Redox regulation of protein kinase C by selenometabolites and selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase limits cancer prevention by selenium

The cancer-preventive mechanism of selenium should address the way low concentrations of selenometabolites react with cellular targets without being diffused from the sites of generation, the way selenium selectively kills tumor cells, and the intriguing U-shaped curve that is seen with dietary supplementation of selenium and cancer prevention. Protein kinase C (PKC), a receptor for tumor promoters, is well suited for this mechanism. Due to the catalytic redox cycle, low concentrations of methylselenol, a postulated active metabolite of selenium, react with the tumor-promoting lipid hydroperoxide bound to PKC to form methylseleninic acid (MSA), which selectively reacts with thiol residues present within the vicinity of the PKC catalytic domain to inactivate it. Given that lipid hydroperoxide levels are high in promoting cells, PKC inactivation selectively leads to death in these cells. A biphasic effect of MSA in inducing cell death was observed in certain prostate cancer cell lines; lower concentrations of MSA induced cell death, while higher concentrations failed to do so. Lower concentrations of selenium inactivate more sensitive antiapoptotic isoenzymes of PKC (ε and α), sparing less sensitive proapoptotic isoenzymes (PKCδ and PKCζ). Higher concentrations of selenium also inactivate proapoptotic isoenzymes and consequently make tumor cells resistant to apoptosis. Due to a high-affinity binding of thioredoxin to the PKC catalytic domain, this thiol oxidation is explicitly reversed by thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD), a selenoprotein. Therefore, overexpression of TXNRD in advanced tumor cells could make them resistant to selenium-induced death. Conceivably, this mechanism, at least in part, explains why selenium prevents cancer only in certain cases.

Laminin-1 induces endocytosis of 67KDa laminin receptor and protects Neuroscreen-1 cells against death induced by serum withdrawal

Although the function of laminin in the basement membrane is known, the function of soluble "neuronal" laminin is unknown. Since laminin is neuroprotective, we determined whether the soluble laminin-1 induces signaling for neuroprotection via its 67KDa laminin-1 receptor (67LR). Treatment of Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) cells with laminin-1 or YIGSR peptide, which corresponds to a sequence in laminin-1 β1 chain that binds to 67LR, induced a decrease in the cell-surface expression of 67LR and caused its internalization. Furthermore, intracellular cAMP-elevating agents, dibutyryl-cAMP, forskolin, and rolipram, also induced this internalization. Both soluble laminin-1 and YIGSR induced a sustained elevation of intracellular cAMP under defined conditions, suggesting a causal role of cAMP in the endocytosis of 67LR. This endocytosis was not observed in cells deficient in protein kinase A (PKA) nor in cells treated with either SQ 22536, an inhibitor for adenylyl cyclase, or ESI-09, an inhibitor for the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac). In addition, when internalization occurred in NS-1 cells, 67LR and adenylyl cyclase were localized in early endosomes. Under conditions in which endocytosis had occurred, both laminin-1 and YIGSR protected NS-1 cells from cell death induced by serum withdrawal. However, under conditions in which endocytosis did not occur, neither laminin-1 nor YIGSR protected these cells. Conceivably, the binding of laminin-1 to 67LR causes initial signaling through PKA and Epac, which causes the internalization of 67LR, along with signaling enzymes, such as adenylyl cyclase, into early endosomes. This causes sustained signaling for protection against cell death induced by serum withdrawal.

Role of Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A signaling in the functional and morphological integrity of the cochlea

Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) encodes the transmembrane cellular receptor neuropilin-1, which is associated with cardiovascular and neuronal development and was within the peak SNP interval on chromosome 8 in our prior GWAS study on age-related hearing loss (ARHL) in mice. In this study, we generated and characterized an inner ear-specific Nrp1 conditional knockout (CKO) mouse line because Nrp1 constitutive knockouts are embryonic lethal. In situ hybridization demonstrated weak Nrp1 mRNA expression late in embryonic cochlear development, but increased expression in early postnatal stages when cochlear hair cell innervation patterns have been shown to mature. At postnatal day 5, Nrp1 CKO mice showed disorganized outer spiral bundles and enlarged microvessels of the stria vascularis (SV) but normal spiral ganglion cell (SGN) density and presynaptic ribbon body counts; however, we observed enlarged SV microvessels, reduced SGN density, and a reduction of presynaptic ribbons in the outer hair cell region of 4-month-old Nrp1 CKO mice. In addition, we demonstrated elevated hearing thresholds of the 2-month-old and 4-month-old Nrp1 CKO mice at frequencies ranging from 4 to 32kHz when compared to 2-month-old mice. These data suggest that conditional loss of Nrp1 in the inner ear leads to progressive hearing loss in mice. We also demonstrated that mice with a truncated variant of Nrp1 show cochlear axon guidance defects and that exogenous semaphorin-3A, a known neuropilin-1 receptor agonist, repels SGN axons in vitro. These data suggest that Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A signaling may also serve a role in neuronal pathfinding in the developing cochlea. In summary, our results here support a model whereby Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A signaling is critical for the functional and morphological integrity of the cochlea and that Nrp1 may play a role in ARHL.

Neuropilin-1 is a member of the neuropilin family acting as an essential cell surface receptor involved in semaphorin-dependent axon guidance and VEGF-dependent angiogenesis and lies within our previously identified ARHL GWAS interval. In this study, we investigated the role of Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A signaling in the functional and morphological integrity of the cochlea, specifically the innervation and vascularization patterns. Detailed analyses of the cochleae of 4-month-old Nrp1 CKO mice showed abnormalities in ribbon synapses, innervation of the hair cells, and microvessels of the stria vascularis. We show also that Neuropilin-1/Semaphorin-3A signaling plays an important role in cochlear innervation.

Imbalance in Protein Thiol Redox Regulation and Cancer-Preventive Efficacy of Selenium

Although several experimental studies showed cancer-preventive efficacy of supplemental dietary selenium, human clinical trials questioned this efficacy. Identifying its molecular targets and mechanism is important in understanding this discrepancy. Methylselenol, the active metabolite of selenium, reacts with lipid hydroperoxides bound to protein kinase C (PKC) and is oxidized to methylseleninic acid (MSA). This locally generated MSA selectively inactivates PKC by oxidizing its critical cysteine sulfhydryls. The peroxidatic redox cycle occurring in this process may explain how extremely low concentrations of selenium catalytically modify specific membrane-bound proteins compartmentally separated from glutathione and selectively induce cytotoxicity in promoting cells. Mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TR) is itself a selenoenzyme with a catalytic selenocysteine residue. Together with thioredoxin (Trx), it catalyzes reduction of selenite and selenocystine by NADPH generating selenide which in the presence of oxygen redox cycles producing reactive oxygen species. Trx binds with high affinity to PKC and reverses PKC inactivation. Therefore, established tumor cells overexpressing TR and Trx may escape the cancer-preventive actions of selenium. This suggests that in some cases, certain selenoproteins may counteract selenometabolite actions. Lower concentrations of selenium readily inactivate antiapoptotic PKC isoenzymes e and a which have a cluster of vicinal thiols, thereby inducing apoptosis. Higher concentrations of selenium also inactivate proapoptotic enzymes such as proteolytically activated PKCd fragment, holo-PKCz, caspase-3, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, which all have a limited number of critical cysteine residues and make tumor cells resistant to selenium-induced apoptosis. This may explain the intriguing U-shaped curve that is seen with dietary selenium intake and the extent of cancer prevention.

Abstract 1896: Role of reactive oxygen species in the extracellular matrix-influenced sensitivity of various prostate cancer cell lines to methylseleninic acid and selenite

Understanding various factors that influence cancer-preventive actions of chemopreventive agents is important in order to optimize their potential to prevent cancer. Particularly, this is important for various forms of selenium which have a differential ability to prevent tumor promotion. Previously, we compared the relative selenium sensitivity of various prostate cancer cell lines with a common lineage showing progression characteristics from low to high degree of malignancy and mimicking different stages of tumor progression. In the current study, we used prostate cancer cell lines with increasing tumorigenicity and invasive ability: WPE1-NA22 showing the lowest, WPE1-NB11 and WPE1-NB14 showing intermediate, and WPE1-NB26 showing the greatest. In all these cell lines, both methylseleninic acid (MSA) and selenite induced growth inhibition and apoptosis, but all cell lines were more sensitive to selenite than MSA. These cell lines showed a variation in sensitivity to MSA and exhibited a decrease in sensitivity with an increase in tumor progression. On the contrary, no appreciable variation in the sensitivity to selenite was observed among these cell lines. Additionally, the cell lines were less susceptible to MSA-induced growth inhibition when they were grown on a surface coated with collagen. However, such differences were not observed with selenite. We measured the rate of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide, using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate in cells treated with MSA and selenite. The rate of generation of ROS was relatively higher in the MSA-sensitive cell line (WPE1-NB11), whereas it was lower in the MSA-resistant cell line. Overall, the rate of generation of ROS correlated to the relative sensitivity of these cell lines to MSA, whereas selenite did not induce an appreciable increase in ROS generation under these conditions. Furthermore, cells grown on a collagen surface showed a decrease in the rate of ROS generation. This suggested that collagen-induced prevention of MSA action might have been caused by either a low rate of generation of ROS or enhanced scavenging of ROS. This data is in agreement with our previous findings showing the reaction of methylselenol, a reduced product of methylselenol with hydrogen peroxide. MSA reacts with cysteine-rich regions in critical molecular targets, such as protein kinase C isoenzymes, and during this process, MSA is converted to a volatile methylselenol. Methylselenol is converted back to nonvolatile MSA by reacting with hydrogen peroxide. This peroxidatic redox cycle is effective in inactivating these types of targets. Contrary, selenite reacts directly with cysteine-rich regions in protein kinase C without the need for ROS. Therefore, different selenocompounds may vary in their mode of action. This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant CA099216.

Citation Format: Rayudu Gopalakrishna, Jessica Tran, Alan Hung, Lu Tian, Karen K. Wang, William T. Zeng, Brian Lam, Usha Gundimeda. Role of reactive oxygen species in the extracellular matrix-influenced sensitivity of various prostate cancer cell lines to methylseleninic acid and selenite. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1896. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1896

Polyphenols from green tea prevent antineuritogenic action of Nogo-A via 67-kDa laminin receptor and hydrogen peroxide

Axonal regeneration after injury to the CNS is hampered by myelin-derived inhibitors, such as Nogo-A. Natural products, such as green tea, which are neuroprotective and safe for long-term therapy, would complement ongoing various pharmacological approaches. In this study, using nerve growth factor-differentiated neuronal-like Neuroscreen-1 cells, we show that extremely low concentrations of unfractionated green tea polyphenol mixture (GTPP) and its active ingredient, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), prevent both the neurite outgrowth-inhibiting activity and growth cone-collapsing activity of Nogo-66 (C-terminal domain of Nogo-A). Furthermore, a synergistic interaction was observed among GTPP constituents. This preventive effect was dependent on 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) to which EGCG binds with high affinity. The antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and cell-permeable catalase abolished this preventive effect of GTPP and EGCG, suggesting the involvement of sublethal levels of H2 O2 in this process. Accordingly, exogenous sublethal concentrations of H2 O2 , added as a bolus dose (5 μM) or more effectively through a steady-state generation (1-2 μM), mimicked GTPP in counteracting the action of Nogo-66. Exogenous H2 O2 mediated this action by bypassing the requirement of 67LR. Taken together, these results show for the first time that GTPP and EGCG, acting through 67LR and elevating intracellular sublethal levels of H2 O2 , inhibit the antineuritogenic action of Nogo-A. Currently, several agents are being evaluated for overcoming axonal growth inhibitors to promote functional recovery after stroke and spinal cord injury. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), present in green tea polyphenol mixture (GTPP), prevents antineuritogenic activity of Nogo-A, a myelin-derived axonal growth inhibitor. The preventive action of EGCG involves the cell-surface-associated 67-kDa laminin receptor and H2 O2 . GTPP may complement ongoing efforts to treat neuronal injuries.>

Green tea catechins potentiate the neuritogenic action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor: role of 67-kDa laminin receptor and hydrogen peroxide

Delivery of optimal amounts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to regions of the brain affected by neurodegenerative diseases is a daunting task. Using natural products with neuroprotective properties, such as green tea polyphenols, would be a highly useful complementary approach for inexpensive long-term treatment of these diseases. In this study, we used PC12(TrkB) cells which ectopically express TrkB, a high affinity receptor for BDNF. They differentiate and induce neurite outgrowth in response to BDNF. Using this model, we show for the first time that treatment with extremely low concentrations (<0.1 μg/ml) of unfractionated green tea polyphenols (GTPP) and low concentrations (<0.5 μM) of their active ingredient, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), potentiated the neuritogenic ability of a low concentration (2 ng/ml) of BDNF. A synergistic interaction was observed between GTPP constituents, where epigallocatechin and epicatechin, both individually lacking this activity, promoted the action of EGCG. GTPP-induced potentiation of BDNF action required the cell-surface associated 67 kDa laminin receptor (67LR) to which EGCG binds with high affinity. A cell-permeable catalase abolished GTPP/EGCG-induced potentiation of BDNF action, suggesting the possible involvement of H2O2 in the potentiation. Consistently, exogenous sublethal concentrations of H2O2, added as a bolus dose (5 μM) or more effectively through a steady-state generation (1 μM), potentiated BDNF action. Collectively, these results suggest that EGCG, dependent on 67 LR and H2O2, potentiates the neuritogenic action of BDNF. Intriguingly, this effect requires only submicromolar concentrations of EGCG. This is significant as extremely low concentrations of polyphenols are believed to reach the brain after drinking green tea.

Abstract 3677: Prostate cancer progression decreases the cancer prevention by selenium: relation to overexpression of protein kinase Cε and selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase

Selenium effectively prevents cancer in some cases, but fails in other cases. It could be possible that cancer-preventive actions of selenium are diminished by tumor progression, thus making this an important issue to study. In previous studies, tumor cell sensitivity to selenium was determined with commonly used, highly malignant prostate cancer cell lines such as DU145, PC-3, and LNCaP, which were originally cloned from different patients. These cell lines help us understand the mechanistic details of selenium-induced cellular effects, but due to their different genetic backgrounds, it is difficult to establish mechanisms related to cellular sensitivity to selenium. Previously, others have cloned a family of human prostate cancer cell lines with a common lineage showing progression characteristics from a low to high degree of malignancy and mimicking different stages of tumor progression seen in human prostate cancer. For this study, we used these prostate cancer cell lines with increasing tumorigenicity and invasive ability: WPE1-NA22 showing the lowest, WPE1-NB14 and WPE1-NB11 showing intermediate, and WPE1-NB26 showing the greatest. The low tumorigenic cell line, WPE1-NA22 resembles noninvasive prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia and represents a good target for chemoprevention in humans. In this study, we found that WPE1-NA22 cells required a lower concentration of methylseleninic acid (MSA) for inhibition of cell growth (anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent), induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of matrigel invasion. On the contrary, highly malignant cell line WPE1-NB26 required higher concentration of MSA to induce these effects, whereas moderately malignant cell lines WPE1-NB14 and WPE1-NB11 required intermediate levels of MSA. We have previously shown that protein kinase Cε (PKCε) is a molecular target for MSA and that the redox modification of this kinase is reversed by thioredoxin reductase (TR) system. Therefore, we determined whether there is an increase in expression of these two enzymes in tumor progression relating to a decrease in sensitivity to MSA. Western immunoblot analysis revealed low levels of PKCε, TR1, and TR2 in low tumorigenic WPE1-NA22 cells, while their levels were higher in advanced malignant cell lines correlating with their sensitivity to MSA. A conditional overexpression of PKCε in WPE1-NA22 cells resulted in an increase of both growth in soft agar and matrigel invasion and a decrease in sensitivity to MSA. An inhibition of TR activity in WPE1-NB26 resulted in an increase in sensitivity to MSA. Conceivably, there is an inverse correlation between the sensitivity to selenium-induced cancer prevention and prostate tumor progression involving an overexpression of PKCε and TR.

Citation Format: Rayudu Gopalakrishna, Barsegh A. Barseghian, Carleen Sarksian, Jason E. Schiffman, David V. Rayudu, Usha Gundimeda. Prostate cancer progression decreases the cancer prevention by selenium: relation to overexpression of protein kinase Cε and selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3677. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3677

Methods for studying oxidative regulation of protein kinase C

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of isoenzymes may be a crucial player in transducing H2O2-induced signaling in a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. PKCs contain unique structural features that make them highly susceptible to oxidative modification. Depending on the site of oxidation and the extent to which it is modified, PKC can be either activated or inactivated by H2O2. The N-terminal regulatory domain contains zinc-binding, cysteine-rich motifs that are readily oxidized by H2O2. When oxidized, the autoinhibitory function of the regulatory domain is compromised, and as a result, PKC is activated in a lipid cofactor-independent manner. The C-terminal catalytic domain contains several reactive cysteine residues, which when oxidized with a higher concentration of H2O2 leads to an inactivation of PKC. Here, we describe the methods used to induce oxidative modification of purified PKC isoenzymes by H2O2 and the methods to assess the extent of this modification. Protocols are given for isolating oxidatively activated PKC isoenzymes from cells treated with H2O2. Furthermore, we describe the methods used to assess indirect regulation of PKC isoenzymes by determining their cytosol to membrane or mitochondrial translocation and tyrosine phosphorylation of PKCδ in response to sublethal levels of H2O2. Finally, as an example, we describe the methods used to demonstrate the role of H2O2-mediated cell signaling of PKCɛ in green tea polyphenol-induced preconditioning against neuronal cell death caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation, an in vitro model for cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury.

Green tea polyphenols precondition against cell death induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation via stimulation of laminin receptor, generation of reactive oxygen species, and activation of protein kinase Cε

As the development of synthetic drugs for the prevention of stroke has proven challenging, utilization of natural products capable of preconditioning neuronal cells against ischemia-induced cell death would be a highly useful complementary approach. In this study using an oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in PC12 cells, we show that 2-day pretreatment with green tea polyphenols (GTPP) and their active ingredient, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), protects cells from subsequent OGD/R-induced cell death. A synergistic interaction was observed between GTPP constituents, with unfractionated GTPP more potently preconditioning cells than EGCG. GTPP-induced preconditioning required the 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR), to which EGCG binds with high affinity. 67LR also mediated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via activation of NADPH oxidase. An exogenous ROS-generating system bypassed 67LR to induce preconditioning, suggesting that sublethal levels of ROS are indeed an important mediator in GTPP-induced preconditioning. This role for ROS was further supported by the fact that antioxidants blocked GTPP-induced preconditioning. Additionally, ROS induced an activation and translocation of protein kinase C (PKC), particularly PKCε from the cytosol to the membrane/mitochondria, which was also blocked by antioxidants. The crucial role of PKC in GTPP-induced preconditioning was supported by use of its specific inhibitors. Preconditioning was increased by conditional overexpression of PKCε and decreased by its knock-out with siRNA. Collectively, these results suggest that GTPP stimulates 67LR and thereby induces NADPH oxidase-dependent generation of ROS, which in turn induces activation of PKC, particularly prosurvival isoenzyme PKCε, resulting in preconditioning against cell death induced by OGD/R.

Abstract 1609: Oxidation products of green tea polyphenols induce inactivation of PKC isoenzymes and induce cell death via modulation of selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase and quinone reductase

Autooxidation of green tea polyphenols generates H2O2 and quinones which have been implicated in cell death induced by these polyphenols. While autooxidation of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major green tea polyphenol, has been shown in vitro where oxygen tension is high, the role of reactive oxygen species in the action of EGCG in vivo is currently gaining attention. When DU145 prostate cancer cells were treated in vitro with EGCG, PKC isoenzymes were inactivated. This inactivation was strongly correlated with EGCG-induced cell death. Cell-permeable catalase partially blocked EGCG-induced inactivation of PKC and cell death suggesting the involvement of H2O2 in these processes. EGCG-induced cell death was enhanced by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, a catalase inhibitor, suggesting an inhibitory role for intracellular catalase in this process. Furthermore, the inactivated PKC isoenzymes were regenerated to their active form by thiol agents in the test tube or by the thioredoxin reductase (TR) system in cells. This suggests sulfhydryl oxidation of PKC is induced by EGCG-mediated ROS generation. Previously, others have demonstrated inactivation of TR by a quinone generated by autooxidation of EGCG. We found that EGCG treatment of intact DU145 cells inactivated TR, presumably by generation of quinone. Such inactivation of TR enhanced the net increase in inactivation of PKC due to a decrease in reversal of PKC oxidative modification. Thus, the combined actions of H2O2 and quinones induce more inactivation of PKC and cell death than either agent alone. Cotreatment of cells with auranofin, a specific inhibitor of TR, enhanced EGCG-induced inactivation of PKC and cell death. Conversely, a three-fold increase in the induction of TR, by pretreatment of DU145 cells with selenite for 48 h, completely abolished both EGCG-induced inactivation of PKC and induction of cell death. This suggests a possible antagonistic interaction between selenium and EGCG. Dicumarol, an inhibitor of phase II enzyme quinone reductase, enhanced inactivation of TR, presumably by accumulation of quinones. Conversely, an induction of quinone reductase by tertiary butylhydroquinone, decreased EGCG-induced inactivation of TR, presumably due to less accumulation of EGCG-derived quinones. This decreased inactivation of TR subsequently led to a net decrease in inactivation of PKC isoenzymes and cell death. This suggests that QR is a negative regulator of EGCG-induced inactivation of PKC and cell death. Thus, EGCG oxidation products H2O2 and quinone appear to mediate EGCG-induced cell death via inactivation of PKC isoenzymes and TR respectively. Furthermore, the data suggests that both EGCG-induced PKC inactivation and cell death are antagonized by an increase in TR and QR. This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant CA099216.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1609. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1609

Abstract 3687: Curcumin both inactivates and induces selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase: dual regulation influences curcumin-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Curcumin induces growth inhibition and cell death in various prostate cancer cell types. The exact mechanism is not known. Previous studies have shown that selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TR) is a molecular target for curcumin, which inactivates this enzyme by covalently reacting with its selenocysteine residue. This modification converts this reductase into an oxidase, causing the production of superoxide radicals. Since TR either protects cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death or induces oxidative stress after its modification by curcumin, we determined whether the expression of this enzyme is altered by curcumin treatment. TR from cell extracts of both androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent DU145 cells was eluted in two peaks (designated as peak 1 and peak 2) during DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Upon treatment with curcumin for 5 h, peak 1 TR activity was substantially decreased in both cell types. Nevertheless, peak 2 TR activity was unaffected by curcumin treatment during this period. Curcumin as low as 10 μM inactivated peak 1 activity in intact cells. Conversely, upon prolonged treatment (24 h), curcumin (5 to 25 μM) induced a 2- to 3-fold increase in TR activity in both peak 1 and peak 2. Curcumin concentrations as low as 10 μM were enough to induce an increase in TR activity in DU145 cells. Western immunoblot analysis revealed a two-fold increase in both cytosolic isoenzyme TR1 and mitochondrial TR2 upon treatment with curcumin for 24 h. Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine minimized curcumin-induced cell death, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species in this process. N-Acetylcysteine also blocked the curcumin-induced increase in TR, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species in the induction of TR as well. As an adaptive response to oxidative stress, cells may be inducing TR to minimize cell death. However, this study cannot exclude the possibility that the induced TR, after covalent modification by curcumin, plays an opposite role to induce cell death. Nonetheless, this possibility is unlikely given that neither TR activity nor immunoreactive protein were elevated with 50 μM curcumin which frankly induced apoptosis in these cell types. It is thus most likely that induced TR exposed to low concentrations (5 to 20 μM) of curcumin inhibits cell death. This is particularly important that the plasma concentration of curcumin is lower than that required to induce cell death in vitro. Therefore, it is possible that agents that prevent induction of TR may sensitize prostate cancer cells to curcumin. This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant CA099216.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3687. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3687

Green tea polyphenols potentiate the action of nerve growth factor to induce neuritogenesis: possible role of reactive oxygen species

Exogenously administered nerve growth factor (NGF) repairs injured axons, but it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Thus, agents that could potentiate the neuritogenic ability of endogenous NGF would be of great utility in treating neurological injuries. Using the PC12 cell model, we show here that unfractionated green tea polyphenols (GTPP) at low concentrations (0.1 μg/ml) potentiate the ability of low concentrations of NGF (2 ng/ml) to induce neuritogenesis at a level comparable to that induced by optimally high concentrations of NGF (50 ng/ml) alone. In our experiments, GTPP by itself did not induce neuritogenesis or increase immunofluorescent staining for β-tubulin III; however, it increased expression of mRNA and proteins for the neuronal markers neurofilament-L and GAP-43. Among the polyphenols present in GTPP, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) alone appreciably potentiated NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. Although other polyphenols present in GTPP, particularly epigallocatechin and epicatechin, lack this activity, they synergistically promoted this action of EGCG. GTPP also induced an activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK pathway, blocked the expression of GAP-43. K252a, an inhibitor of TrkA-associated tyrosine kinase, partially blocked the expression of these genes and ERK activation. Antioxidants, catalase (cell-permeable form), and N-acetylcysteine (both L and D-forms) inhibited these events and abolished the GTPP potentiation of NGF-induced neuritogenesis. Taken together, these results show for the first time that GTPP potentiates NGF-induced neuritogenesis, likely through the involvement of sublethal levels of reactive oxygen species, and suggest that unfractionated GTPP is more effective in this respect than its fractionated polyphenols.

Abstract 1889: Curcumin potentiates the cancer-preventive actions of selenium by inactivating selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase in prostate cancer cells

Our previous studies have shown that the cancer-preventive actions of selenium may be negated by an over-expression of selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TR). This reductase reverses selenocompound-induced sulfhydryl redox inactivation of protein kinase C (PKC), a step which is intimately involved in the cancer-preventive actions of selenium. Consistent with this observation, the TR-specific inhibitor auranofin increases the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to methylseleninic acid (MSA). This is particularly significant for advanced prostate cancer cells which require higher concentrations of MSA than early stage cancer cells. Selenium prevents cancer in some cases but fails to do so in others. Selenium's failure in this respect may be due to the development of TR-mediated resistance to its chemopreventive actions. Therefore, there is a potential role for agents that inhibit TR and thereby sensitize cancer cells to selenium. Several studies have shown that cancer prevention by a single agent may be less effective than multiple agents administered simultaneously. Here we report that curcumin, another cancer -preventive agent, at 5 to 10 μM concentrations potentiates the action of MSA in inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis of both androgen-dependent LNCaP cells and androgen-independent DU145 cells. Nearly 2- to 4-fold lower concentrations of MSA were needed for 50% inhibition of cell growth in the presence of curcumin than in its absence. Under these conditions, curcumin inactivated TR in these cell types. There was also a concomitant increase in MSA-induced sulfhydryl oxidative inactivation of PKC. Furthermore, we found a correlation between curcumin-induced inactivation of TR and curcumin-induced potentiation of MSA-associated growth inhibition and apoptosis. These results suggest TR may be a molecular target for cancer prevention. While auranofin, the prototypical TR inhibitor, is toxic, curcumin appears to be a safe alternative. Our results provide a mechanistic rationale to the combination of selenium and curcumin for cancer prevention. Just as resistance develops to cancer chemotherapy, cancer prevention may also be counteracted by resistance mechanisms. Similarly, a combination of agents may prevent the development of resistance in cancer prevention just as it does in chemotherapy. Instead of the random mixing of agents in an empiric manner, a mechanistically informed choice of agents as has been proposed here is a more rational approach to identify effective combination of agents for cancer prevention.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1889.

Negation of the cancer-preventive actions of selenium by over-expression of protein kinase Cepsilon and selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase

Selenium prevents cancer in some cases but fails to do so in others. Selenium's failure in this respect may be due to the development of resistance to its chemopreventive actions. Selenocompounds induce a variety of cancer-preventive actions in tumor cells, but these actions may be limited by the low concentrations of free selenocompounds able to reach cells from the plasma. Therefore, we have sought to identify the chemopreventive action requiring the lowest concentration of the redox-active form of selenium, methylseleninic acid (MSA). At submicromolar concentrations, MSA inhibited the malignant transformation of RWPE-1 prostate epithelial cells. In contrast, in already transformed prostate cancer cells, selenium in the micromolar range was required to inhibit cell growth and invasion and to induce apoptosis. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in these cellular processes, especially the moderately selenium-sensitive PKCepsilon, was demonstrated using PKC-specific inhibitors and small interfering RNA. PKCepsilon levels inversely correlated with cellular sensitivity to MSA. An over-expression of PKCepsilon minimized MSA-induced inhibition of RWPE-1 cell transformation and induction of apoptosis. Thioredoxin reductase (TR), a selenoprotein, reversed the MSA-induced inactivation of PKC isoenzymes. High TR expression in advanced prostate cancer cells correlated with resistance to MSA. Furthermore, inhibition of TR by its specific inhibitor, auranofin, resulted in increased sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to MSA. Collectively, these results suggest that the cancer-preventive actions of selenium may be negated both by an over-expression of PKCepsilon, which is a redox-sensitive target for MSA, and by the selenoprotein TR, which reverses PKC sulfhydryl redox modification.

Locally generated methylseleninic acid induces specific inactivation of protein kinase C isoenzymes: relevance to selenium-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

In this study, we show that methylselenol, a selenometabolite implicated in cancer prevention, did not directly inactivate protein kinase C (PKC). Nonetheless, its oxidation product, methylseleninic acid (MSA), inactivated PKC at low micromolar concentrations through a redox modification of vicinal cysteine sulfhydryls in the catalytic domain of PKC. This modification of PKC that occurred in both isolated form and in intact cells was reversed by a reductase system involving thioredoxin reductase, a selenoprotein. PKC isoenzymes exhibited variable sensitivity to MSA with Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoenzymes (alpha, beta, and gamma) being the most susceptible, followed by isoenzymes delta and epsilon. Other enzymes tested were inactivated only with severalfold higher concentrations of MSA than those required for PKC inactivation. This specificity for PKC was further enhanced when MSA was generated within close proximity to PKC through a reaction of methylselenol with PKC-bound lipid peroxides in the membrane. The MSA-methylselenol redox cycle resulted in the catalytic oxidation of sulfhydryls even with nanomolar concentrations of selenium. MSA inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in DU145 prostate cancer cells at a concentration that was higher than that needed to inhibit purified PKC alpha but in a range comparable with that required for the inhibition of PKC epsilon. This MSA-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis decreased with a conditional overexpression of PKC epsilon and increased with its knock-out by small interfering RNA. Conceivably, when MSA is generated within the vicinity of PKC, it specifically inactivates PKC isoenzymes, particularly the promitogenic and prosurvival epsilon isoenzyme, and this inactivation causes growth inhibition and apoptosis.

A direct redox regulation of protein kinase C isoenzymes mediates oxidant-induced neuritogenesis in PC12 cells

In this study, we have used the PC12 cell model to elucidate the mechanisms by which sublethal doses of oxidants induce neuritogenesis. The xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system was used for the steady state generation of superoxide, and CoCl(2) was used as a representative transition metal redox catalyst. Upon treatment of purified protein kinase C (PKC) with these oxidants, there was an increase in its cofactor-independent activation. Redox-active cobalt competed with the redoxinert zinc present in the zinc-thiolates of the PKC regulatory domain and induced the oxidation of these cysteine-rich regions. Both CoCl(2) and X/XO induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, as determined by an overexpression of neuronal marker genes. Furthermore, these oxidants induced a translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane and subsequent conversion of PKC to a cofactor-independent form. Isoenzyme-specific PKC inhibitors demonstrated that PKCepsilon plays a crucial role in neuritogenesis. Moreover, oxidant-induced neurite outgrowth was increased with a conditional overexpression of PKCepsilon and decreased with its knock-out by small interfering RNA. Parallel with PKC activation, an increase in phosphorylation of the growth-associated neuronal protein GAP-43 at Ser(41) was observed. Additionally, there was a sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, which was correlated with activating phosphorylation (Ser(133)) of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein. All of these signaling events that are causally linked to neuritogenesis were blocked by antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (both L and D-forms) and by a variety of PKC-specific inhibitors. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that sublethal doses of oxidants induce neuritogenesis via a direct redox activation of PKCepsilon.

The synthetic estrogen 4-estren-3α,17β-diol (estren) induces estrogen-like neuroprotection

Estrogen has demonstrated neuroprotective properties, which may underlie the observed preventive effect of estrogen-based hormone therapy (HT) against the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Deleterious side effects of HT have increased efforts to develop safer compounds that selectively reproduce beneficial estrogen actions. Recently, 4-estren-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (estren) was identified as having estrogen agonist properties in bone, without significantly stimulating growth of reproductive tissues. Here, we examined whether estren parallels the neuroprotective actions of estrogen against beta-amyloid (A beta) in cultured cerebrocortical neurons. Estren increased neuronal viability to a similar extent to that observed with 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and 17 alpha-estradiol. As we previously reported for E2, estren rapidly increased PKC activity, and PKC inhibition prevented estren neuroprotection. In contrast, the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 blocked E2, but not estren neuroprotection. Our results indicate that estren-induced activation of rapid cell signaling pathways protects cultured neurons from A beta toxicity.

Estrogen activates protein kinase C in neurons: role in neuroprotection

It has been previously demonstrated that estrogen can protect neurons from a variety of insults, including beta-amyloid (Abeta). Recent studies have shown that estrogen can rapidly modulate intracellular signaling pathways involved in cell survival. In particular, estrogen activates protein kinase C (PKC) in a variety of cell types. This enzyme plays a key role in many cellular events, including regulation of apoptosis. In this study, we show that 17beta-estradiol (E2) rapidly increases PKC activity in primary cultures of rat cerebrocortical neurons. A 1 h pre-treatment with E2 or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of PKC, protects neurons against Abeta toxicity. Protection afforded by both PMA and E2 is blocked by pharmacological inhibitors of PKC. Further, depletion of PKC levels resulting from prolonged PMA exposure prevents subsequent E2 or PMA protection. Our results indicate that E2 activates PKC in neurons, and that PKC activation is an important step in estrogen protection against Abeta. These data provide new understanding into the mechanism(s) underlying estrogen neuroprotection, an action with therapeutic relevance to Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Antioxidant regulation of protein kinase C in cancer prevention

Besides scavenging free radicals, antioxidants inhibit signaling enzymes such as protein kinase C (PKC) that play a crucial role in tumor promotion. By having different oxidation susceptible regions, PKC can respond to both oxidant tumor promoters and cancer-preventive antioxidants to elicit opposite cellular responses. Oxidant tumor promoters activate PKC by reacting with zinc-thiolates present within the regulatory domain. In contrast, the oxidized forms of some cancer-preventive agents, such as polyphenolics (ellagic acid, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and curcumin) and selenocompounds, can inactivate PKC by oxidizing the vicinal thiols present within the catalytic domain. This brings an efficient counteractive mechanism to block the signal transduction induced by tumor promoters at the first step itself. Because prostate cancer prevention clinical trials in large human population are under way, we have focused more on understanding the cancer-preventive mechanism of selenium. Methylselenol, the postulated cancer-preventive metabolite, has no direct effect on PKC activity. However, methylseleninic acid, locally generated by the reaction of membrane methylselenol with PKC-bound tumor-promoting fatty acid hydroperoxides, selectively inactivates PKC. This mechanism clarifies how the volatile methylselenol that is present in a low concentration induces the inactivation of PKC selectively in the promoting precancer cells. Selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase reverses selenium-induced inactivation of PKC, suggesting that selenoproteins may serve as a safeguard against the toxicity induced by selenometabolites. Moreover, this also explains how a resistance to selenium develops in advanced malignant cells. The redox-mediated inactivation of PKC may, at least in part, be responsible for the antioxidant-induced inhibition of tumor promotion and cell growth, as well as for the induction of cell death.

Protein kinase C as a molecular target for cancer prevention by selenocompounds

Selenium is a very effective cancer-preventive agent, suppressing tumor promotion and early stages of tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which selenium exerts these cancer-preventive actions are not known. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a receptor for certain tumor promoters and also plays a crucial role in events related to tumor progression. Therefore, it is not only a potential target for the cancer-preventive activity of selenium, but also it has the structural basis for interaction with selenium. Redox-active selenocompounds can inactivate PKC, particularly the Ca(2+)-dependent isozymes, by reacting with the critical cysteine-rich regions present within the catalytic domain while, in some cases, also reacting with the cysteine residues present within the zinc-fingers of the regulatory domain. The selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TR), acting through thioredoxin, reverses the inactivation of PKC induced by selenometabolites. Furthermore, TR, through a direct interaction involving its selenosulfur center with the zinc-thiolates of PKC, can reverse the redox modification of this kinase induced by selenometabolites. Thus the selenometabolite-induced toxicity is reversed by a selenoprotein, and therefore an interrelationship exists between these two mechanisms of selenium actions. Moreover, this also explains how a resistance to selenium develops in advanced tumor cells probably due to an overexpression of functional TR. Selenium-induced inactivation of PKC may, at least in part, be responsible for the selenium-induced inhibition of tumor promotion, cell growth, invasion, and metastasis, as well as for the induction of apoptosis.

Tumor promoter benzoyl peroxide induces sulfhydryl oxidation in protein kinase C: its reversibility is related to the cellular resistance to peroxide-induced cytotoxicity

Since tumor promoter benzoyl peroxide (BPO) mimics phorbol esters in some aspects, its effects on protein kinase C (PKC) were previously studied. However, in those studies due to the presence of thiol agents in the PKC preparations, the sensitive reaction of BPO with redox-active cysteine residues in PKC was not observed. In this study, by excluding thiol agents present in the purified PKC preparation, low concentrations of BPO modified PKC, resulting in the loss of both kinase activity and phorbol ester binding (IC50 = 0. 2 to 0.5 microM). This modification, which was not dependent on transition metals, was totally blocked by a variety of thiol agents including GSH, which directly reacted with BPO. Substoichiometric amounts of BPO (0.4 mol/mol of PKC) oxidized two sulfhydryls in PKC and inactivated the enzyme which was readily reversed by dithiothreitol. The regulatory domain having zinc thiolate structures supporting the membrane-inserting region provided the specificity for PKC reaction with BPO, which partitioned into the membrane. Unlike H2O2, BPO did not induce the generation of the Ca2+/lipid-independent activated form of PKC. Other redox-sensitive enzymes such as protein kinase A, phosphorylase kinase, and protein phosphatase 2A required nearly 25- to 100-fold higher concentrations of BPO for inactivation. BPO also inactivated PKC in a variety of cell types. In the JB6 (30 P-) nonpromotable cell line and other normal cell lines, where BPO was more cytotoxic, it readily inactivated PKC due to a slow reversibility of this inactivation by the cell. However, in the JB6 (41 P+) promotable cell line, C3H10T1/2 and B16 melanoma cells, where BPO was less cytotoxic, it did not readily inactivate PKC due to a rapid reversibility of this inactivation by an endogenous mechanism. Nevertheless, BPO inactivated PKC at an equal rate in the homogenates prepared from all these cell types. Inclusion of NADPH reversed this inactivation in the homogenates to a different extent, presumably due to a difference in distribution of a protein disulfide reductase, which reverses this oxidative modification. BPO-induced modification of PKC occurred independent of the cellular status of GSH. However, externally added GSH and cell-impermeable thiol agents prevented the BPO-induced modification of PKC. Since BPO readily partitions into membranes, its reaction with redox-cycling thiols of membrane proteins such as PKC may trigger epigenetic events to prevent cytotoxicity, but favor tumor promotion.

Differential distribution of protein phosphatase 2A in human breast carcinoma cell lines and its relation to estrogen receptor status

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) acts as a growth suppressor and is negatively influenced by oncogenic signals. We determined its activity in various human breast carcinoma (HBC) cell types to understand its relationship to estrogen receptor (ER) expression as well as to the distribution of protein kinase C (PKC), an opposing enzyme. PP2A activity was measured using a preferred substrate, histone H1 phosphorylated by PKC. PP2A activity was higher in both the soluble and nuclear fractions of ER-positive cell lines (MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75-1) than in the ER-negative cell lines (MDA-MB-231, Hs578T and BT-20). PP2A multiple forms (2A0, 2A1, 2A2), separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and immunoblot analysis of PP2A catalytic subunit, also showed similar differences in these two HBC cell types. In all cases, PP2A distribution was inversely correlated with the PKC activity profile. Moreover, PP2A activity in MCF-7 cells maintained in estrogen-depleted medium was low. Nonetheless, it was induced by a prolonged treatment with 17beta-estradiol, this induction being blocked by the antiestrogens, tamoxifen and ICI-182,780. Studies in both MCF-7 transfectants stably overexpressing ras and MDA-MB-231 transfectants stably expressing ER, suggested that a low PP2A distribution in ER-negative HBC cell types may be related to tumor progression rather than the loss of ER. Conceivably, the presence of high PP2A along with low PKC in ER-positive HBC cell types may be related to the restricted cell growth associated with the retention of a certain degree of differentiation or hormonal control. Conversely, the presence of low PP2A along with high PKC in ER-negative cell types may be related to hormone-independent enhanced cell growth.

Verapamil inhibits proliferation, migration and protein kinase C activity in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

The effects of three calcium channel blockers, verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine, were examined on in vitro proliferation and migration of human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells were seeded in Dulbecco's modified essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum and different concentrations of the three calcium channel blockers. After 3 days of treatment, cell proliferation was determined by cell counting and by [3H]-thymidine uptake. Cell viability was determined with trypan blue exclusion. For determination of cell migration, retinal pigment epithelial cells were grown to confluence and then growth-inhibited with mitomycin C. After a 3 mm zone was denuded, the cells were treated with different concentrations of the calcium channel antagonists. After 24 hr, the cells that had migrated over the wound edge were counted. To determine the involvement of protein kinase C in the verapamil effect, its activity was measured in both verapamil-treated and untreated cells. Verapamil dose dependently inhibited serum-induced proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial cells, when measured by cell number (IC50 14.6 microM) or [3H]-thymidine incorporation (IC50 11.3 microM). At concentrations of 15 microM and below, there was no effect on cell viability, as determined by morphology and trypan blue exclusion. Diltiazem inhibited cell proliferation at a concentration of 100 microM; however, 100 microM nifedipine had no effect. Verapamil showed a significant inhibition of serum-induced migration in the range of 10 microM to 0.1 microM. The IC50 of the inhibition of retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation and migration by verapamil is significantly higher than that seen for effects on calcium channel blockage. Eight micromolar verapamil reversibly inhibited total protein kinase-C activity in retinal pigment epithelial cells suggesting the possibility that the drug may act by inhibiting the protein kinase-C pathway. These data suggest the potential of the calcium channel blocker verapamil as a pharmacological modulator of disorders such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy in which there is increased retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation and migration.

Role of protein kinase C in basal and hydrogen peroxide-stimulated NF-kappa B activation in the murine macrophage J774A.1 cell line

In macrophages, hydrogen peroxide appears to be a physiological activator of the transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B); however, the molecular basis of H2O2-stimulated NF-kappa B activation is not well defined. The observations that NF-kappa B can be activated in cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and in vitro by addition of protein kinase C (PKC) are suggestive of a role of PKC in NF-kappa B activation, which was investigated in the J774A.1 murine macrophage cell line. Basal NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity and nuclear localization were decreased by PKC inhibitors. Although PKC activity was modified by H2O2 with a similar time course as H2O2 activation of NF-kappa B, the H2O2-stimulated increase in NF-kappa B DNA binding and translocation to the nucleus was unaffected by PKC inhibitors. Furthermore, PKC down-regulation (through preincubation with phorbol esters) also affected only baseline NF-kappa B DNA binding but not H2O2-stimulated NF-kappa B activation. Buffering of changes in intracellular free calcium concentration also had no effect upon H2O2-stimulated NF-kappa B activation. Thus, classical PKC activity may modulate basal NF-kappa B activity but does not participate in H2O2-stimulated NF-kappa B activation.

Selenocompounds induce a redox modulation of protein kinase C in the cell, compartmentally independent from cytosolic glutathione: its role in inhibition of tumor promotion

Since selenite and other redox-active selenocompounds can modify protein kinase C (PKC) in the test tube, we have determined whether or not this redox regulation occurs inside the cell despite having high concentrations of GSH and the role of this regulation in the inhibition of tumor promotion. By using phorbol ester-promoted JB6 epidermal cell transformation assay, the concentrations of selenite, selenocystine, and selenodiglutathione which are optimal for chemopreventive activity were determined. At such concentrations (0.5 to 2 microM) in the cells treated with these agents, only a slight but transient decrease in PKC activity was observed when measured with a low (5 microM), but not with a high (100 microM) concentration of ATP. However, when the cells were serum starved or pretreated with 2-deoxyglucose, there was a pronounced but transient inactivation of PKC when assayed with both low and high concentrations of ATP. The inactivation was reversed in the cell by an endogenous mechanism or by treatment with thiol agents in the test tube. In spite of a substantial (90%) depletion of GSH in the cells by pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine, there was no further increase in the redox modification of PKC by selenite as well as no change in the inhibitory effect of selenite on the phorbol ester-stimulated induction of ornithine decarboxylase, which is an intermediate marker related to cell transformation. While GSH is known to influence certain actions of selenium, it may not be required to mediate the effects of selenite tested in this study. The water-soluble cytosolic GSH did not interfere with the redox modification of PKC probably due to the shielding of the cysteine-rich region of the enzyme by a weak hydrophobic association with the membrane. Due to the presence of cofactors in the crude cell extracts, PKC was more sensitive to selenite than in the purified form and was inactivated by low concentrations of selenite (IC50 = 0.05 microM). This modification was reversed by thiol agents as well as by NADPH. A protein disulfide reductase, which can regenerate PKC, was present in the homogenate. Conceivably, selenite and other selenocompounds induce a redox modification of cellular PKC, compartmentally independent from the cytosolic GSH, but intimately connected to a NADPH-dependent reductase system, to mediate, at least in part, some of the cancer-preventive actions.

Cancer-preventive selenocompounds induce a specific redox modification of cysteine-rich regions in Ca(2+)-dependent isoenzymes of protein kinase C

Since protein kinase C (PKC) serves as a receptor for phorbol ester type tumor promoters and oxidants and has unique redox-active cysteine-rich regions, we have determined whether various chemopreventive selenocompounds could affect this enzyme. At lower concentrations, selenite decreased the kinase activity (IC50 = 0.5 microM), while at higher concentrations it decreased phorbol ester binding. However, when the catalytic and regulatory domains of PKC were separated by proteolysis, the catalytic domain retained its sensitivity to selenite, while the regulatory domain lost its sensitivity. Cysteine residues were quantitated in PKC modified with selenite by using 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and also by using 2-nitro-5-thiosulfobenzoic acid after sulfitolysis. At lower concentrations, selenite induced a modification of four cysteine residues resulting in the formation of two disulfides, while at higher concentrations it induced a modification of seven to eight cysteine residues resulting in the formation of three to four disulfides. Contrary to selenite, selenocystine and selenodiglutathione (GSSeSG) readily inactivated the kinase activity, but not the phorbol ester binding. These two agents induced a two-stage modification of PKC; a limited modification at low concentrations leads to a loss of affinity for ATP, while an excessive modification at high concentrations leads to a loss of Vmax. Selenocystine and GSSeSG were 100,000-fold more potent than GSSG in inactivating PKC. The isoenzymes alpha, beta, and gamma exhibited an identical susceptibility to these selenocompounds. These results suggested that the cysteine residues present within the catalytic domain of these isoenzymes, although apart in the sequence, may be clustered in the tertiary structure to react with selenite, as well as may be in close proximity to some of the cysteines in the regulatory domain. Selenite did not affect protein kinase A, whereas GSSeSG and selenocystine inactivated the catalytic subunit after dissociation from the regulatory subunit at concentrations 100- and 800-fold, respectively, higher than that required for PKC inactivation. All three selenocompounds did not affect the activities of phosphorylase kinase and protein phosphatase 2A. Taken together, these results suggest that the accessible redox-active cysteine residues present in the PKC catalytic domain can react with certain specificity with redox-active selenocompounds such as selenite, selenocystine, and GSSeSG relative to other protein kinases tested.

Hypericin inhibits choroidal endothelial cell proliferation and cord formation in vitro

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of hypericin on bovine choroidal endothelial cell proliferation and cord formation and on protein kinase C activity.

METHODS

The effect of hypericin (0.1-5 microM) on bovine choroidal endothelial cell proliferation was determined by cell number counting and a 3H-thymidine uptake assay in media containing 1, 5 or 10% serum. For the cord formation assay, bovine choroidal endothelial cells were seeded on basement membrane matrix, and the lengths of the capillary-like structures (cords) formed were quantified by image analysis. The effect of hypericin on cord formation was evaluated in the presence of serum or vascular endothelial growth factor. The effect of hypericin on protein kinase C activity was also measured in the presence or absence of light.

RESULTS

Hypericin inhibited bovine choroidal endothelial cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of light but not in the dark. Serum dose-dependently masked the inhibition of DNA synthesis by hypericin. Cord formation by bovine choroidal endothelial cells was stimulated by serum or vascular endothelial growth factor and inhibited by hypericin in the presence of light. Protein kinase C activity was completely inhibited by hypericin in the presence of light but only mildly inhibited in the absence of light.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypericin inhibits bovine choroidal endothelial cell proliferation and cord formation and choroidal endothelial cell protein kinase C activity. These results suggest that hypericin should be further investigated in animal models for its potential to inhibit subretinal neovascularization.

Tamoxifen modulates protein kinase C via oxidative stress in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells

Nonsteroidal agent tamoxifen (Tam), a therapeutic/chemopreventive agent for breast cancer, inhibits protein kinase C (PKC), which is considered to be one of its extra-estrogen receptor sites of action. This drug is required at higher (>100 microM) concentrations to inhibit PKC in the test tube, whereas it is required at lower (1-10 microM) concentrations to induce inhibition of cell growth in estrogen receptor-negative cell types. To identify additional mechanisms of action of Tam on PKC and cell growth, studies with MDA-MB-231, an estrogen receptor-negative breast carcinoma cell type, have been carried out. Upon treatment with 5-20 microM Tam, a cytosol to membrane translocation of PKC occurred within 30 min, which was then followed by a down-regulation of the enzyme within 2 h. A transient generation of Ca2+/lipid-independent activated form of PKC was observed during this period. Rapidly growing cells require nearly 2-3-fold lower concentrations (2-5 microM) of Tam than do confluent cells to induce changes in PKC. Furthermore, phorbol ester binding observed with intact cells also decreased in Tam-treated cells only under the conditions PKC was inactivated. Unlike phorbol esters, Tam did not directly support the membrane association of PKC. The release of arachidonic acid correlated with the PKC membrane translocation. Studies carried out with [3H]Tam revealed that Tam partitioned into the membrane, and there was no appreciable covalent association of [3H]Tam with cellular proteins within this limited time period (2 h). Various antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) inhibited all these cellular effects of Tam. Moreover, vitamin E strikingly blocked Tam-induced growth inhibition. To determine whether oxymetabolites of Tam can affect PKC permanently, OH-Tam was tested with purified PKC. In contrast to Tam, which reversibly inhibited PKC, OH-Tam permanently inactivated the enzyme by modifying the catalytic domain at lower concentrations. The vicinal thiols present within this domain were found to be required to induce this inactivation. This effect was partially blocked by various antioxidants. This is the first report showing the role of oxidative stress in mediating the actions of Tam. Taken together these results suggest that Tam, by initially partitioning into the membranes, induces a generation of transmembrane signals and an oxidative stress to elicit the membrane association of PKC, followed by an irreversible activation, and subsequent down-regulation of this enzyme, which, in part, may lead to cell growth inhibition.

Enhancement of radiosensitivity in human malignant glioma cells by hypericin in vitro

Hypericin, an antidepressant and antiviral agent being evaluated in phase I and II trials for patients with HIV infection, is known to be a potent protein kinase C inhibitor. We have investigated its effects on cellular response to radiation via a tetrazolium-formazan cell growth rate assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and clonogenic assay in three human glioblastoma cell lines, U87-MG, A-172, and T98G, and a low-passage malignant glioma culture, 93-492. At a concentration of 5 microM, hypericin inhibited these cells slightly but caused significant radiosensitization (e.g., the cell survival rate after the radiation treatment was 50.2 and 26.0% in cells treated with 6 Gy and 6 Gy plus 5 microM hypericin in U87-MG cells, respectively; P = 0.0285). Hypericin also enhanced the radiosensitivity significantly in the low-passage glioma 93-492 cells. These findings suggest that hypericin represents a potential new agent in combination with radiation therapy of malignant gliomas.

Hypericin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells: possible involvement of protein kinase C

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is characterized by the proliferation and migration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in the vitreous cavity. The drug hypericin, which is already in clinical use as an antidepressant, has shown promise as an antiviral and antineoplastic agent. To investigate the therapeutic potential of hypericin in PVR, we incubated RPE cells in standard medium with various serum concentrations containing 0.5 to 5 microM hypericin. In some experiments we studied the effects of hypericin in conjunction with the RPE growth stimulating cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Dose-dependent inhibition of RPE cell proliferation with IC50 values of 0.7 microM and 3.3 microM in 1% and 5% serum respectively, was found. Even in conjunction with TNF-alpha, hypericin inhibited RPE proliferation with an IC50 value of 1.5 microM. The drug inhibited PKC activity in cells treated with a 2.5 microM dose by 72% after 30 min and by 100% after 180 min. Finally, hypericin induced RPE cells to undergo apoptotic cell death, as shown by the presence of DNA laddering. These results suggest that hypericin may have potential as a therapeutic drug for PVR and that its antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on RPE cells in vitro are in part mediated by PKC.

Induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by tumor necrosis factor-alpha through the 55-kDa receptor is dependent on protein kinase C in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

PURPOSE

To determine second messenger signaling pathways associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-mediated induction of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression on human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells, a cell type known to express only the 55-kDa TNF receptor (TNFR p55).

METHODS

SV 40-immortalized HRPE (SVRPE) cells were exposed to TNF with and without pretreatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C or the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H8. SV40-immortalized HRPE cells also were treated with the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or with the PKA activators forskolin plus 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) alone. Membrane fractions from untreated and treated SVRPE cells were assayed for PKC activity, and whole cell lysates were assayed for cAMP accumulation and PKA activity. Flow cytometry was performed on SVRPE cells using a monoclonal antibody specific to ICAM-1.

RESULTS

Activation of TNFR p55 on SVRPE cells with TNF resulted in a rapid increase of PKC activity at 1 minute, with a subsequent downregulation to baseline. There was no increase in intracellular cAMP accumulation or PKA activity within the first 10 minutes; however, both increased within 30 minutes and returned to baseline within 1 hour. SV40-immortalized HRPE cells treated with TNF for 1 hour showed maximal induction of ICAM-1 expression at 18 hours. ICAM-1 induction by TNF treatment was inhibited by calphostin C pretreatment and not by H8 pretreatment. Protein kinase C activation with PMA for 3 hours was sufficient to induce ICAM-1 on SVRPE cells at 18 hours, whereas treatment with the PKA activators forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP did not induce ICAM-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor necrosis factor sequentially activates the PKC and PKA pathways in SVRPE cells by way of the TNFR p55. The PKC pathway in necessary for TNF-mediated ICAM-1 upregulation, and specific activation of the PKC pathway with PMA is sufficient to induce ICAM-1 on these cells. SV40-immortalized HRPE cells may serve as a model in which to study further the functional signaling pathways associated with TNFR p55.

Migration of retinal pigment epithelium cells in vitro is regulated by protein kinase C

The migration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is an important step in various pathologic conditions, including subretinal neovascularization (SRN) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Therefore, elucidation of the mechanism of RPE migration may be useful in devising effective treatment for these disorders. Since protein kinase C (PKC) has been shown to regulate the migration of other cell types, we studied the effects of PKC agonists and antagonists on RPE migration. We used an in vitro wound healing model in which a small area of a confluent monolayer of bovine RPE cells was denuded with a razor blade. The cultures were subsequently incubated with agents known to stimulate [phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)] or inhibit (calphostin C, staurosporine) PKC. After 20 hr, migration was measured as the number of cells that had entered the denuded area. We also measured the translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane in order to determine the activation or inhibition of PKC by PMA and calphostin C in the cells. The phorbol ester PMA stimulated migration by 41%, and calphostin C and staurosporine inhibited migration by 38% and 31%, respectively, in a medium supplemented with 10% serum. To determine the requirement for serum in this modulation, we also measured the effects of PMA and calphostin C on RPE migration in serum-free medium. Under these conditions, basal migration was greatly decreased, but PMA stimulated migration by 177% and calphostin C inhibited migration by 93%. Since PKC modulation is known to induce the proliferation of cells, we also tested the effects of these agents on growth-inhibited migration by pretreating the cells with the antiproliferative drug mitomycin C. We found that modulation of PKC under these conditions equally affected growth-inhibited and growth-dependent migration. Therefore, based on the increase in RPE migration induced by a PKC agonist, and the decrease in migration caused by PKC antagonists, it is suggested that PKC-mediated signal transduction plays a crucial role in RPE cell migration. This knowledge may be useful in devising effective treatments for SRN and PVR.

Tobacco smoke tumor promoters, catechol and hydroquinone, induce oxidative regulation of protein kinase C and influence invasion and metastasis of lung carcinoma cells

Cigarette smoke polyphenolic agents (catechol and hydroquinone) that generate oxidants have been shown to be tumor promoters. Furthermore, oxidants can influence protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated signal transduction. Since terpenoid tumor promoters, phorbol esters, increase invasion and metastasis by activating PKC, we have determined whether polyphenolic agents present in the cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) could also influence these events. Hydroquinone (50 microM), catechol (500 microM), or CSC (50 micrograms/ml) induced an initial cytosol-to-membrane translocation of PKC in LL/2 lung carcinoma cells, followed by a later down-regulation of the enzyme. LL/2 cells treated with these CSC-related agents for a limited time (45 min) and exhibiting high membrane-associated PKC activity, when injected into mice through the tail vein, produced an increase in metastatic nodules in the lungs after 20 days. However, cells treated with CSC-related agents for a prolonged period did not exhibit an increase in metastasis. Agents that decrease the rate of production of reactive oxygen species, such as catalase either alone or in combination with superoxide dismutase, and a cell-permeable iron-chelator, o-phenanthroline, inhibited CSC-mediated membrane association of PKC and metastasis. Prior treatment of CSC with tyrosinase to modify polyphenols resulted in a partial loss of CSC stimulation of metastasis. Furthermore, a cell-permeable Ca2+ chelator and diverse PKC inhibitors, such as calphostin C, hypericin, chelerythrine, and bisindolylmaleimide, inhibited CSC-enhanced metastasis. CSC increased in vitro tumor cell adhesion to endothelial monolayers and to reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) and also enhanced the invasion through Matrigel coated on the polycarbonate filters in Transwells. All these CSC effects were found to be temporary and were blocked by the above mentioned antioxidant systems and PKC inhibitors. Thus, these results suggest that the oxidants generated by autooxidation of polyphenolic agents present in tobacco smoke increase tumor cell invasion and metastasis, at least in part by activation of Ca2+/PKC signal transduction. Conceivably, cigarette smoke constituents not only promote tumorigenesis but also may increase the spread of cancer in the body.

Nitric oxide and nitric oxide-generating agents induce a reversible inactivation of protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding

Since S-nitrosylation of protein thiols is one of the cellular regulatory mechanisms induced by nitric oxide (NO), and since protein kinase C (PKC) has critical thiol residues which influence its kinase activity, we have determined whether NO could regulate this enzyme. Initial studies were carried out with purified PKC and the NO-generating agent S-nitrosocysteine. This agent decreased phosphotransferase activity of PKC in a Ca(2+)- and oxygen-dependent manner with an IC50 of 75 microM. Phorbol ester binding was affected partially only at higher concentrations (> 100 microM) of S-nitrosocysteine. This inactivation of PKC was blocked by the NO scavenger oxyhemoglobin or reversed by dithiothreitol. It is likely that NO initially induced an S-nitrosylation of vicinal thiols, which were then oxidized to form an intramolecular disulfide. Other NO-generating agents such as S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and sodium nitroprusside, as well as authentic NO gas, induced similar types of PKC modifications. In intact B16 melanoma cells treated with S-nitrosocysteine a rapid decrease in PKC activity in both cytosol and membrane was observed. Unlike in experiments with purified PKC, in intact cells treated with S-nitrosocysteine the phorbol ester binding also decreased to a rate equal to that of PKC activity. These modifications were readily reversed by treating the homogenates with dithiothreitol in test tubes or by removing the NO-generating source from intact cells. To determine whether the limited amounts of NO generated within the intact cells could induce this type of PKC modification, the macrophage cell line IC-21 was treated with lipopolysacharide and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 to induce the NO production. With an increase in generation of NO (3-12-h period) in these cells, a parallel and irreversible decrease in PKC activity and phorbol ester binding was observed. A specific inhibitor for NO synthase, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, inhibited both the production of NO and PKC inactivation. In experiments using purified enzyme or intact cells there was no decrease in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Conceivably, NO production for limited time induces a reversible inactivation of PKC due to the formation of a disulfide bridge(s), whereas the chronic production of NO could induce irreversible inactivation of PKC. The reversible or irreversible inactivations of PKC may in part influence NO-mediated cytoprotective or cytotoxic actions, respectively.

Retinoids inhibit the oxidative modification of protein kinase C induced by oxidant tumor promoters

Recently we reported that oxidant tumor promoters can induce the oxidative modification of protein kinase C (PKC) resulting in either activation or inactivation of the kinase (R. Gopalakrishna and W. B. Anderson, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 285, 382-387, 1991). Since retinoids previously have been shown to antagonize the actions of tumor promoters, studies were carried out to determine if retinoids can inhibit the oxidative modification of PKC induced by tumor promoters. Prior treatment of B16 melanoma cells or C6 glioma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (0.1 microM) for a short time period (15 to 60 min) followed by subsequent treatment with oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide resulted in a 30 to 70% decrease in the oxidative modification of PKC. This resulted in a decrease in oxidant-induced conversion of PKC from a Ca2+/lipid-dependent form (peak A) to a Ca2+/lipid-independent form (peak B). This retinoid-mediated protection also was observed with the reversible oxidative modification of PKC induced by m-periodate treatment of intact cells. To understand whether this protection offered by retinoids was caused by a direct influence of retinoids on PKC, experiments were carried out using the purified enzyme. The results of experiments using isolated PKC suggested that retinoids can act directly to protect the regulatory domain of PKC from oxidative modification induced by oxidants. However, high (1-10 microM) concentrations of retinoids are necessary to elicit this protection of isolated PKC. In contrast, in experiments with intact cells, only low (submicromolar) concentrations of retinoids are required to protect PKC from oxidation. The differences noted in the retinoid concentrations required to protect PKC from oxidant modification in the test tube versus in the intact cell may be due to increased retention of retinoids in the cell membrane by partitioning, or to other indirect actions of retinoids in the intact cells to decrease cellular oxidations. These results suggest that some of the anti-tumor promoter actions of retinoids may be mediated, in part, by inhibiting the oxidative modification of protein kinase C induced by oxidant tumor promoters.

Nonphorbol tumor promoters okadaic acid and calyculin-A induce membrane translocation of protein kinase C

The cell-permeable inhibitors of type 1 and 2A protein phosphatases, okadaic acid and calyculin-A, induced a redistribution of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and immunoreactivity (40 to 60%) from cytosol to membrane in some cell types. Calyculin-A was 100-fold more potent than okadaic acid and required only 5 to 10 nM concentrations to induce this PKC translocation. The concentration of these agents required to induce the redistribution of PKC correlated with the potency of these agents to inhibit both type 1 and 2A protein phosphatases. There was a lag period of 15 to 30 min before the onset of PKC translocation, as this process might have been induced by indirect cellular events triggered by inhibitions of protein phosphatases (1 and 2A). Taken together these results suggest that although the okadaic acid class of tumor promoters and phorbol ester-related agents bind to two different cellular receptors having counteracting enzymic activities, they share a common mechanism of action, namely the induction of cytosol to membrane translocation of PKC.

Irreversible oxidative inactivation of protein kinase C by photosensitive inhibitor calphostin C

Isolated protein kinase C (PKC) was irreversibly inactivated by a brief (min) incubation with calphostin C in the presence of light. This inactivation required Ca2+ either in a millimolar range in the absence of lipid activators or in a submicromolar range in the presence of lipid activators. In addition, an oxygen atmosphere was required suggesting the involvement of oxidation(s) in this inactivation process. Furthermore, PKC inactivation might involve a site-specific oxidative modification of the enzyme at the Ca(2+)-induced hydrophobic region. Physical quenchers of singlet oxygen such as lycopene, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol all reduced the calphostin C-induced inactivation of PKC. In intact cells treated with calphostin C, the inactivation of PKC was rapid in the membrane fraction compared to cytosol. This intracellular PKC inactivation was also found to be irreversible. Therefore, calphostin C can bring prolonged effects for several hours in cells treated for a short time. Taken together these results suggest that the calphostin C-mediated inactivation of PKC involves a site-specific and a 'cage' type oxidative modification of PKC.

Rapid filtration assays for protein kinase C activity and phorbol ester binding using multiwell plates with fitted filtration discs

In the conventional approach protein kinase activity and phorbol ester binding associated with protein kinase C (PKC) are measured by initially incubating samples in either test tubes or multiwell plates, followed by filtration of the terminated reaction mixture using either a manifold filtration device or a cell harvester. Here we report a method in which both the incubations and filtrations necessary for the determination of either protein kinase activity or phorbol ester binding are carried out in the same multiwell plate with fitted filtration discs made of polyvinylidene difluoride (Durapore membrane). Due to the very low binding of protein to these filters, there is no interference caused by these filters during the incubation period of the assays. The drawback with these filters compared to commonly used cellulose acetate membrane filters is that they retain less of the phosphate acceptor substrate histone H1 (only 15%) if filtered and washed with standard 5% trichloroacetic acid. However, this can be overcome by increasing the trichloroacetic acid concentration to 25% during filtration. For phorbol ester binding determinations, the samples are incubated with [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate in the microwells, the ligand bound PKC is adsorbed onto DEAE-Sephadex beads, and the beads then are filtered and washed in the same microwells. Furthermore, this multiwell filtration approach can also be adopted to previously described cytosolic phorbol ester receptor assays, which have the broader conditions for optimal binding to receptors. Durapore membrane filters are found to work well for punching into scintillation vials and there is complete recovery of the radioactivity retained with the filters. In the protein kinase assay the background radioactivity is very low (< 200 cpm) and in the phorbol ester binding assay the nonspecific binding is less than 1%. Thus, these low background values result in at least a fourfold increase in sensitivity for these assays. Since the incubations and filtrations are carried out in the same well without any transfer of the sample, the coefficient of variation in multiple determinations is found to be low. Furthermore, this method is rapid and more convenient for analyzing a larger number of samples than conventional methods which use test tubes, and it is less expensive to set up compared to the automated methods that use a cell harvester.