Human Astrocytoma Cells Express Two Thromboxane A2 Receptor Subtypes that Communicate with Gq and G12

Neurotrophic factor production in human astrocytoma cells by 2,5,6-tribromogramine via activation of epsilon isoform of protein kinase C

It is known that astrocytes secrete several neurotrophic factors to promote the survival of neurons. For the treatment of neuronal disorders, low molecular weight compounds inducing neurotrophic factor synthesis are useful, because neurotrophic factors are polypeptides which cannot cross the blood brain barrier. When rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were cultivated in the medium of human astrocytoma cells (1321N1) treated with 2,5,6-tribromogramine, they differentiated to neuron-like cells possessing neurites, indicating that 2,5,6-tribromogramine released neurotrophic factors from 1321N1 cells. In fact, 2,5,6-tribromogramine increased nerve growth factor (NGF) protein synthesis and secretion through mRNA expression. 2,5,6-Tribromogramine inhibited carbachol-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis as well as phorbol 12,13-myristate acetate did. The inhibition was recovered by bisindolylmaleimide I (GF109203X), a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, indicating that 2,5,6-tribromogramine may activate PKC. The morphological differentiation of PC-12 cells by the medium treated with 2,5,6-tribromogramine was also reduced by GF109203X. 2,5,6-Tribromogramine translocated PKC-epsilon but not PKC-alpha or PKC-zeta, to membrane fraction from cytosol fraction. These results indicate that 2,5,6-tribromogramine promotes the synthesis and secretion of neurotrophic factors including NGF in 1321N1 cells via an activation of PKC-epsilon.

Thromboxane A2 receptor-mediated G12/13-dependent glial morphological change

Glial cells express thromboxane A(2) receptor, but its physiological role remains unknown. The present study was performed to examine thromboxane A(2) receptor-mediated morphological change in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Thromboxane A(2) receptor agonists U46619 and STA(2) caused a rapid morphological change to spindle shape from stellate form of the cells pretreated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, but neither carbachol nor histamine caused the change, suggesting that G(q) pathway may not mainly contribute to the change. Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 inhibited U46619-induced morphological change, and U46619 increased the GTP-bound form of RhoA accompanied with actin stress fiber formation. These responses were reduced by expression of p115-RGS that inhibits G(12)/(13) signaling pathway. U46619 also caused the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation mainly through G(12)/(13)-Rho pathway. These results suggest that stimulation of thromboxane A(2) receptor causes the morphological change with proliferation mainly through G(12)/(13) activation in glial cells.

Thromboxane A2 promotes interleukin-6 biosynthesis mediated by an activation of cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells

1321N1 human astrocytoma cells express thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptors (TP). However, physiological consequences of TXA2 signaling in glial cells remain unclear. Herein, we show that TXA2 promotes interleukin-6 (IL-6) biosynthesis in glial cells. A TP agonist, 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy-prosta-5Z,13E-dien-1-oic acid (U46619), enhanced IL-6 production in both 1321N1 cells and cultured mouse astrocytes. It has been shown that IL-6 gene expression is regulated by various transcription factors. Among them, we found a significant increase in cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) activity with its phosphorylation at Ser133 by U46619 in 1321N1 cells. Although U46619 increased IL-6 promoter activity, a mutation at cyclic AMP-response element (CRE) on the promoter clearly suppressed the effect, suggesting that CRE is involved in U46619-induced IL-6 expression. Furthermore, both CREB and IL-6 promoter activities were suppressed by SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole], a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, and H89 [N-[2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)-ethyl]-5-isoquinoline], a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, indicating involvements of p38 MAPK and PKA in CREB activation and IL-6 expression. To determine which G-proteins are implicated in the U46619-induced IL-6 synthesis, the interfering mutants of Galpha(q), Galpha12, or Galpha13 by were overexpressed in 1321N1 cells adenoviral approach. It is noteworthy that the Galpha(q) or Galpha13 mutant blocked the IL-6 production by U46619. The constitutively active mutant of Galpha(q), Galpha12, or Galpha13 enhanced IL-6 production, indicating that Galpha(q) and Galpha13 were involved in U46619-induced IL-6 production. In conclusion, TXA2 enhances the IL-6 biosynthesis via the PKA p38 MAPK/CREB pathway in 1321N1 cells. IL-6 induction depends on Galpha(q) and Galpha13 as well. This is the first report showing TP-mediated IL-6 production in glial cells.

Involvement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C in thromboxane A2-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in astrocytoma cells

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor-mediated signal transduction was investigated in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. 9,11-Epithio-11,12-methano-TXA2 (STA2), a TXA2 receptor agonist, induced Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide hydrolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. These responses were inhibited by treatment with U73122, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, or by culturing in 0.5% fetal calf serum containing 0.5 mM dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP) for 2 days. However, the dbcAMP treatment augmented the TXA2 receptor-mediated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). These results were confirmed by a functional MAPK assay measuring the incorporation of 32P into the MAPK substrate peptide. The TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation was inhibited by SQ29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, and GF109203X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Although U73122 did not inhibit or only slightly inhibited the activation of MAPK, D-609, an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, potently attenuated the activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, STA2 accelerated the release of [3H]choline metabolites from the cells prelabeled with [3H]choline chloride. This release was inhibited by treatment with D-609. These results suggest that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and protein kinase C, but not phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, are involved in TXA2 receptor-mediated MAPK activation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.

DDM-PGE(2)-mediated cytoprotection in renal epithelial cells by a thromboxane A(2) receptor coupled to NF-kappaB

The present studies were conducted to determine the pharmacological nature of a cytoprotective 11-deoxy-16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2) (DDM-PGE(2)) receptor in LLC-PK(1) cells. DDM-PGE(2)-mediated cytoprotection against 2,3,5-(trisglutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone (TGHQ)-mediated cytotoxicity can be reproduced using thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) receptor (TP) agonists (U46619 and IBOP), and the cytoprotective response to DDM-PGE(2) and TP agonists is inhibited by TP antagonists (SQ-29,548 and ISAP). Western blot analysis using an antipeptide antibody against the human platelet TP receptor (55 kDa) identified a particulate associated 54-kDa protein. DDM-PGE(2)-mediated 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) responsive element (TRE) binding activity is not inhibited by cyclooxygenase inhibitors (aspirin and indomethacin) or a TXA(2) synthase inhibitor (sulfasalazine), suggesting that the biological response to DDM-PGE(2) is not dependent on de novo TXA(2) biosynthesis. Peak DDM-PGE(2)- and U46619-mediated TRE binding activity and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding activity are inhibited by SQ-29,548. The full cytoprotective response to DDM-PGE(2) requires an 8-h pulse with agonist. DDM-PGE(2)-mediated TRE and NF-kappaB binding activity remain elevated in the presence of agonist and rapidly decay following agonist washout, suggesting a direct correlation between DDM-PGE(2)-mediated cytoprotection and persistent DNA binding activities. TPA, a protein kinase C activator, induces cytoprotection and a persistent increase of NF-kappaB binding activity. DDM-PGE(2)-mediated cytoprotection and NF-kappaB binding activity but not TRE binding activity are inhibited by sulfasalazine. We conclude that the DDM-PGE(2) receptor is a TP receptor and that the cytoprotective response may be mediated in part by NF-kappaB.

Decrease in thromboxane A2 receptor expression by differentiation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor expression with its signaling was investigated in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells differentiated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). The cells cultured in 0.5% fetal calf serum containing 0.5 mM dbcAMP for 3 days showed the star-shaped morphology, accompanied with the reduction of a TXA2 mimetic U46619-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and Ca2+ mobilization. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that human astrocytoma cells expressed phospholipase C (PLC)-beta1 and -beta3, but not PLC-beta2. The contents of PLC-beta1 and beta3 were not changed by the differentiation. The alpha subunit of Gq/ll bound to TXA2-receptor was reduced by the differentiation, determined by immunoblotting after immunoprecipitation with an anti-TXA2-receptor antibody. Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H]SQ29548, a TXA2 receptor antagonist, to the membranes revealed that the maximum binding site was reduced by the differentiation. The expression of TXA2 receptor mRNA also was reduced by the differentiation, determined by reverse-transcribed-polymerase chain reaction. Although placental type of TXA2 receptor mRNA expression increased after the differentiation, endothelial type of TXA2 receptor mRNA expression slightly decreased. The results suggest that 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells differentiated with dbcAMP show impaired TXA2 receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis and Ca2+ mobilization, due to the decrease in TXA2 receptor number.

Maitotoxin-induced nerve growth factor production accompanied by the activation of a voltage-insensitive Ca2+ channel in C6-BU-1 glioma cells

1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of maitotoxin on nerve growth factor production and the Ca2+ influx in clonal rat glioma cells (C6-BU-1). 2. Maitotoxin (1 - 10 ng ml-1) induced a profound increase in 45Ca2+ influx in an extracellular Ca2+-dependent manner. However, high KCl had no effect at all. These effects were supported by the results from the analysis of intracellular Ca2+ concentration using fura 2. 3. The maitotoxin-induced 45Ca2+ influx was inhibited by inorganic Ca2+ antagonists, such as Mg2+, Mn2+ and Co2+. The inhibitory effect of Co2+ was antagonized by increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. 4. Maitotoxin (3 ng ml-1) as well as A-23187 (1microM) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.5 mM) caused an acceleration of nerve growth factor (NGF) production in C6-BU-1 cells, as determined by NGF enzyme immunoassay. 5. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT - PCR) analysis showed that maitotoxin (10 ng ml-1) enhanced the expression of NGF mRNA, which was abolished by the removal of extracellular Ca2+. A-23187 also accelerated its expression. 6. These results suggest that maitotoxin activates a voltage-insensitive Ca2+ channel and accelerates NGF production mediated through a Ca2+ signalling pathway in C6-BU-1 glioma cells.