Dependence of urokinase-type-plasminogen-activator induction on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activation in LLC-PK1 cells

Calcitonin stimulates the secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator from prostate cancer cells: its possible implications on tumor cell invasion

Calcitonin (CT) is synthesized and secreted in prostate epithelium, and its secretion from malignant prostates is several folds higher than that in benign prostates. CT receptor (CTR) is expressed in malignant prostate epithelium, and its activation increases invasiveness of prostate cancer (PC) cells via activation of protein kinase A. Since the role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in invasion of PC has been established, we tested the hypothesis that CT increases invasion of PC cells by stimulating uPA secretion from PC cells. Exogenously added CT stimulated the secretion of uPA from PC-3M cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was blocked by Rp.cAMP, a competitive inhibitor of protein kinase A. CT stimulated the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 from PC-3M cells, and also increased their invasiveness. Both these actions of CT were blocked by uPA-neutralizing antibodies. Immunofluorescence studies with PC-3M cells suggest that CT stimulated redistribution of cellular uPA to focal adhesion sites, which was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of uPA with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in response to CT. These results suggest that CT increases invasiveness of PC cells by stimulating PKA-mediated uPA secretion and by redirecting the secreted uPA to focal adhesion sites. The results also suggest that uPA may, at least in part, mediate proinvasive actions of CT on PC cells by stimulating the secretion of gelatinases and degradation of focal adhesion sites.

Oxytocin induced cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation and urokinase-type plasminogen activator production in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells is mediated by the vasopressin V2-receptor

Using a variety of peptide analogues of oxytocin (OT) and Arg8-vasopressin (AVP), OT-mediated induction of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was examined in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells, which possess distinct high-affinity receptors of both the OT- and vasopressin renal (V2-) types. OT or OT-receptor specific agonists induced concentration-dependent cAMP synthesis, activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) and uPA production consistent with their respective binding affinities for the V2- and not the OT-receptor. OT-mediated uPA induction could be inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion by coincubation with a V2/V1-receptor specific antagonist, but not by an OT-receptor specific antagonist. Results implied that stimulation of cAMP- and uPA responses in LLC-PK1 cells by OT was V2-receptor-mediated.

Vasopressin V2-receptor mobile fraction and ligand-dependent adenylate cyclase activity are directly correlated in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells

The role of hormone receptor lateral mobility in signal transduction was studied using a cellular system in which the receptor mobile fraction could be reversibly modulated to largely varying extents. The G-protein-coupled vasopressin V2-type receptor was labeled in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells using a fluorescent analogue of vasopressin, and receptor lateral mobility measured using fluorescence microphotolysis (fluorescence photobleaching recovery). The receptor mobile fraction (f) was approximately 0.9 at 37 degrees C and less than 0.1 at 10 degrees C, in accordance with previous studies. When cells were incubated for 1 h at 4 degrees C without hormone, and then warmed up to 37 degrees C and labeled with the vasopressin analogue, f increased from approximately 0.4 to 0.8 over approximately 1 h. The apparent lateral diffusion coefficient was not markedly affected by temperature pretreatment. Studies with radiolabeled vasopressin indicated that temperature pretreatment influenced neither receptor number nor binding/internalization kinetics. F-actin staining revealed that temperature change resulted in reversible changes of cytoskeletal structure. The maximal rate of in vivo cAMP production at 37 degrees C in response to vasopressin, but not to forskolin (receptor-independent agonist), was also markedly influenced by preincubation of cells at 4 degrees C, thus paralleling the effects of temperature preincubation on f. A linear correlation between f and maximal cAMP production was observed, suggesting that the receptor mobile fraction is a key parameter in hormone signal transduction in vivo. We conclude that mobile receptors are required to activate G-proteins, and discuss the implications of this for signal transduction mechanisms.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation affects vasopressin V2-receptor number and internalization in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells

The relationship between activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) and ligand binding and internalization by the vasopressin renal (V2-type) receptor of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells was examined. Upon cAMP-PK activation through 1 h treatment with the cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP (BrcA), a marked reduction in V2-receptor steady state number and internalization in LLC-PK1 cells was effected. In cells treated for 17 h with BrcA and hence down-regulated for cAMP-PK, the V2-receptor number was normal but internalization was markedly reduced. Cells of the LLC-PK1 mutant FIB4, which possesses about 10% parental cAMP-PK catalytic subunit activity, exhibited lower V2-receptor steady state number and internalization in comparison to untreated LLC-PK1 cells. A negative correlation was thus evident between cAMP-PK activation and V2-receptor number, and internalization. Phosphorylation by cAMP-PK may effect ligand-independent removal of receptor from the plasma membrane.

A novel LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cell mutant impaired in in vivo down-regulation of cAMP-mediated hormonal response

A novel "cAMP-resistant" variant of LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells which is impaired in in vivo down-regulation of response following hormonal stimulation of adenylate cyclase (AC) is described. Compared to parental cells, the BIB27 mutant exhibited markedly higher in vivo activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) in response to the hormones salmon calcitonin (SCT) or [Arg8]-vasopressin (AVP) or the AC activator forskolin. The activation of cAMP-PK subsequent to agonist stimulation also persisted much longer in the mutant than in LLC-PK1 cells, although the cAMP-PK of BIB27 cells was normal in terms of both absolute levels and regulation by cAMP in vitro. Intracellular cAMP accumulation was also much higher in BIB27 than in LLC-PK1 cells following agonist stimulation. Production of cAMP could be detected in BIB27 cells even 12 h after treatment with AVP or SCT, whereas cAMP production in LLC-PK1 had returned to basal within 1 and 8 h, respectively. High levels of free cAMP-PK catalytic (C) subunit in BIB27 persisted even 12 h after hormone addition, meaning that the higher cAMP production in BIB27 did not result in the normal down-regulation of cAMP-PK C subunit levels. In vitro AC activity in BIB27 cell homogenates could be stimulated by hormones or receptor-independent agonists, but to a lesser extent than in LLC-PK1 cell homogenates. The SCT and AVP concentrations promoting half-maximal AC activation in BIB27 cells were about 10- and 3-fold higher than parental, respectively. BIB27 accordingly appeared to possess a mutation in AC responsible for the impairment of both in vitro response to agonists and the normal in vivo down-regulation processes following hormonal stimulation.

Hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator production by rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Hormonal regulation in the production of a plasminogen activator (PA) was studied in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Insulin and epidermal growth factor had no effect on the hepatic PA activity. However, glucagon and epinephrine augmented the activity, whereas dexamethasone suppressed it by lowering the production of hepatic PA rather than by inducing plasmin inhibitors or a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). Dibutyryl cAMP, an analogue of cAMP, also augmented hepatic PA activity. The augmented activity level was lowered by either H-8, cycloheximide, or actinomycin D, suggesting that A-kinase and protein biosynthesis are closely associated with the augmentation. Glucocorticoid and hormones that act to raise the intracellular cAMP level may participate in hepatic PA production by the liver.

Macromolecular interaction on a cAMP responsive region in the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene: a role of protein phosphorylation

We have studied the regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene expression by cAMP in LLC-PK1 cells. We found a cAMP responsive region 3.4 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site, which comprised three protein-binding domains designated A, B, and C. Domains A and B both contain a sequence, TGACG, homologous to a consensus cAMP response element (CRE; TGACGTCA). Effective cAMP-mediated induction was achieved when these two domains were linked with domain C, which by itself did not confer cAMP responsiveness to a heterologous promoter nor contained CRE-like sequence, suggesting a functional cooperation among these domains. Results of competition studies using gel retardation and DNase I footprinting assays suggest that there is a protein-protein interaction between a CRE binding protein and a domain C binding protein. In gel retardation assays, binding of a nuclear protein to domains A and B was strongly augmented by addition of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, whereas the protein binding to domain C was slightly inhibited, suggesting that protein phosphorylation is involved in the regulation of protein-DNA interaction.

A system to select for mutant LLC-PK1 cells affected in cAMP mediated hormonal response using a photoactivatable analogue of vasopressin

The photoreactive analogue of vasopressin, [1-(3-mercapto)propionic acid, 8-(N6-4-azidophenyl-amidino)lysine] vasopressin (apa-LVP) could be used to elicit stimulation of cAMP production in LLC-PK renal epithelial cells, detectable up to 24 h after photoactivation by flash photolysis. This is in contrast to cells treated with vasopressin, or apa-LVP without photoactivation, where cAMP synthesis is down regulated within 4 h. The prolonged stimulation of cAMP production induced by photoactivation of apa-LVP was demonstrated to be cytotoxic to LLC-PK1 cells, whereas the vasopressin receptor negative LLC-PK1 mutant M18 was resistant to the cytotoxic effect. A selection strategy was developed for mutants resistant to this long-term stimulation of cAMP production, whereby multiple cycles of treatment with apa-LVP and photoactivation were used. Mutants so selected were then characterized using a novel screening system for detection of the production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in response to cAMP agonists. One mutant was examined and found to be impaired in hormonal responsiveness, whereby hormone and forskolin stimulated cAMP-mediated responses were markedly reduced. It exhibited resistance to the long-term stimulation of cAMP production elicited by apa-LVP and photoactivation. This implies that apa-LVP can be used to select for novel mutants specifically impaired in cAMP metabolism and in particular down-regulation of cAMP response.

Codominant expression of a mutation affecting the cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit in somatic cell hybrids of LLC-PK1 cells

The LLC-PK1 mutant cell lines FIB4 and FIB6 are affected in the catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) such that they possess less than 10% parental activity. However, by Western blot analysis they were shown to possess normal levels of C subunit protein. Somatic cell hybrids were derived between mutant and LLC-PK1 cells, and examined for complementation of the cAMP-PK lesion. Codominant expression of mutant and normal alleles was observed, in that somatic cell hybrids between FIB4 and LLC-PK1, and between FIB6 and LLC-PK1 cells, exhibited cAMP-PK activity 60-75% that of LLC-PK1 cells, intermediate between mutant and normal parental cell lines. The cAMP-PK of the FIB6 x LLC-PK1 and FIB4 x LLC-PK1 hybrids was examined by ion exchange chromatography. In contrast to the FIB6 and FIB4 mutants which lack an active Type I cAMP-PK, the hybrids retained levels of active Type I cAMP-PK greater than 30% that of LLC-PK1, concomitant with the retention of catalytic activity. It was concluded that the loss of Type I kinase in the FIB6 and FIB4 mutants is most likely a consequence of the lesion in the cAMP-PK C subunit. All somatic cell hybrids examined showed levels of cAMP-PK C subunit (as determined by Western blot analysis), and in vivo regulation of cAMP-PK activation (in response to hormonal or nonreceptor-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase), completely comparable to those of the parental LLC-PK1 cells. Hence, no aberrant regulation of either cAMP-PK subunit levels or cAMP-PK activities was evident in the somatic cells hybrids. All data were consistent with the hypothesis that FIB4 and FIB6 contain a structural mutation affecting the cAMP-PK catalytic subunit that is expressed phenotypically in the presence of the normal allele.

Long-term stimulation of cAMP production in LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cells by salmon calcitonin or a photoactivatable analogue of vasopressin

A photoreactive analogue of vasopressin, [1-(3-mercapto)propionic acid, 8-(N6-4-azidophenylamidino)lysine]-vasopressin, was compared to salmon calcitonin and [8-arginine]-vasopressin with respect to stimulation of cAMP synthesis in the LLC-PK1 pig kidney epithelial cell line. Without photoactivation, the vasopressin analogue-elicited responses were identical to those induced by vasopressin, in that cAMP synthesis returned to the basal, unstimulated level about 4 h after hormonal treatment. In contrast, the levels of activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase induced by salmon calcitonin returned to basal approx. 12 h after hormone addition. When activated by ultraviolet irradiation, the vasopressin analogue induced 'permanent' stimulation of adenylate cyclase, whereby cAMP production could be detected even 12.5 h after treatment. Both salmon calcitonin and the photoactivated vasopressin analogue inhibited growth of LLC-PK1 cells, in contrast to vasopressin or the nonactivated analogue. Growth inhibition appeared to be a consequence of the prolonged stimulation of adenylate cyclase. This conclusion was supported by the fact that a LLC-PK1 cell mutant in cAMP-dependent protein kinase was resistant to growth inhibition by salmon calcitonin and activated vasopressin analogue. The results imply that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is the mediator of the hormone-stimulated growth inhibition.

Multiple mRNA species code for the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase from LLC-PK1 cells. Evidence for two forms of the catalytic subunit

We present evidence for the existence of two forms of the catalytic (C) subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. A lambda gt-11 cDNA library constructed from poly(A)-rich RNA from the porcine kidney cell line, LLC-PK1, was screened using a 1.5-kb EcoRI fragment from a bovine cDNA for the C subunit. Two independent classes of cDNAs were identified on the basis of partial restriction map and sequence data. These two cDNAs, lambda CAT4 and lambda CAT3, apparently encode two forms of C subunit designated C alpha and C beta, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of the C alpha and C beta cDNAs revealed differences in the coding region and particularly in the 3' untranslated region. However, the deducted amino acid sequences of C alpha and C beta subunits were 96% homologous to the sequences so far determined. Specific probes from the 3' coding region of the two cDNA species were used to investigate C subunit mRNA expression in LLC-PK1 cells. Northern analysis showed a major mRNA species of 2.8 kb with the C alpha probe while the C beta probe detected two mRNA species of 5.0 kb and 3.8 kb. These data were supported by genomic blot analysis which showed distinct hybridization patterns with either the C alpha or C beta probes. All the available evidence suggests that at least two distinct genes encode the C subunit which are expressed in LLC-PK1 cells.