (staurosporine, 1.09 +/- 0.03; TPA, 0.90 +/- 0.02; control, < 0.10 ng ml-1). CINC-2 beta was below the detectable amount (< 0.078 ng ml-1). 4. The level of CINC-3 mRNA in the peritoneal neutrophils was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Staurosporine (64 nM) and TPA (49 nM) enhanced the level of CINC-3 mRNA time-dependently, but had no effect on GAPDH mRNA levels. 5. Production of staurosporine-induced neutrophil chemotactic factor was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitors, H-7 (IC50, 12.3 microM), calphostin C (IC50, 0.77 microM) and Ro 31-8425 (24.3% inhibition at 10 microM), and by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein (IC50, 68.5 microM). Production of TPA-induced neutrophil chemotactic factor was also inhibited by both inhibitors. 6. Both the staurosporine- and the TPA-induced increase in CINC-3 mRNA levels were suppressed by H-7 and genistein.

Mechanisms involved in activation of human eosinophil exocytosis by substance P: an in vitro model of sensory neuroimmunomodulation

Substance P (SP), a tachykinin with a wide range of biological activities including a priming effect on human eosinophil chemotaxis, was investigated for its influence on eosinophil cytotoxic function measured as degranulation of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN). Peripheral blood was obtained from healthy volunteers and the degranulation assays were performed using radioimmunoassay (RIA). SP and its C-terminal elicited EDN release in a time-dependent mode at a narrow range of doses with optimal activity of 10(-6) M. FK888 (NK-1 receptor antagonist) inhibited EDN release stimulated by SP in dose dependency, also a complete inhibition was observed when eosinophils were preincubated with 1000 ng/ml pertussis toxin (PTX). Pre-exposure of eosinophils to staurosporine resulted in blockage of SP-induced EDN release in a dose-dependent mode. On the other hand, SP at 10(-7) M and 10(-8) M primed eosinophils to suboptimal dose (10(-8) M) of Platelet activating factor (PAF) resulting into significant enhancement of EDN release. SP(4-11) fragment showed a similar activity while SP(1-4) fragment was not active. SP priming of eosinophils was not affected by Ca2+ depletion, however, it caused a change in the pattern of the intracellular calcium influx against the suboptimal dose of PAF. These results suggest that SP i) may induced human eosinophil matrix protein degranulation through a receptor mediated mechanism coupled to PTX sensitive G protein(s) with the probability of linkage to phospholipase C activation, and, ii) primes human eosinophils for an exalted inflammatory response through a Ca2+ independent pathway.

Evidence that protein kinase C is involved in delta-aminolevulinate synthase expression in rat hepatocytes

There are many factors that regulate the rate of synthesis of delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S), the enzyme which governs the rate-limiting step in heme biosynthesis. In rat hepatocytes, phenobarbital increases ALA-S gene transcription and dibutyryl cAMP potentiates this induction, whereas insulin and glucose have the opposite effect. The present report provides evidence that protein kinase C (PKC) activation negatively influences ALA-S mRNA levels, as measured by Northern and slot-blot analysis. The addition of 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a PKC activator that mimics diacylglycerol function, to cultures led to a significant decrease of both basal and phenobarbital-induced ALA-S mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. This TPA effect depends on the specific activation of PKC because the analog 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-diacetate, a nonstimulatory PKC phorbol ester, is unable to inhibit ALA-S mRNA. Furthermore, the effect of TPA is blocked by the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and calphostin C. Desensitization of the PKC pathway by prolonged exposure to TPA abolished the subsequent action of the phorbol ester. On the other hand, neither TPA nor DOG modified the half-life of ALA-S mRNA. The study of the combinatorial action of TPA and cAMP revealed that the inhibitory effect of TPA overcomes dibutyryl cAMP induction. Thus, these results indicate that PKC plays an essential role in regulating ALA-S expression, probably at a transcriptional level.

Staurosporine induces a sequential program of mouse keratinocyte terminal differentiation through activation of PKC isozymes

Staurosporine (stsp) induces assembly of cornified envelopes in mouse keratinocyte cultures. To clarify whether this effect is the consequence of a coordinated differentiation program similar to that observed in epidermis, we assessed the expression of multiple differentiation-specific markers in stsp-treated keratinocytes. In medium containing 0.05 mM Ca2+, in which the basal cell phenotype is normally maintained, stsp induced dose-dependent increases in keratin 1, epidermal and keratinocyte transglutaminases, SPR-1, loricrin, and profilaggrin mRNA. Based on nuclear run-on analysis, stsp-mediated marker expression was found to be due at least in part to increased transcription. Since protein kinase C (PKC) activation is required for keratinocyte differentiation, we tested whether stsp influenced this signaling pathway. Stsp induced the translocation of multiple PKC isoforms from the cytosol to membrane and/or cytoskeletal fractions, inducing isozyme downregulation within 24 h. Moreover, AP-1 DNA binding activity was elevated in stsp-treated keratinocytes, consistent with the notion that this agent influences keratinocyte-specific gene expression via the PKC pathway. Stsp-mediated marker expression was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor GF 109203X. In cells pre-treated with bryostatin 1 to selectively down-modulate specific PKC isoforms, stsp-induced loricrin, filaggrin, and SPR-1 expression was suppressed when PKC alpha, epsilon, and/or delta were downregulated, suggesting that these isozymes may be necessary for marker expression in response to this agent. Thus, in addition to its effects on cornified envelope assembly, stsp induces a coordinate program of differentiation-specific keratinocyte gene expression that is mediated at least in part by the PKC signaling pathway.

35H, a sequence isolated as a protein kinase C binding protein, is a novel member of the adducin family

We recently cloned a partial cDNA (35H) for a protein kinase C (PKC) binding protein from a rat kidney cDNA library and demonstrated that it is a PKC substrate in vitro (Chapline, C., Ramsay, K., Klauck, T., and Jaken, S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 6858-6861). Additional library screening and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends were used to obtain the complete open reading frame. Amino acid sequence analysis, DNA sequence analysis, and Northern analysis indicate that 35H is a unique cDNA related to alpha-and beta-adducins. Antisera prepared to the 35H bacterial fusion protein recognized two polypeptides of 80 and 90 kDa on immunoblots of kidney homogenates and cultured renal proximal tubule epithelial cell extracts. The 35H-related proteins were similar to alpha- and beta-adducins in that they were preferentially recovered in the Triton X-100-insoluble (cytoskeletal, CSK) fraction of cell extracts and were predominantly localized to cell borders. Phorbol esters stimulated phosphorylation of CSK 35H proteins, thus emphasizing that sequences isolated according to PKC binding activity in vitro are also PKC substrates in vivo. The phosphorylated forms of the 35H proteins were preferentially recovered in the soluble fraction, thus demonstrating that phosphorylation regulates their CSK association and, thereby, their function in regulating cytoskeletal assemblies. We have isolated another PKC binding protein partial cDNA (clone 45) from a rat fibroblast library with substantial homology to alpha-adducin. Antisera raised against this expressed sequence recognized a protein of 120 kDa, the reported size of alpha-adducin, on immunoblots of renal proximal tubule epithelial cell extracts. A 120-kDa protein that cross-reacts with the clone 45 (alpha-adducin) antisera coprecipitated with 35H immunecomplexes, indicating that alpha-adducin associates with 35H proteins in vivo. Taken together, these results indicate that 35H is a new, widely expressed form of adducin capable of forming heterodimers with alpha-adducin. We propose naming this adducin homologue gamma-adducin.

Protein kinase C inhibitors reduce phorbol ester-induced resistance to methotrexate in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) increases the number of colonies surviving methotrexate (MTX) exposure in a dose-dependent manner upon short incubation with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Seventy percent of the isolated colonies showed increased copy number for the dihydrofolate reductase gene. EGTA prevents the increase in resistance triggered by TPA. Calcium ionophore A23187 and angiotensin II also increase this resistance, suggesting that calcium is involved in this process. Protein kinase C (PKC) from CHO cells is rapidly activated by TPA, A23187 and angiotensin II. PKC inhibitors, 1-(5-Isoquinolinylsulphonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H-7), glycyrrhetinic acid, staurosporine and calphostin C decrease the generation of resistant colonies to MTX upon incubation with TPA. However, 5 nM staurosporine on its own increases resistance to MTX while having the ability to translocate CHO PKC. In vitro, H-7, staurosporine and calphostin C inhibit PKC activity translocated by TPA incubation with CHO cells. We conclude that PKC, the activity of which is dependent on calcium and phospholipids, is part of the pathway that leads to development of increased resistance to MTX. Thus, inhibition of PKC prevents the appearance of this resistance. Our results suggest the possibility of using non-toxic PKC inhibitors as resistance modulators in MTX chemotherapy.

A two-dimensional model of cell movement. Well differentiated human rectal adenocarcinoma cells move as coherent sheets upon TPA stimulation

We previously found that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-enhanced invasion of Matrigel was associated with augmentation of cell motility but not with metalloproteinase activity in a highly metastatic variant (L-10) of human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line RCM-1. In the present study, with a two-dimensional cell motility assay, we investigated morphology of TPA-induced motility and biochemical pathways that may be involved in the induction of such a motile response to TPA. TPA induced active cell locomotion in L-10 cells with characteristic morphology: the cells moved outwards from the cell islands mainly as a localized coherent sheet of cells with few single moved out cells, but not cell proliferation. The front cells showed locomotor morphologies with front-tail polarity and well-spread leading lamella. Thus, this TPA-induced L-10 cell spreading and motility system seems to be a good model to investigate how well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells move as cohesive cell nests. Agents which selectively modulate the adenylate cyclase or G protein-related pathways, e.g., 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine and pertussis toxin, had negligible effect upon motility. In contrast, the membrane-permeable synthetic diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, which has been reported to activate protein kinase C (PKC) directly, could induce cell spreading and motility. Unexpectedly, PKC inhibitors staurosporine and H-7 enhanced TPA-induced cell spreading and motility. Staurosporine itself could induce cell spreading and motility. Taken together, these observations suggested possible involvement of PKC in TPA-induced L-10 cell spreading and motility and that staurosporine might have PKC agonist effect on induction of the spreading and motility.

Interleukin-1 beta-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis by human decidual cells is independent of protein kinase C

Basal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis by human decidual cells was stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) which activates protein kinase C. Staurosporine, which is an inhibitor of protein kinase C in most systems, also increased basal PGE2 synthesis. Further work is needed to explain this finding, as another inhibitor of protein kinase C, H7, inhibited PGE2 production under similar culture conditions. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta)-stimulated PGE2 synthesis was potentiated by coincubation with PMA or staurosporine, indicating that IL-1 beta and protein kinase C increase decidual PGE2 synthesis through different mechanisms. Desensitization of the decidual cells for 24 h with PMA did not affect IL-1 beta-stimulated PGE2 synthesis. The complex roles of protein kinase C in regulating decidual prostaglandin synthesis require further investigation, but it is clear that the effects of IL-1 beta are not mediated by protein kinase C.

Protein kinase C activation inhibits glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in a neuronal cell line

A neuronal cell line, HT-22, is sensitive to glutamate cytotoxicity via a non-receptor mediated oxidative pathway. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C, blocks this glutamate-induced cell death. Down-regulation of protein kinase C eliminates the protection against glutamate cytotoxicity afforded by TPA. The data suggest that protein kinase C activation blocks an early step in the cytotoxic pathway.

Staurosporine up-regulates the expression of phorbol dibutyrate binding sites in human platelets

Tumor-promoting phorbol esters bind to and activate protein kinase C (PKC). Staurosporine, a potent PKC inhibitor, interferes with PKC catalytic activity without altering phorbol ester binding sites in cell-free systems. We found that, unlike cell-free systems, treatment of intact platelets with staurosporine enhances the expression of phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) binding sites. Incubation of platelets at 37 degrees with staurosporine (25 nM to 1 microM and 2 nM tritiated PDBu ([3H]PDBu) increased the amount of [3H]PDBu specifically bound to intact platelets by approximately 10 to 200% of control values. This effect was rapid and plateaued after 10 min of cell treatment. Scatchard analysis of the data showed that staurosporine (500 nM) significantly increased the total binding capacity Bmax from 42.9 +/- 15.4 x 10(3) to 78 +/- 7.3 x 10(3) sites per platelet and reduced the apparent dissociation constant value Kd from 30.8 +/- 8.6 nM to 9.4 +/- 3.4 nM. Enhanced PDBu binding capacity and affinity were also observed with human mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Fractionation of staurosporine-treated platelets showed an increased binding capacity of the particulate fraction (102%) and decreased binding capacity of the soluble fraction (60%) compared to controls, with no change in the affinity of PDBu binding to these fractions. Chelation of internal calcium with BAPTA did not significantly attenuate the staurosporine-mediated rise in PBDu binding but prevented the platelet-activating factor-induced response, indicating that cytosolic calcium does not play an important role in these staurosporine effects. These results show that, in addition to interfering with PKC protein-phosphorylating activity, staurosporine enhances PDBu binding affinity and capacity in intact platelets. This latter effect appears to be due to translocation of soluble PDBu binding sites, presumably PKC units.

Staurosporine, a protein kinase inhibitor, activates K-Cl cotransport in LK sheep erythrocytes

K-Cl cotransport can participate in volume regulation in a number of cell types. Swelling activation of K-Cl cotransport in sheep erythrocytes proceeds by a two-step process, A<-->B<-->C (Dunham et al., J. Gen. Physiol. 101: 733-765, 1993). The A state, with a low flux, predominates at physiological volume. A-->B is rate limiting and can be activated by reducing cell Mg concentration ([Mg]c); complete activation (B-->C) requires cell swelling. Inhibitors of protein kinases and phosphatases were employed in an attempt to identify enzymatic reactions in the activation process. Staurosporine, a kinase inhibitor, activated K-Cl cotransport by approximately sixfold. Swelling of staurosporine-treated cells caused further activation that proceeded without delay. The effects of staurosporine and reducing [Mg]c were not additive. These two results indicate that staurosporine, like reducing [Mg]c, promotes the rate-limiting A-->B conversion. Unlike swelling, staurosporine activated cotransport without delay. Therefore staurosporine activates by promoting the forward reaction in the A<-->B conversions, in contrast to swelling, which activates by inhibiting the reverse reaction. Calyculin A, a phosphatase inhibitor, inhibited K-Cl cotransport but did not inhibit after activation by reducing [Mg]c, confirming earlier proposals that A-->B is promoted by a phosphatase. Calyculin A, added before or after staurosporine, abolished activation by staurosporine, confirming that staurosporine promotes A-->B. It is proposed that the phosphatase promoting this reaction is regulated by an inhibitory kinase, the staurosporine target.

The potential of protein kinase C as a target for anticancer treatment

Many investigators have embarked upon the search for novel cellular targets for the treatment of cancer. A popular therapeutic strategy is to intervene with the components of cellular signalling systems that are altered during malignancy. The molecular heterogeneity of the protein kinase C (PKC) family and their functional divergence make them attractive targets for anticancer drug development. PKC can also influence the sensitivity of tumor tissue to conventional cytotoxic drugs. As discussed in this review, a complete understanding of the PKC signal transduction pathway is obligatory for the selective destruction of tumor tissue by exploiting PKC as either a target or a modulator of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Staurosporine inhibits protein kinases activated by Ca2+ and cyclic AMP in addition to inhibiting protein kinase C in rat islets of Langerhans

Staurosporine has been used in several studies to investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in secretory responses of islets of Langerhans to insulin secretagogues. We have assessed the effect of staurosporine on: [i] islet PKC activity in vitro; [ii] the stimulation of insulin secretion by nutrient secretagogues and [iii] the stimulation of protein phosphorylation and insulin secretion in electrically permeabilised islets. All experiments were carried out on rat isolated islets of Langerhans, either intact or permeabilised by high voltage discharge (3.4 kV/cm). The activity of PKC partially purified from rat islets was inhibited by staurosporine (1.6-400 nM) in a concentration-dependent manner. Staurosporine also inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by both glucose and glyceraldehyde, with maximal effects at 50 nM. After prolonged exposure of islets to the tumour-promoting phorbol ester, 4 beta phorbol myristate acetate (4 beta PMA), a procedure which depletes islet PKC activity, staurosporine still inhibited both glucose- and glyceraldehyde-stimulated insulin release. In electrically permeabilised islets, staurosporine inhibited both Ca(2+)- and cyclic AMP-stimulated protein phosphorylation and insulin secretion. These results suggest that staurosporine should not be used as a selective inhibitor of PKC in rat islets.

Adhesiveness and proliferation of epithelial cells are differentially modulated by activation and inhibition of protein kinase C in a substratum-dependent manner

In the present study, we have examined the regulation of attachment, onset of proliferation and the subsequent growth, in vitro, of chick retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells as a function of the nature of the substratum and of either the activation or inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC). The RPE cells have an adhesive preference for protein carpets which contain laminin. This preference disappears gradually with time in culture. The adhesion of RPE cells to fibronectin is shown to be a receptor-mediated process which involves the RGD recognition signal. This study also demonstrates that a PKC activator, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), affects RPE cell adhesion in a substratum-dependent manner. Exposure of RPE cells to TPA lowers the cell attachment efficacy to ECM protein substrata but does not affect cell attachment to plastic. The onset of cell proliferation is accelerated by TPA on all of the substrata tested. The minimal duration of an effective TPA pulse exerting a long-lasting influence on RPE cell proliferation is between 1.5 and 3.5 hr. Stimulation of cell proliferation by TPA in long-term cultures is independent of the nature of the growth substratum. The acceleration of the onset of cell proliferation by TPA is sensitive to 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7), an inhibitor of conventional PKC, and thus appears to be dependent on the activation of conventional PKC. H7 also affects cell-cell contacts, causing an alteration in the shape ("squaring") of RPE cells packed into large colonies. Conversely, the effects of TPA on both the attachment and the long-term proliferation of RPE cells are not dependent a conventional PKC isotype, since H7 cannot abolish the influence of TPA on either process. We conclude that the effect of TPA on long-term proliferation of RPE cells is either dependent on a novel PKC isotype or independent of PKC.

The phorbol derivatives thymeleatoxin and 12-deoxyphorbol-13-O-phenylacetate-10-acetate cause translocation and down-regulation of multiple protein kinase C isozymes

Phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate,13-acetate (PMA) are potent activators of protein kinase C (PKC), and activate all PKC isozymes except zeta and lambda. Recently, 12-deoxyphorbol-13-O-phenylacetate-20-acetate (dPPA) and thymeleatoxin (Tx) were reported to selectively activate PKC beta 1 (dPPA) and PKC alpha, -beta, and -gamma (Tx), but not PKC delta or PKC epsilon in vitro. We examined the ability of these phorbol derivatives to translocate and down-regulate PKC isozymes in intact cells. Our findings demonstrate that dPPA and Tx cause translocation and down-regulation of multiple PKC isozymes, including delta and epsilon.

A protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, enhances the expression of phorbol dibutyrate binding sites in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes

Staurosporine, a potent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, was studied for its effects on the binding of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) to human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). Treatment of PMNs with staurosporine concentrations in the range 50 nM-2 microM at 37 degrees C (but not at 4 degrees C) and with 1 nM [3H]PDBu at both temperatures enhanced specific PDBu binding to PMNs by approx. 10-600% relative to control values. The potentiation was rapid (detectable within 1 min) and reached a plateau after 10 min of cell treatment. Scatchard analysis of the binding showed that staurosporine increased the total number of PDBu-binding sites (Bmax) from (178 +/- 9) x 10(3) (control) to (324 +/- 15) x 10(3) sites per PMN and lowered the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) from 9.6 +/- 0.8 (control) to 3.3 +/- 0.3 nM. In Ca(2+)-depleted cells, staurosporine induced similar changes in Kd values, whereas the Bmax. increased by 60%. Treatment of PMNs with 500 nM staurosporine enhanced PDBu binding in the particulate fraction by 120 +/- 7% and decreased PDBu binding in the soluble fraction by 69 +/- 4%, whereas PKC histone-phosphorylating activity of both fractions was almost completely inhibited. Incubation of staurosporine-pretreated particulate fractions with soluble fractions enriched the particulate fraction in PDBu-binding sites at the expense of the soluble fraction, without altering the binding affinity of PDBu for either fraction. Stimulation of PMNs with chemotactic N-formyl peptides induced a transient increase in PDBu binding. This effect was potentiated by approx. 52% by staurosporine. These results show that, in addition to its interference with PKC protein-phosphorylating activity, staurosporine enhances both PDBu-binding capacity and affinity to PMNs, through a mechanism involving Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent processes. Alterations of PDBu binding to soluble and particulate fractions suggest that the enhanced binding capacity in intact PMNs may be due to translocation of PDBu receptors, presumably PKC units. This phenomenon may affect PKC-dependent cellular responses mediated by physiological stimulation.

Regulation of phospholipase D by sphingosine involves both protein kinase C-dependent and -independent mechanisms in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Previously, the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor sphingosine was found to stimulate phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated hydrolysis of both phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts [Kiss & Anderson (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7345-7350]. Here we examined the possible relationship between the opposite effects of sphingosine on PKC-mediated protein phosphorylation and PLD activation. After treatments for 3-5 min, sphingosine (25 microM) and the PKC activators phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (100 nM), bryostatin (100 nM) or platelet-derived growth factor (50 ng/ml) synergistically stimulated the hydrolysis of both PtdEtn and PtdCho in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts prelabelled with [14C]ethanolamine or [14C]choline. Inhibition of PMA-induced phospholipid hydrolysis could also be elicited by sphingosine, but this process required prolonged (60 min) treatments of fibroblasts with 40-60 microM-sphingosine. Similarly to sphingosine, the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid also had either potentiating or inhibitory effects on PMA-stimulated PLD activity, depending on the length of incubation time and the concentration of PMA. Consistent with the presence of an inhibitory component in the overall action of PKC, the PKC inhibitor staurosporine and down-regulation of PKC activity by prolonged (24 h) treatment with PMA similarly enhanced PLD activity. Data suggest that (a) sphingosine may enhance PMA-mediated phospholipid hydrolysis by neutralizing the action of an inhibitory PKC isoform, and that (b) the stimulatory PKC isoform is less sensitive to the inhibitory action of sphingosine.

Effects of staurosporine, K 252a and other structurally related protein kinase inhibitors on shape and locomotion of Walker carcinosarcoma cells

The structure/activity relationship of the protein kinase inhibitors, staurosporine and K 252a and their analogues on motility of Walker carcinosarcoma cells has been studied in vitro. Staurosporine and K 252a, similar to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and diacylglycerols, suppress cell polarity and locomotor activity of Walker carcinosarcoma cells. Staurosporine inhibits spontaneous and colchicine-induced front-tail polarity (ID50 of about 6.0 x 10(-8) M) as well as spontaneous and colchicine-stimulated locomotion at 10(-7) M. K 252a suppresses cell polarity (ID50 of about 4.5 x 10(-6) M) and inhibits spontaneous and colchicine-stimulated locomotion at 10(-5) M, but suppression of locomotor activity is not complete in the presence of colchicine. CGP 41251, a staurosporine derivative with a much higher specificity for protein kinase C (PKC) than staurosporine, induces a dose-dependent increase in the proportion of polarised cells, and stimulates cell locomotion. Two K252a analogues, KT 5720 and KT 5822, which act preferentially on cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, and CGP 42700, an inactive staurosporine analogue, had no effect on cell polarity and locomotion. The findings suggest that protein kinase inhibitors acting preferentially on PKC may be of interest in pharmacological regulation of tumour cell locomotion.

Rapid regulation of albumin transcription by insulin and phorbol esters in rat hepatoma cells

The short-term effects of insulin and phorbol esters on the regulation of the albumin gene in rat H4IIE (H4) hepatoma cells were investigated and compared to the expression of a gene known to be inhibited by these agents, phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Both insulin and phorbol esters inhibited transcription of the albumin gene in a rapid, dose-dependent manner. Within 15 min, albumin transcription was reduced by approx. 80%. The inhibitory effects of insulin were evident at concentrations of insulin as low as 5.10(-11)M, suggesting that these effects were mediated through insulin-specific pathways. The ability of both phorbol esters and insulin to inhibit albumin transcription suggests that the negative control of this gene is a stable feature in H4 cells. The effect of phorbol esters to mimic insulin action on the albumin gene, and on several other genes in this cell line, implies that a common pathway may be shared by both insulin and phorbol esters.

Protein kinase C-dependent and -independent actions of a potent protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in primary cultured mouse epidermal cells. Staurosporine, a potent protein kinase C inhibitor, also induced ODC activity. Both TPA- and staurosporine-caused ODC inductions were markedly suppressed in the PKC-down-regulated cells. Another PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), inhibited both TPA- and staurosporine-caused ODC inductions. H-7 by itself never induced ODC activity. Under our experimental conditions, staurosporine induced no detectable phosphorylation of endogenous proteins. TPA induced a translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane whereas an optimal concentration of staurosporine to induce ODC did not induce an obvious translocation of PKC. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, inhibited staurosporine-caused ODC induction, but not TPA-caused ODC induction. Staurosporine induced specific morphological changes of epidermal cells both in normal and in PKC-down-regulated cells. These results indicate that staurosporine induces ODC activity in a PKC-dependent manner and morphological changes possibly through a PKC-independent mechanism. The mechanism of ODC induction caused by staurosporine may be in some way different from that caused by TPA.

Arachidonic acid release and platelet-activating factor formation by staurosporine in human neutrophils challenged with n-formyl peptide

Staurosporine, a putative protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, increased the release of [14C]arachidonic acid dose dependently between 100 nM and 1000 nM in human neutrophils challenged with 100 nM N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (FMLP). Staurosporine also increased the formation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, exogenously added lyso-PAF further augmented [3H]PAF formation in staurosporine-pretreated human neutrophils stimulated by FMLP, thus suggesting an activation of acetyl-CoA: lyso-PAF acetyltransferase by staurosporine. The potentiation of [14C]arachidonic acid release and [3H]PAF formation by staurosporine was further enhanced in the presence of 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which pinpoints a mechanism other than the modulation of PKC in this process, inasmuch as staurosporine antagonizes PMA-induced O2- production and [3H]PAF formation. Additional studies with other putative PKC inhibitors also revealed the potentiating effects of 1-(5-isoquinolinsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7, 20 microM) and sphingosine (2.5 microM) on FMLP-induced [14C]arachidonic acid release and [3H]PAF formation. We therefore conjecture that staurosporine-sensitive protein kinases including PKC are not involved in the activation of phospholipase A2 and acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase.

Effect of staurosporine on fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated human neutrophils: dissociated release of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, diacylglycerol and intracellular calcium

Staurosporine, a microbial alkaloid, enhances inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) production rapidly and dose-dependently in fMet-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-stimulated human neutrophils showing maximal effects at 1 microM concentration. The IP3 increase was specific for staurosporine as three other putative protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, H7, sphingosine and palmitoylcarnitine were unable to enhance the IP3 generation in FMLP-stimulated human neutrophils. Staurosporine, at concentrations 0.3-1.0 microM, did not affect the initial mobilization of FMLP-induced intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i), although a sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ level was observed within 5 min. This effect could not be suppressed, even by 1 microM phorbol-myristate 12,13-acetate (PMA). Whereas lower concentrations of staurosporine (less than or equal to 100 nM) were unable to affect FMLP-induced IP3 production, DG accumulation and Ca2+i, the PMA-inhibited initial Ca2+i signal and IP3 formation triggered by FMLP were almost completely restored. At higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 300 nM) staurosporine reversed the inhibitory effect of other protein kinases, distinct from the PMA-inducible one, which may be responsible for the phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) breakdown, thus causing accumulation of IP3 and DG and an elevation of C2+i level. Whereas IP3 declined to basal level within 5 min, the DG level remained elevated during the same period. This phenomenon is attributed to phospholipase D (PLD) stimulation by staurosporine, which augments the DG synthesis, in part through PA degradation via phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphohydrolase.

Regulation of inhibin beta B-subunit mRNA expression in rat Sertoli cells: consequences for the production of bioactive and immunoreactive inhibin

In Sertoli cells from 21-day-old rats, the expression of the mRNA encoding the alpha-subunit of inhibin, and the production of immunoreactive inhibin are stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In contrast, the amount of beta B-subunit mRNA is not increased after FSH treatment of the cells, and the ratio between bioactive and immunoactive inhibin decreases after stimulation with FSH. These data suggest that the beta B-subunit is the limiting factor in the production of bioactive inhibin. The aim of the present experiments was to investigate the effect of changes in the amount of beta B-subunit mRNA on the production of bioactive and immunoreactive inhibin. During early postnatal testicular development, the relative amounts of the 4.2 kb and 3.5 kb mRNAs encoding the beta B-subunit of inhibin changed markedly. The meaning of this changing ratio between beta B-subunit mRNAs is not clear, since both mRNAs are actively translated, as demonstrated by polysomal analysis. The total amount of beta B-subunit mRNA correlated with the in vitro production of bioactive inhibin as published earlier. Prolonged stimulation of cultured Sertoli cells from 14-day-old rats with 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a decreased expression of the beta B-subunit mRNAs, presumably by down-regulation of protein kinase C. A similar effect was obtained after addition of the calcium ionophore A23187. Concomitantly, a decreased production of bioactive inhibin was observed. Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that secretion of the 32 kDa inhibin alpha beta-dimer was decreased, whereas secretion of the combination of the C-terminal part with the pro-region of the alpha-subunit was increased. It is concluded that the level of the beta B-subunit of inhibin is rate-limiting for the production of bioactive inhibin in cultured Sertoli cells, and that its expression can be influenced by modulation of protein kinase C, and/or intracellular calcium levels.

Modulation by staurosporine of phorbol-ester-induced effects on growth and protein kinase C localization in A549 human lung-carcinoma cells

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and bryostatin 1 are activators of protein kinase C (PKC). TPA is a potent inhibitor of the growth of A549 cells, while bryostatin 1 exerts a weak antiproliferative effect upon this cell line. We tested the hypothesis that the PKC inhibitor staurosporine (STAU) can interfere with the effects of TPA or bryostatin 1 on A549 cells. STAU alone arrested A549 cell growth effectively with an IC50 of 0.65 nM as determined by cell counting after incubation for 96 hr. It also caused the release of lactate dehydrogenase from cells with an IC50 of 18.4 nM. On incubation with cells for up to 8 hr, STAU (100 nM) alone did not reduce thymidine incorporation into cells. However, it partially abrogated the inhibition of DNA synthesis caused by TPA or bryostatin 1 (10 nM). The IC50 for inhibition by STAU of the activity of PKC purified from A549 cells was 6.1 nM. Localization and levels of PKC were studied by Western blot and phorbol ester receptor binding analyses. STAU (100 nM) did not prevent the TPA-induced rapid redistribution of PKC to the cell membrane, but instead increased it by 25%. The PKC downregulation caused by TPA was not reduced in the presence of STAU. The results suggest that (i) PKC activation is involved in growth inhibition caused by TPA or bryostatin 1 in A549 cells, and (ii) subcellular localization or levels of PKC can be pharmacologically manipulated even under conditions of inhibited kinase function.

Staurosporine clamps cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations of human neutrophils

The present studies indicate that 50 nM-10 microM-staurosporine increased cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) of fura-2-loaded neutrophils in a non-linear manner. The rise in [Ca2+]i was rapid, reaching a plateau (e.g. to 0.4 microM with 1 microM-staurosporine) within 30 s, and was maintained for more than 20 min. Pretreating cells with pertussis toxin had no effect on this reaction. The elevation of [Ca2+]i was insensitive to extracellular Ca2+ concentrations and was due entirely to mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Mn(2+)-quench studies confirmed the absence of Ca2+ influx. No Ca2+ efflux occurred in staurosporine-treated cells. In combination studies, staurosporine potentiated Ca2+ influx induced by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and did not block Ca2+ efflux associated with peptide stimulation of neutrophils. Studies with permeabilized cells showed that staurosporine did not directly release intracellular Ca2+ stores, nor did it affect the sequestration of Ca2+ by a Ca2+/ATPase pump. A radioligand-binding assay failed to detect changes in the level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in neutrophils incubated with less than or equal to 1 microM-staurosporine, but in cells treated with 10 microM-staurosporine the assay recorded a transient increase in this second messenger similar to that induced by FMLP. Finally, lysozyme, but not beta-glucuronidase, was released from staurosporine-treated cells. The present results suggest that staurosporine increased [Ca2+]i by indirectly mobilizing internal Ca2+ stores. Staurosporine suppression of Ca2+ efflux and generation of a persistent signal may account for the maintained elevation of [Ca2+]i.

Hepatocanalicular organic-anion transport is regulated by protein kinase C

In order to investigate the regulation of canalicular organic-anion transport, we used a hepatocyte transport assay in which canalicular secretion of a model organic anion, dinitrophenyl-glutathione (GS-DNP), was measured in the presence of stimulators and inhibitors of the Ca2+/protein kinase C (PKC) second-messenger system and of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) second-messenger system. Vasopressin (24 nM) and the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (1 microgram/ml), both stimulators of PKC, stimulated GS-DNP efflux by 65 +/- 36% and 55 +/- 28% respectively, whereas staurosporine (10 microM), an inhibitor of PKC, inhibited efflux by 53 +/- 13%. Glucagon and forskolin, both stimulators of the cAMP second-messenger system, as well as the cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, did not significantly influence the GS-DNP efflux. It can be concluded that canalicular organic-anion transport in hepatocytes is either directly or indirectly regulated by PKC.

Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding to intact human platelets. The role of cytosolic free Ca2+

The role of Ca2+ was examined in regulating the binding of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PdBu) to intact human platelets. Alterations in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concn. [( Ca2+]i), but not extracellular Ca2+, substantially influenced the binding parameters of the phorbol ester. Ca(2+)-depleted platelets demonstrated a significant decline in the maximal binding capacity (Bmax), an increase in equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and a decrease in the Hill coefficient (h), suggesting the presence of Ca(2+)-sensitive and Ca(2+)-insensitive populations of PdBu-binding sites. In 1 mM-Ca2+ buffer, thrombin (0.1 NIH unit/ml) and ionomycin (0.5 microM) evoked a rise in [Ca2+]i to approx. 300-500 nM, associated with a significant decline in Kd, but without an apparent effect on Bmax. No effect of thrombin was observed on PdBu binding in Ca(2+)-depleted platelets. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) by H7 was associated with a greater thrombin-evoked [Ca2+]i transient and a decline in Kd. Staurosporine also decreased the Kd for PdBu binding. We propose that this effect of the PKC inhibitors on the Kd was also [Ca2+]i-dependent. These observations in intact platelets indicate that the primary role of agonist- or non-agonist-induced rise in [Ca2+]i is to increase the affinity of PKC for PdBu and, presumably, endogenous diacylglycerol. However, in itself a rise in [Ca2+]i does not increase the Bmax, for PdBu binding.

Insulin and phorbol ester stimulate phosphorylation of a 15,000 dalton membrane protein in rat diaphragm in a similar manner

The effects of insulin on the phosphorylation of a 15 kilodalton (kDa) membrane protein in rat diaphragm in situ have been investigated. Incubation of the diaphragm with insulin or tumor-promoting phorbol ester increased the 32P-labelling of the 15 kDa protein at serine residues by 50 +/- 8% and 64 +/- 11%, (mean +/- S.E.), respectively. Thermolytic peptide mapping of the 15 kDa protein after insulin treatment of the diaphragm yielded two major phosphopeptides, one of which was absent from digests from control diaphragms. The same two phosphopeptides were identified after incubation of the diaphragm with phorbol ester and after phosphorylation of sarcolemma in vitro with [gamma-32P]ATP and protein kinase C. Additional experiments indicated that pretreatment of diaphragms with insulin or phorbol ester both increased the state of phosphorylation of the 15 kDa sarcolemma protein on phosphorylation sites regulated by protein kinase C. The stimulatory effect of insulin was decreased by staurosporine or by preincubation of the diaphragms with phorbol esters. These results indicate that the insulin-induced increases in protein kinase C activity previously found in rat diaphragm (Walaas et al. (1987) FEBS Lett. 220, 311-318) may be involved in insulin-mediated regulation of phosphorylation of the 15 kDa protein in situ.

Shape changes, exocytosis, and cytosolic free calcium changes in stimulated human eosinophils

Essentially pure preparations of normal density eosinophils obtained from patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) were stimulated with complement factor 5a (C5a), platelet-activating factor (PAF), FMLP and neutrophil-activating peptide (NAP-1/IL-8). Three responses were studied, the transient rise in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) (derived from indo-1 fluorescence), shape changes (measured by laser turbidimetry), and exocytosis of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) (assessed by H2O2/luminol-dependent chemiluminescence). Responses were obtained with all four agonists, but C5a and PAF were by far more potent than FMLP and NAP-1/IL-8, which induced only minor effects. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin attenuated [Ca2+]i changes, EPO release and, to a lesser extent, shape changes, indicating that GTP-binding proteins of Gi-type are involved in receptor-dependent signal transduction processes leading to these responses. A clear dissociation was observed in the control of the shape change response and EPO exocytosis. The shape change was not affected by Ca2+ depletion or treatment with the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, but exocytosis was prevented by Ca2+ depletion and markedly enhanced by staurosporine. The activation of the contractile system, leading to shape changes and motility, thus appears to be independent of the classical signal transduction pathway involving phospholipase C, a [Ca2+]i rise and protein kinase C activation. Exocytosis is, as expected, Ca2+ dependent and appears to be under a negative control involving protein phosphorylations.

Effect of protein kinase C modulation on outcome of experimental CNS ischemia

Protein kinase C (PKC) is an important intracellular regulator, and its activity may play a central role in the modulation of neuronal ischemic damage. Staurosporine and the compound H-7 are potent in vitro inhibitors of PKC, and 1,2-oleoylacetylglycerol (OAG) is an effective activator. We administered these compounds through a spinal subarachnoid catheter and demonstrated in vivo alteration of spinal cord PKC activity. We then tested the effects of altering PKC activity in a well-established rabbit model of reversible spinal cord ischemia. Animals within each experimental group were subjected to a range of spinal cord ischemic durations by temporary occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Compared to control, both staurosporine and H-7 significantly shortened the duration of ischemia that the animals could tolerate, without developing permanent paraplegia. OAG resulted in an insignificant lengthening of the ischemic duration that the animals could withstand. The worsening of ischemic outcome by PKC inhibitors suggests that the enzyme is important for maintaining neurologic function under ischemic conditions, possibly secondary to modulation of intracellular calcium levels.

Staurosporine both activates and inhibits serine/threonine kinases in human platelets

The effects of staurosporine on a selection of protein kinases were investigated with thrombin-stimulated and control human blood platelets. The results demonstrate that staurosporine (1 microM) can lead to activation of certain protein kinases in intact platelets and has a general inhibitory effect on the renaturable protein kinases in vitro. New candidates for protein kinases involved in signal transduction are identified.

Arachidonic acid release by basophilic leukemia cells and macrophages stimulated by Ca2+ ionophores, antigen and diacylglycerol: essential role for protein kinase C and prevention by glucocorticosteroids

The role of protein kinase C in phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) and macrophages was investigated. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) doubled ionomycin-induced PLA2 activity, assessed by [3H]arachidonate release. Protein kinase C inhibitors, staurosporine and K252a (100 nM) or H-7 (15 micrograms/ml) inhibited ionomycin-stimulation of PLA2 activity by 62, 75 and 80%, respectively. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged treatment with TPA inhibited Ca2(+)-ionophore A23187 or antigen-stimulation of [3H]arachidonate release by 80%. We examined whether the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on PLA2 activity is related to modulation of protein kinase C activity. The 50% inhibition by DEX of ionomycin elevation of [3H]arachidonate release was almost overcome by addition of TPA. The Ca2+ ionophore and antigen-induced increase in [3H]TPA binding to intact RBL cells was not impaired by DEX. However, DEX markedly reduced phosphorylation of several proteins. 1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) had a sustained stimulatory effect on PLA2 activity in isolated plasma membranes derived from treated bone-marrow intact mouse macrophages, while both DEX and staurosporine reduced elevated PLA2 activity by 68 and 84%, respectively. The results support an essential role for protein kinase C in regulation of PLA2 activity.

Protein kinase C regulates the synthesis of platelet-activating factor by human monocytes

Human peripheral blood monocytes synthesize the potent lipid autacoid platelet-activating factor (PAF) following appropriate stimulation. We examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in regulating the synthesis of PAF by stimulated monocytes. 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, which directly activate PKC, stimulated the synthesis of PAF. Sphingosine, a long-chain amine that inhibits PKC, blocked both the binding of phorbol esters to monocytes and the synthesis of PAF in response to PMA (half-maximal inhibition at 5 to 10 microM and complete inhibition at 10 to 30 microM sphingosine). Thus, the activation of PKC was necessary and sufficient for PAF synthesis in response to phorbol ester. Sphingosine also blocked PAF synthesis in response to the calcium ionophore A23187 and opsonized zymosan particles by specific inhibition of PKC. Two other PKC inhibitors, stearylamine and staurosporine, also blocked PAF synthesis following A23187 or opsonized zymosan stimulation. These experiments demonstrated that PKC activation was required for PAF synthesis in response to the calcium signal generated by A23187 or a receptor-mediated agonist, opsonized zymosan. The synthesis of PAF and leukotriene B4 were temporally coupled following cell stimulation. Further, production of these two lipid mediators, and the release of arachidonic acid, were inhibited in parallel by sphingosine. Thus, PKC regulate the synthesis of both PAF and leukotriene B4 at a common step, probably phospholipase A2.