Inhibitory effect of phorbol ester on bradykinin-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and calcium mobilization in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

Teleocidin A2 inhibits human proteinase-activated receptor 2 signaling in tumor cells

Enhanced expression of the proteinase‐activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is linked to cell proliferation and migration in many cancer cell types. The role of PAR2 in cancer progression strongly illustrates the need for PAR2‐inhibiting compounds. However, to date, potent and selective PAR2 antagonists have not been reported. The natural product teleocidin A2 was characterized against PAR2‐activating peptide SLIGKV‐NH₂, and trypsin‐induced PAR2‐dependent intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in tumor and in primary endothelial or epithelial cells. Further biochemical and cell‐based studies were conducted to evaluate teleocidin specificity. The antagonizing effect of teleocidin A2 was confirmed in PAR2‐dependent cell migration and rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton of human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA‐MB 231) breast cancer cells. Teleocidin A2 antagonizes PAR2‐dependent intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization induced by either SLIGKV‐NH₂ or trypsin with IC₅₀ values from 15 to 25 nmol/L in MDA‐MB 231, lung carcinoma cell line, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell. Half maximal inhibition of either PAR1 or P2Y receptor‐dependent Ca²⁺ release is only achieved with 10‐ to 20‐fold higher concentrations of teleocidin A2. In low nanomolar concentrations, teleocidin A2 reverses both SLIGKV‐NH₂ and trypsin‐mediated PAR2‐dependent migration of MDA‐MB 231 cells, and has no effect itself on cell migration and no effect on cell viability. Teleocidin A2 further controls PAR2‐induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangement of MDA‐MB 231 cells. Thus, for the first time, the small molecule natural product teleocidin A2 exhibiting PAR2 antagonism in the low nanomolar range with potent antimigratory activity is described.

A New Teleocidin Analog from Streptomyces sp. MM216-87F4 Induces Substance P Release from Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

A new teleocidin analog was isolated from the fermentation medium of Streptomyces sp. MM216-87F4 and its structure was elucidated as 14-O-(N-acetylglucosaminyl) teleocidin A (GlcNAc-TA). GlcNAc-TA induces the translocation of protein kinases Calpha and theta fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (PKCalpha-EGFP and PKCtheta-EGFP) to the plasma membrane in stable transfectants, and reduces intracellular calcium mobilization induced by agonists of G-protein coupled receptors in various cell lines without causing irritation of the mouse ear. Further, GlcNAc-TA sensitizes the release of excitatory neuropeptides substance P induced by capsaicin from primary-cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of the rat and GlcNAc-TA alone also triggers substance P release in a dose-dependent manner. This study provides the first observation that a teleocidin analog without a free hydroxyl group at C-14 acts as a PKC activator and directly induces the release of excitatory neuropeptide.

P2X7 receptor activation in rat brain cultured astrocytes increases the biosynthetic release of cysteinyl leukotrienes

Astrocytes have been recognized as important elements in controlling inflammatory as well as immune processes in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, glial cells have been shown to produce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) which are known lipid mediators of inflammation and whose extracellular concentrations rise under different pathological conditions in the brain. In the same conditions also extracellular concentrations of ATP dramatically increase reaching levels able to activate P2X7 ionotropic receptors for which an emerging role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration has been claimed. RTPCR analysis showed that primary cultures of rat brain astrocytes express P2X7 receptors. Application of the selective P2X7 agonist benzoyl benzoly ATP (BzATP) markedly increased [Ca2+]i which was mediated by a calcium influx from the extracellular milieu. The P2X7 antagonist, oATP, suppressed the BzATP-induced calcium increase. Consistent with the evidence that increased calcium levels activate the leukotriene biosynthetic pathway, challenge of astrocytes with either the calcium ionophore A23187 or BzATP significantly increased CysLT production and the cell pre-treatment with EGTA abolished these effects. Again the P2X7 antagonist prevented the BzATP-mediated CysLT efflux, whereas the astrocyte pretreatment with MK-571, a CysLT1 receptor antagonist, was ineffective. The astrocyte pre-treatment with a cocktail of inhibitors of ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins reduced the BzATP-mediated CysLT production confirming that ABC transporters are involved in the release of CysLTs. The astrocyte P2X7- evoked rise of CysLT efflux was abolished in the presence of MK-886, an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) whose expression, along with that of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) was reported by Northern Blot analysis. The stimulation of P2X7 induced an up-regulation of FLAPmRNA that was reduced by the antagonist oATP. These data suggest that in rat brain cultured astrocytes P2X7ATP receptors may participate in the control of CysLT release thus further supporting a role for extracellular ATP as an integral component of the inflammatory brain response.

Enhanced calcium signaling to bradykinin in airway smooth muscle from hyperresponsive inbred rats

Inbred Fischer 344 rats display airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in vivo compared with the normoresponsive Lewis strain. Fischer AHR has been linked with increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction ex vivo and enhanced ASM cell intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization in response to serotonin compared with Lewis. To determine the generality of this association, we tested whether bradykinin (BK) also stimulates greater contraction of Fischer airways and greater Ca(2+) mobilization in Fischer ASM cells. Explants of Fischer intraparenchymal airways constricted faster and to a greater degree in response to BK than Lewis airways. BK also evoked higher Ca(2+) transients in Fischer than in Lewis ASM cells. ASM cell B(2) receptor expression was similar between the two strains. BK activated both phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and phosphatidylcholine-specific PLC to mobilize Ca(2+) in Fischer and Lewis ASM cells. PI-PLC activity, as measured by inositol polyphosphate accumulation, was similar in the two strains. PKC inhibition with GF109203X, Go6973, or Go6983 attenuated BK-mediated Ca(2+) transients in Fischer cells, whereas GF109203X potentiated while Go6976 and Go6983 did not affect Ca(2+) transients in Lewis cells. Enhanced Ca(2+) mobilization in ASM cells can arise from variations in PKC and may be an important component of nonspecific, innate AHR.

Glutamate regulates IP3-type and CICR stores in the avian cochlear nucleus

Neurons of the avian cochlear nucleus, nucleus magnocellularis (NM), are activated by glutamate released from auditory nerve terminals. If this stimulation is removed, the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) of NM neurons rises and rapid atrophic changes ensue. We have been investigating mechanisms that regulate [Ca2+]i in these neurons based on the hypothesis that loss of Ca2+ homeostasis causes the cascade of cellular changes that results in neuronal atrophy and death. In the present study, video-enhanced fluorometry was used to monitor changes in [Ca2+]i stimulated by agents that mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular stores and to study the modulation of these responses by glutamate. Homobromoibotenic acid (HBI) was used to stimulate inositol trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive stores, and caffeine was used to mobilize Ca2+ from Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) stores. We provide data indicating that Ca2+ responses attributable to IP3- and CICR-sensitive stores are inhibited by glutamate, acting via a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). We also show that activation of C-kinase by a phorbol ester will reduce HBI-stimulated calcium responses. Although the protein kinase A accumulator, Sp-cAMPs, did not have an effect on HBI-induced responses. CICR-stimulated responses were not consistently attenuated by either the phorbol ester or the Sp-cAMPs. We have previously shown that glutamate attenuates voltage-dependent changes in [Ca2+]i. Coupled with the present findings, this suggests that in these neurons mGluRs serve to limit fluctuations in intracellular Ca2+ rather than increase [Ca2+]i. This system may play a role in protecting highly active neurons from calcium toxicity resulting in apoptosis.

Activation of endothelial cell kinin receptors leads to intracellular calcium increases and filamin translocation: regulation by protein kinase C

Membrane-associated cytoskeletal proteins provide support for endothelial cell (EC) junctional cell adhesion molecules. Nonmuscle filamin is a dimeric actin cross-linking protein that interacts with F-actin and membrane glycoproteins. Both bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin cause filamin redistribution from the plasma membrane to the cytosol of confluent EC. Kinin-induced filamin translocation parallels the dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ increases. Pretreatment with kinin receptor antagonists blocks the Ca2+ response as well as filamin translocation induced by kinins. Protein kinase C activation prior to kinin stimulation attenuates intracellular Ca2+ increases and filamin translocation. BAPTA, a cell-permeable Ca2+ chelator, attenuates bradykinin-induced intracellular Ca2+ increases and filamin translocation. This study demonstrates that bovine pulmonary artery ECs express both kinin B1 and B2 receptors, and that activation of either receptor leads to intracellular Ca2+ increases. This Ca2+ signalling, which is downregulated by protein kinase C activation, is essential for kinin-induced filamin translocation.

Antisense oligonucleotides targeting human protein kinase C-alpha inhibit phorbol ester-induced reduction of bradykinin-evoked calcium mobilization in A549 cells

Regulation of the bradykinin-evoked increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration by protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha was investigated in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Bradykinin, a potent and selective kinin B2 receptor agonist, induces calcium mobilization in a concentration-dependent fashion in this cell line. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of PKC, is known to reduce the amplitude of agonist-induced calcium mobilization in various cell lines. Because PKC-alpha is a major PKC isozyme in A549 cells, we investigated whether this isozyme plays a role in this process. A 20-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide targeting the 3'-untranslated region of the human PKC-alpha mRNA, which contains 2'-methoxyethyl modifications incorporated into the 5' and 3' segments of the oligonucleotide, was used to assess the putative role of PKC-alpha in the receptor regulation. ISIS 9606 reduced PKC-alpha mRNA for > or = 72 hr after the initial treatment and the reduction was concentration dependent, whereas the mismatch control, ISIS 13009, had no effect. Concentrations of ISIS 9606 of 150 nM specifically reduced the level of immunoreactive PKC-alpha protein by 66.3 +/- 2.5% at 72 hr after treatment, without an effect on immunoreactive PKC-delta protein. This reduction in PKC-alpha was sufficient to inhibit the reduction of bradykinin-induced calcium mobilization by TPA. This finding is corroborated by the use of staurosporine, a nonselective PKC inhibitor, that prevented the effect of TPA. These results suggest that PKC-alpha is involved in kinin B2 receptor regulation by phorbol esters in A549 cells.