Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 induce activin A gene expression in a human bone marrow stromal cell line.

Activin A, a homodimer of the beta A chain, regulates hematopoiesis. In a human bone marrow-derived stromal cell line, KM-102, phorbol myristate acetate, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta induced great increases in beta A chain mRNA levels and production of activin A activities. The phorbol ester-induced beta A chain gene expression was inhibited by cycloheximide and down regulation of protein kinase C, whereas the cytokine-induced expression was little affected by these treatments. These results indicate that the inflammatory cytokines directly stimulate beta A chain gene expression via protein kinase C-independent pathways.     

Multiple regulation of proenkephalin gene expression by protein kinase C

In the present study we investigated the role of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme)-mediated processes in the regulation of proenkephalin gene expression in primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Activators of protein kinase C such as 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, mezerein, and the phorbol esters phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-didecanoate induced a time-dependent increase in proenkephalin mRNA levels, whereas the inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate had no effect. The increase in phorbol ester-induced proenkephalin mRNA was potentiated by low concentrations of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, suggesting an interaction between protein kinase- and Ca2+-mediated processes in the regulation of proenkephalin mRNA. The phorbol ester-induced stimulation does not appear to be mediated by an interaction with the cAMP-generating system or increases in Ca2+ uptake. However, when proenkephalin mRNA levels were stimulated by KCl (10 mM) and the dihydropyridine BayK8644, PMA exhibited an inhibitory effect on proenkephalin mRNA, which was detectable at a 10-fold lower concentration of PMA than the stimulatory effect. This inhibitory effect appears to be mediated by an inhibition of Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, as suggested by 45Ca2+ uptake experiments. Thus, the net effect of PMA depends on and varies with the state of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel activity. A third mode of action by protein kinase C to modulate proenkephalin gene expression is by interaction with the phosphatidylinositol second messenger system. Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis and proenkephalin mRNA by histaminic H1-receptor activation was inhibited by low concentrations of PMA. We suggest that protein kinase C may act as a positive and negative regulator of proenkephalin gene expression by interacting with at least three receptor-coupled second messenger systems.     

Different protein kinase C isozymes could modulate bradykinin-induced extracellular calcium-dependent and -independent increases in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

Effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on bradykinin (BK)-induced intracellular calcium mobilization, consisting of rapid Ca2+ release from internal stores and a subsequent sustained Ca2+ inflow, were examined in Fura-2-loaded osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. The sustained Ca2+ inflow as inferred with Mn2+ quench method was blocked by Ni2+ and a receptor-operated Ca2+ channel blocker SK&F 96365, but not by nifedipine. The short-term pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), inhibited BK-stimulated Ca2+ inflow, and the prior treatment with PKC inhibitors, H-7 or staurosporine, enhanced the initial internal release and reversed the PMA effect. Moreover, 6 h pretreatment with PMA caused similar effect on the BK-induced inflow to that obtained with PKC inhibitors, whereas 24 h pretreatment was necessary to affect the internal release. On the other hand, the translocation and down-regulation of PKC isozymes were examined after PMA treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells by immunoblot analyses of PKCs with the isozyme-specific antibodies. 6 h treatment with PMA induced down-regulation of PKC beta, whereas longer treatment was needed for down-regulation of PKC alpha. Taken together, it was suggested that the BK-induced initial Ca2+ peak and the sustained Ca2+ inflow through the activation of a receptor-operated Ca2+ channel, are differentially regulated by PKC isozymes alpha and beta, respectively, in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.     

Possible involvement of protein kinase C and calcium ion in growth factor-induced expression of c-myc oncogene in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

The addition of platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts rapidly induced protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization and afterwards markedly increased c-myc mRNA levels. 1-Oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, a membrane-permeable synthetic diacylglycerol, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, stimulated protein kinase C activation without Ca2+ mobilization. Inversely, Ca2+ ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin, elicited Ca2+ mobilization without protein kinase C activation. Both protein kinase C-activating and Ca2+-mobilizing agents were able to increase c-myc mRNA levels in an additive manner. Prolonged treatment of the cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, another protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, led to the down-regulation and complete disappearance of protein kinase C. In these cells, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate did not increase c-myc mRNA levels, but platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and the Ca2+ ionophores, all of which still induced Ca2+ mobilization, stimulated the increase of c-myc mRNA levels. These results strongly suggest that both protein kinase C and Ca2+ may be involved in platelet-derived growth factor- as well as fibroblast growth factor-induced expression of the c-myc oncogene in Swiss 3T3 cells.     

Potentiation of thyrotropin releasing hormone-induced inositol phospholipid metabolism and Ca2+ mobilization by cyclic AMP-increasing agents

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) caused significant breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) in GH3 cells, but vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) did not. However, VIP enhanced the TRH-induced hydrolysis of PIP2, the conversion of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) to PIP2 and the accumulation of phosphatidic acid (PA). On the other hand, the tumor promoter, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), suppressed the TRH-induced hydrolysis of PIP2. In the membrane fraction, the addition of cAMP inhibited the PI kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, but stimulated the PIP kinase activity. TPA did not affect the PI and PIP kinase activities at all. VIP enhanced the first spike phase of the TRH-induced increase in the intracellular Ca2+ level, while TPA inhibited such Ca2+ mobilization. These results suggested that cAMP-increasing agents enhanced inositol phospholipid metabolism and Ca2+ mobilization induced by TRH in GH3 cells but that TPA inhibited them.     

T cell activation via the T cell receptor: a comparison between WT31 (defining alpha/beta TcR)-induced and anti-CD3-induced activation of human T lymphocytes.

The T cell receptor (TcR) heterodimer of alpha/beta glycoprotein is noncovalently associated with CD3 glycoprotein forming TcR/CD3 complex. The TcR have been shown to recognize antigen, and CD3 antigen is responsible for signal transduction. In this study we compared the effects of WT31 (defining alpha/beta TcR) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and anti-CD3 MoAb on various steps of human T cell activation. Both antibodies depolarized plasma membranes, increased cell volume, induced IL-2 production and the expression of IL-2 receptors (CD25 antigen) and induced DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the two antibodies showed no synergistic effect on any of these parameters. However, both MoAb showed synergism with phorbol ester (PMA). WT31-induced T cell activation was Ca(2+)-dependent because the addition of EGTA to the medium inhibited DNA synthesis and CD25 antigen expression. The blockers of protein kinase C (PKC), 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7) and staurosporin, in a dose-dependent manner inhibited WT31-induced DNA synthesis. Cholera toxin but not the pertussis toxin inhibited WT31-induced T cell activation, suggesting involvement of G protein in WT31-induced T cell activation. These data indicate that WT31 antibody activates human T cells by a pathway that is similar to that of anti-CD3-induced T cell activation.     

IL-10 is produced by subsets of human CD4+ T cell clones and peripheral blood T cells.

Murine IL-10 has been reported originally to be produced by the Th2 subset of CD4+ T cell clones. In this study, we demonstrate that human IL-10 is produced by Th0, Th1-, and Th2-like CD4+ T cell clones after both Ag-specific and polyclonal activation. In purified peripheral blood T cells, low, but significant, levels of IL-10 were found to be produced by the CD4+CD45RA+ population, whereas CD4+CD45RA- "memory" cells secreted 5- to 20-fold higher levels of IL-10. In addition, IL-10 was produced by activated CD8+ peripheral blood T cells. Optimal induction of IL-10 was observed after activation by specific Ag and by the combination of anti-CD3 mAb and the phorbol ester tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, whereas the combination of calcium ionophore A23187 and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate acetate was a poor inducer of IL-10 production. Kinetic studies indicated that IL-10 was produced relatively late as compared with other cytokines. Maximal IL-10 mRNA expression in CD4+ T cell clones and purified peripheral blood T cells was obtained after 24 h, whereas maximal IL-10 protein synthesis occurred between 24 h and 48 h after activation. No differences were observed in the kinetics of IL-10 production among Th0, Th1-, and Th2-like subsets of CD4+ T cell clones. The results indicate a regulatory role for IL-10 in later phases of the immune response.     

Involvement of three intracellular messenger systems, protein kinase C, calcium ion and cyclic AMP, in the regulation of c-fos gene expression in Swiss 3T3 cells

In quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells, platelet-derived growth factor or fibroblast growth factor known to induce both protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization raised c-fos mRNA. This action of the growth factors was mimicked by the specific activators for protein kinase C, such as phorbol esters and a membrane-permeable synthetic diacylglycerol, and also by the Ca2+ ionophores, such as A23187 and ionomycin. Prostaglandin E1 known to elevate cyclic AMP also raised c-fos mRNA, and this action was mimicked by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and forskolin. These results suggest that expression of the c-fos gene is regulated by three different intracellular messenger systems, protein kinase C, Ca2+ and cyclic AMP, in Swiss 3T3 cells.     

Possible role of Ca2(+)-independent protein kinase C isozyme, nPKC epsilon, in thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated signal transduction: differential down-regulation of nPKC epsilon in GH4C1 cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) molecular species of GH4C1 cells were analyzed after separation by hydroxyapatite column chromatography. A novel Ca2(+)-independent PKC, nPKC epsilon, was identified together with two conventional Ca2(+)-dependent PKCs, PKC alpha and beta II by analysis of kinase and phorbol ester-binding activities, immunoblotting using isozyme-specific antibodies, and Northern blotting. These PKCs are down-regulated differently when cells are stimulated by outer stimuli; phorbol esters deplete PKC beta II and nPKC epsilon from the cells more rapidly than PKC alpha, whereas thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) at 200 nM depletes nPKC epsilon exclusively with a time course similar to that induced by phorbol esters. However, translocation of PKC alpha and beta II to the membranes is elicited by both TRH and phorbol esters. These results suggest that TRH and phorbol ester activate PKC alpha and beta II differently but that nPKC epsilon is stimulated similarly by both stimuli. Thus, in GH4C1 cells, Ca2(+)-independent nPKC epsilon may play a crucial role distinct from that mediated by Ca2(+)-dependent PKC alpha and beta II in a cellular response elicited by both TRH and phorbol esters.     

Protein kinase C differentially inhibits muscarinic receptor operated Ca2+ release and entry in human salivary cells

We investigated the effects of phorbol myristate acetate on muscarinic receptor-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and extracellular entry in a human salivary duct cell line, HSG-PA. Phorbol myristate acetate (approximately 10(-7) M) blocked both Ca2+ release and Ca2+ entry induced by the muscarinic agonist carbachol. This blockade was the result of the activation of protein kinase C since 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, which lacks the ability to activate protein kinase C, did not inhibit Ca2+ mobilization responses to carbachol. Importantly, at lower phorbol myristate acetate concentrations (approximately 10(-9) M), carbachol-induced Ca2+ release was blocked, but carbachol-induced Ca2+ entry was maintained. These results show that carbachol-induced Ca2+ entry does not occur via an intracellular store and that protein kinase C plays a role in a feedback control mechanism for muscarinic-induced Ca2+ mobilization at different levels.     

Nonequivalent effects of PKC activation by PMA on murine CD4 and CD8 cell-surface expression

The membrane glycoproteins CD4 (L3T4) and CD8 (Lyt2) are expressed on distinct populations of mature murine T lymphocytes, and are thought to be receptors for monomorphic determinants expressed on MHC class II and class I molecules, respectively. Although they differ in their ligand specificity, it has been presumed that CD4 and CD8 perform equivalent functions in the T cells that bear them. Since activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is known to cause rapid down-regulation of various receptors, including the T cell receptor complex (TcR complex), we treated cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, to determine whether cell-surface expression of CD4 and CD8 would be similarly affected by this intracellular mediator. Brief or relatively prolonged treatment with PMA induced mature murine T cells to reduce their surface expression of the TcR complex and of CD4, but not of CD8. Similarly, PMA rapidly induced transfected L cells to down-regulate surface CD4 expression, but had no effect on surface CD8 expression. Most significantly, PMA treatment induced CD4+CD8+ immature thymocytes to rapidly reduce their surface CD4 expression, but, again, it had no immediate effect on the surface expression of CD8. These results indicate that CD4 and TcR complex cell-surface expression are both sensitive to PKC activation by brief treatment with PMA, whereas CD8 expression is not, and suggest that CD4 and CD8 surface expression levels are regulated by distinct intracellular mechanisms.     

Ionic mechanisms of excitation-induced regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA expression in isolated rat EDL muscle

This study investigated the effects of electrical stimulation on Na+-K+-ATPase isoform mRNA, with the aim to identify factors modulating Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA in isolated rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. Interventions designed to mimic exercise-induced increases in intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ contents and membrane depolarization were examined. Muscles were mounted on force transducers and stimulated with 60-Hz 10-s pulse trains producing tetanic contractions three times at 10-min intervals. Ouabain (1.0 mM, 120 min), veratridine (0.1 mM, 30 min), and monensin (0.1 mM, 30 min) were used to increase intracellular Na+ content. High extracellular K+ (13 mM, 60 min) and the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187 (0.02 mM, 30 min) were used to induce membrane depolarization and elevated intracellular Ca2+ content, respectively. Muscles were analyzed for Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1-alpha3 and beta1-beta3 mRNA (real-time RT-PCR). Electrical stimulation had no immediate effect on Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA; however at 3 h after stimulation, it increased alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 mRNA by 223, 621, and 892%, respectively (P = 0.010), without changing beta mRNA. Ouabain, veratridine, and monensin increased intracellular Na+ content by 769, 724, and 598%, respectively (P = 0.001) but did not increase mRNA of any isoform. High intracellular K+ concentration elevated alpha1 mRNA by 160% (P = 0.021), whereas A-23187 elevated alpha3 mRNA by 123% (P = 0.035) but reduced beta1 mRNA by 76% (P = 0.001). In conclusion, electrical stimulation induced subunit-specific increases in Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA in isolated rat EDL muscle. Furthermore, Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA appears to be regulated by different stimuli, including cellular changes associated with membrane depolarization and increased intracellular Ca2+ content but not increased intracellular Na+ content.     

p21ras and protein kinase C function in distinct and interdependent signaling pathways in C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts.

Both p21ras and protein kinase C (PKC) are believed to function downstream of plasma membrane-associated tyrosine kinases in cellular signal transduction pathways. However, it has remained controversial whether they function in the same pathway and, if so, what their relative position and functional relationship in such a pathway are. We investigated the possibilities that p21ras and PKC function either upstream or downstream of each other in a common linear pathway or that they function independently in colinear signal pathways. Either decreased expression of endogenous normal ras in fibroblasts transfected with an inducible antisense ras construct or overexpression of a mutant ras gene reduced the capacity of the phorbol ester tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to trigger expression of the tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-responsive and ras-dependent reporter gene osteopontin (OPN). PKC depletion decreased basal OPN mRNA levels, and the overexpression of ras restored OPN expression to the level of non-PKC-depleted cells. We propose a model in which ras and PKC function in distinct and interdependent signaling pathways.     

Effects of platelet-derived growth factor on Ca2+ in 3T3 cells

The effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on cellular Ca2+ was examined in BALB/c-3T3 cells. PDGF induced: A decrease in cell 45Ca2+ content. An apparent increased rate of efflux of preloaded 45Ca2+. A decrease in residual intracellular 45Ca2+ remaining after rapid efflux. When added after the rapid phase of efflux of 45Ca2+ had occurred, an immediate decrease in post-efflux residual intracellular 45Ca2+. All of the observed changes in 45Ca2+ induced by PDGF are consistent with a rapid release of Ca2+ from an intracellular Ca2+ pool that has the slowest efflux and is relatively inaccessible to extracellular EDTA. When incubated with chlortetracycline (CTC), a fluorescent Ca2+ probe, 3T3 cell mitochondria became intensely fluorescent. Addition of PDGF resulted in a rapid decrease in CTC fluorescence intensity in both adherent and suspended 3T3 cells. The effects of PDGF on 3T3 cell Ca2+ stores and CTC fluorescence intensity were identical with the effects of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and of the proton ionophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. Serum, which contains PDGF, also altered intracellular Ca2+ stores, but platelet-poor plasma, which does not contain PDGF, had no effect. EGF, insulin, and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), other factors which stimulate 3T3 cell growth, did not alter 3T3 cell Ca2+ stores. Release of Ca2+ from intracellular sequestration sites may be a mechanism by which PDGF stimulates cell growth.