Morphologic differentiation of HL-60 cells is associated with appearance of RPTPbeta and induction of Helicobacter pylori VacA sensitivity

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induces differentiation of human leukemic HL-60 cells into cells with macrophage-like characteristics and enhances the susceptibility of HL-60 cells to the Helicobacter pylori VacA toxin (de Bernard, M., Moschioni., M., Papini, E., Telford, J. L., Rappuoli, R., and Montecucco, C. (1998) FEBS Lett. 436, 218-222). We examined the mechanism by which HL-60 cells acquire sensitivity to VacA, in particular, looking for expression of RPTPbeta, a VacA-binding protein postulated to be the VacA receptor (Yahiro, K., Niidome, T., Kimura, M., Hatakeyama, T., Aoyagi, H., Kurazono, H., Imagawa, K., Wada, A., Moss, J., and Hirayama, T. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 36693-36699). PMA induced expression of RPTPbeta mRNA and protein as determined by RNase protection assay and indirect immunofluorescence studies, respectively. Vitamin D(3) and interferon-gamma, which stimulate differentiation of HL-60 cells into monocyte-like cells, also induced VacA sensitivity and expression of RPTPbeta mRNA, whereas 1. 2% Me(2)SO and retinoic acid, which stimulated the maturation of HL-60 into granulocyte-like cells, did not. RPTPbeta antisense oligonucleotide inhibited induction of VacA sensitivity and expression of RPTPbeta. Double immunostaining studies also indicated that newly expressed RPTPbeta colocalized with VacA in PMA-treated HL-60 cells. In agreement with these data, BHK-21 cells, which are insensitive to VacA, when transfected with the RPTPbeta cDNA, acquired VacA sensitivity. All data are consistent with the conclusion that acquisition of VacA sensitivity by PMA-treated HL-60 cells results from induction of RPTPbeta, a protein that functions as the VacA receptor.     

Inhibition by islet-activating protein, pertussis toxin, of retinoic acid-induced differentiation of human leukemic (HL-60) cells

Human promyelocytic leukemic (HL-60) cells were induced to differentiate into neutrophil- or macrophage-like cells by incubation of the cells with retinoic acid, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Differentiation was determined by an increase in the percentage of morphologically mature cells. The retinoic acid-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells was, but the Bt2cAMP- or PMA-induced one was not, inhibited by prior exposure of the cells to islet-activating protein (IAP), pertussis toxin. The IAP-induced inhibition was correlated with the toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a membrane GTP-binding protein with a molecular mass of 40 kDa. Thus, the IAP-substrate GTP-binding protein appears to be involved in the retinoic acid-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells.     

Differential expression of cytosolic activation factors for NADPH oxidase in HL-60 leukemic cells

Activation of NADPH oxidase in undifferentiated HL-60 leukemic cells and in HL-60 cells differentiated along the myeloid pathway with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) or dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) was studied. Upon stimulation with a calcium ionophore, a phorbol ester, arachidonic acid or gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, Me2SO-differentiated HL-60 cells generated superoxide (O2-) at higher rates than dbcAMP-differentiated cells. Undifferentiated cells generated O2- only at low rates upon stimulation with the above agents. In cell-free systems, NADPH oxidase activity was reconstituted by combining membranes of undifferentiated or dbcAMP- or Me2SO-differentiated HL-60 cells, cytosol of Me2SO-differentiated cells and arachidonic acid. This basal O2- formation was enhanced several-fold by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP[gamma S]), a potent activator of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. In contrast, cytosol of dbcAMP-differentiated cells reconstituted O2- formation only in the presence of GTP[gamma S], and cytosol of undifferentiated cells was inactive. Submaximally stimulatory amounts of cytosolic protein of Me2SO- and dbcAMP-differentiated cells synergistically stimulated O2- formation in the presence but not in the absence of GTP[gamma S]. We conclude that differentiations of HL-60 cells with Me2SO and dbcAMP are not equivalent with respect to activation of NADPH oxidase and that two cytosolic activation factors are involved in the regulation of this effector system.     

Effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and its analogue 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate on protein phosphorylation and lysosomal enzyme release in rabbit neutrophils

The co-carcinogenic compound phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate but not its inactive analogue 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate causes the phosphorylation of several rabbit neutrophil polypeptides whose molecular weights and isoelectric points (pI) are as follows: Mr = 40,000, pI = 6.4; Mr = 50,000, pI = 4.9; Mr = 55,000, pI = 6.3; Mr = 64,000, pI = 6.0; Mr = 70,000, pI = 5.6; Mr = 90,000, pI = 6.0. Most of these phosphorylated proteins are located exclusively in the cytosol; the 64,000 molecular weight protein is found both in the cytosol and the cytoskeleton, and the 40,000 molecular weight protein is found in the nuclear pellet. The 50,000 molecular weight protein is also phosphorylated in whole cells by the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe and in cell-free systems by protein kinase C. Using limited proteolysis, one phosphopeptide fragment was phosphorylated by the three stimuli. In addition, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate but not 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate causes cell aggregation and the exocytotic release of the specific granules of rabbit neutrophils. In contrast, both compounds increase the amount of actin associated with the cytoskeleton. The divalent cation ionophore A23187 at low concentration and the compound phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate act synergistically in causing neutrophil degranulation. Lysosomal enzyme release and the phosphorylation of the 50,000 molecular weight polypeptide produced by phorbl 12-myristate 13-acetate are inhibited by trifluoperazine, and these two responses seem to be causally related. These results are discussed in terms of the role of 1,2-diacylglycerol and activation of protein kinase C in specific granule release from rabbit neutrophils.     

Protein phosphorylation in intact pig leukocytes

The phosphorylation of proteins in intact pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes loaded with H3(32)PO4 was investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and subsequent autoradiography. The incorporation of 32P into at least 17 proteins began to increase and into one to decrease, relative to resting cells, upon exposure of the cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. These changes in the autoradiographic patterns were accompanied by changes in the protein patterns obtained by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue, including the appearance, the acidic shift and the increase or decrease of the intensity of the spots. Among these proteins, Mr = 64 000, 31 000, 22 000, 21 000, 18 000 and 13 000 proteins were correlated well with the superoxide anion production of the cells in respect to the time-courses and the dose-responses. By taking the effects of EGTA into consideration, the phosphorylation of Mr 64 000 and 21 000 proteins, of which the latter was identified as the light chain of myosin, seemed to be involved in the signal-transmission mechanism of the induction of the NADPH oxidase responsible for the 'respiratory burst'. These two proteins were also phosphorylated in the cells stimulated by NaF or oil droplets opsonized with IgG.     

Protein kinase C-stimulated phosphorylation in vitro of a Mr 80,000 protein phosphorylated in response to phorbol esters and growth factors in intact fibroblasts. Distinction from protein kinase C and prominence in brain

In previous studies in intact 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes, we demonstrated that the phosphorylation state of an acidic, multicomponent Mr 80,000 protein appeared to be a specific and useful marker for the activation state of protein kinase C (Blackshear, P.J., Witters, L.A., Girard, P.R., Kuo, J.F., and Quamo, S.N. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 13304-13315). In the present studies, we demonstrate that the Mr 80,000 protein from rat adipose tissue was a substrate for protein kinase C in vitro, and co-migrated on two-dimensional gels with the analogous protein from murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes labeled by exposure of intact cells to 32Pi and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Partial proteolytic maps of the two 32P-proteins were nearly identical, supporting the postulate that the sites phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vitro, and in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in vivo, were similar or identical. Despite their similar apparent molecular weights, we were able to distinguish between the Mr 80,000 protein and protein kinase C by several physical criteria. The Mr 80,000 protein kinase C substrate was found in fractions of all rat tissues examined, but was most prominent in rat brain. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also stimulated phosphorylation of the Mr 80,000 protein in several types of cultured neuronal cells, suggesting a possible role for this protein in cholinergic neurotransmission. The Mr 80,000 protein appears to be a useful marker for protein kinase C activation in a variety of cell types.     

D-cystathionine ketimine and L-cystathionine ketimine enhance superoxide generation by human neutrophils in a different manner

The effects of d-cystathionine ketimine (D-CK) and l-cystathionine ketimine (L-CK) on the stimulus-induced superoxide generation by human neutrophils were compared. When the cells were preincubated with D-CK, the superoxide generation induced by arachidonic acid (AA), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) were enhanced, showing a dependence on D-CK concentration. The rate of enhancement by D-CK was AA > PMA > fMLP. On the contrary, L-CK largely enhanced the fMLP-induced superoxide generation, whereas it showed no effect on those induced by AA and PMA. The superoxide generations induced by AA and PMA in the D-CK-treated cells were suppressed by staurosporine, while those in the L-CK-treated cells were not affected. Genistein suppressed the fMLP-induced superoxide generation in the L-CK-treated cells more efficiently than that in the D-CK-treated cells. D-CK enhanced seryl phosphorylation of 16. 5-kDa protein in human neutrophils, while L-CK enhanced tyrosyl phosphorylation of 45-kDa protein.     

Vinculin phosphorylation in response to calcium and phorbol esters in intact cells

Vinculin phosphorylation in both chick embryo fibroblasts and Swiss 3T3 cells was increased by either calcium or biologically active phorbol esters. Increased phosphorylation of vinculin was noted as early as 10 min following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and was maximal at about 1 h. Maximal increases in phosphorylation were noted at approximately 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (80 nM), a less potent phorbol ester, resulted in smaller increases in vinculin phosphorylation than phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate at equimolar concentrations. Phorbol, dibutyryl cAMP, and dibutyryl cGMP had no significant effect on phosphorylation. No correlation was found between vinculin phosphorylation and the morphological changes induced by phorbol esters. Tryptic peptide analysis of vinculin revealed multisite phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of only three of the peptides was significantly increased following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed increases at both serine and threonine residues. The low level of phosphotyrosine present in control cells was not significantly increased by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. These findings combined with studies of vinculin phosphorylation by purified protein kinase C (Werth, D. K., Niedel, J. E., and Pastan I. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 11423-11426) suggest the hypothesis that protein kinase C may be involved in regulation of phosphorylation of vinculin, a cytoskeletal protein.     

Phosphorylation of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and modulation of its enzymic activity by calcium-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase

A calcium-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) catalyzes the phosphorylation of both insoluble microsomal (Mr approximately 100,000) and purified soluble (Mr = 53,000) 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. The phosphorylation and concomitant inactivation of enzymic activity of HMG-CoA reductase was absolutely dependent on Ca2+, phosphatidylserine, and diolein. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylated HMG-CoA reductase was associated with the loss of protein bound radioactivity and reactivation of enzymic activity. Maximal phosphorylation of purified HMG-CoA reductase was associated with the incorporation of 1.05 +/- 0.016 mol of phosphate/mol of native form of HMG-CoA reductase (Mr approximately 100,000). The apparent Km for purified HMG-CoA reductase and histone H1 was 0.08 mg/ml, and 0.12 mg/ml, respectively. The tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated the protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase. Increased phosphorylation of HMG-CoA reductase by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate suggests a possible in vivo protein kinase C-mediated mechanism for the short-term regulation of HMG-CoA reductase activity. The identification of the protein kinase C system in addition to the reductase kinase-reductase kinase kinase bicyclic cascade systems for the modulation of the enzymic activity of HMG-CoA reductase may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis.     

Activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger by phorbol ester and osmotic shock is dependent on the degree of neutrophilic maturation

Activation of neutrophils leading to superoxide production is accompanied by cytoplasmic alkalinization, which results from stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger. Since the exchanger undergoes permanent alterations during neutrophilic maturation of HL-60 cells (Costa-Casnellie et al.: Journal of Biological Chemistry 263:11851-11855, 1988), we investigated whether its response to external stimuli such as phorbol esters or osmotic shock also was modified during cell maturation. Mature HL-60 cells produce superoxide in response to active phorbol esters, whereas immature HL-60 cells do not. Stimulation of the exchanger by active phorbol esters (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate) was observed in mature neutrophilic HL-60 cells but not in their immature counterparts. Inactive 4-alpha phorbol had no effect in either cell population. Compound H7 inhibited phorbol ester activation by 65%. In mature neutrophilic cells activation of the exchanger by phorbol esters caused two novel changes of its properties: 1) its apparent Km for Na+ transport increased 2-fold; 2) its Vmax increased 2.6-fold. Phorbol esters also caused a shift in pH dependence of activation similar to that induced in other cells. Osmotic shock, a different method known to activate the exchanger of other cells, induced activation in mature neutrophilic cells but not in immature cells. Thus, the response of the exchanger to external stimuli is affected by alterations occurring in association with cell maturation.     

Characterization of interleukin 2-stimulated phosphorylation of 67 and 63 kDa proteins in human T-cells.

We have investigated rapid and marked phosphorylation of cellular proteins induced by interleukin 2 (IL-2) in both phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated normal peripheral blood leucocytes, and IL-2-dependent or -independent human T-cell lines bearing human T-cell leukaemia (lymphotropic) virus type I. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis showed that the IL-2-induced phosphoprotein was of Mr 67,000 with a pI of 5.8 (pp67) and was distinct from the IL-2 receptor. IL-2 also stimulated phosphorylation of four other proteins, with an Mr of 63,000 and pI values 5.3-6.1 (pp63s). The stimulation of pp67 phosphorylation was observed within 5 min after addition of IL-2 and was maximal after 15 min. The maximal phosphorylation was more than 10-fold that observed initially. In IL-2-dependent cells, IL-2 dose responses of pp67 phosphorylation and cell proliferation were exactly correlated. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that the phosphorylation site of pp67 and pp63s was a serine residue. Subcellular-fractionation studies indicated that pp67 was localized in cytosol, whereas pp63s phosphorylation was induced by IL-2 in nuclear and cytosol fractions. Similar phosphorylation of pp67 and pp63s was observed when the cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate instead of IL-2. These results suggest that IL-2-IL-2-receptor interaction leads to activation of protein kinase(s), resulting in phosphorylation of certain cellular proteins such as pp67 and pp63s, and that this phosphorylation could be an early event in the transmission of intracellular growth signalling from the IL-2 receptors.     

Alteration of folate analogue transport inward after induced maturation of HL-60 leukemia cells. Molecular properties of the transporter in an overproducing variant and evidence for down-regulation of its synthesis in maturating cells.

Studies are described examining further the decline in folate analogue influx mediated by the one-carbon reduced-folate transport system in HL-60 cells following induction of maturation by cytodifferentiation agents. To facilitate the investigation of the underlying basis of this phenomenon, we derived a variant (HL-60/LCV) with 4-5-fold elevated influx capacity (Vmax) for folate analogues. A commensurate increase in the putative transporter for this system was documented by affinity labeling of these cells with N-hydroxysuccinimide-[3H]aminopterin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the affinity labeled plasma membrane in HL-60/LCV cells delineated a protein peak at Mr = 75,000-80,000. This was substantially greater than the analogous transporter (Mr = 45,000-47,000) we had delineated (Yang, C.-H., Sirotnak, F.M., and Mines, L.S. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9703-9709) with the same methodology in the L1210 cell plasma membrane. In addition, the rate of translocation of the Mr = 75,000-80,000 transporter in HL-60 and HL-60/LCV cells was 2-fold lower than the rate of translocation determined for the Mr = 45,000-47,000 transporter in L1210 cells. During induced maturation of HL-60/LCV cells toward the granulocyte pathway, [3H]methotrexate (MTX) influx capacity and the amount of the affinity labeled transporter decreased rapidly in a parallel fashion. The decrease in [3H]MTX influx and in affinity labeling and in the amount of the Mr = 75,000-80,000 transporter was 5-fold following exposure to 210 mM dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) for 5 days during growth in culture. Moreover, during cycloheximide treatment, the decay in [3H]MTX influx at 37 degrees C and in amount of affinity labeled transporter was the same (t1/2 = 144-155 min) for both control and Me2SO-treated HL-60/LCV cells. These results, which reveal no difference in metabolic turnover for control and Me2SO-treated cells, suggest that the decline in folate analogue influx in HL-60/LCV influx cells is a very early event in the program of differentiation and probably occurs by down-regulation of synthesis of the transporter for the one-carbon reduced-folate transport system.     

Ouabain- and Ca2(+)-sensitive ATPase activity of chimeric Na- and Ca-pump molecules.

HL-60 cells are very sensitive to the cytotoxic action of ether lipids. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this cytotoxicity. We investigated the influence of the alkylphospholipid ET-18-OCH₃ on the activity of protein kinase C. HL-60 cells were incubated with ET-18-OCH₃ at a concentration of 20 μg/ml for 4 h. After the incubation the membrane fraction of the HL-60 cells was isolated and the activity of protein kinase C was determined while it was still associated with the membrane, using the synthetic peptide substrate [Ser²⁵]-protein kinase C (19–31) as a protein kinase C specific substrate. The activity of the membrane-bound protein kinase C was increased in HL-60 cells treated with ET-18-OCH₃ compared to untreated HL-60 cells. The increase in protein kinase C activity was not a consequence of translocation and appeared to be additive to the effect of the phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate. In contrast, solubilized protein kinase C from HL-60 cells could be inhibited or stimulated in vitro by ET-18-OCH₃, dependent on the mode of addition of ET-18-OCH₃ and phospholipids.     

Reversibility of phorbol diester-induced macrophage spreading

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate induced spreading of mouse macrophages with 50% effective concentrations of 3 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Macrophages treated with 100 or 1000 nM phorbol 12, 13- dibutyrate showed a time related decrease in spreading after washout. Spreading induced by 1, 10, or 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was irreversible; however, washed phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-treated cells respread after a second exposure to this compound. Washout of ³[H]phorbol diesters corroborated these observations in that 5% of ³H-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and only 0.1% ³[H]phorbol, 12,13-dibutyrate remained associated with washed cells. Since phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate is much more lipophilic than phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, the reversibility of phorbol diester-induced macrophage spreading may depend upon the lipophilicity of the derivative utilized.Abbreviations DMEM Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium - PDA phorbol 12,13-diacetate - PDBu phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate - PMA phorbol 12 myristate, 13 acetate - 4PDD phorbol 12, 13 didecanoate     

Growth factor-stimulated protein phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 cells. Evidence for protein kinase C-dependent and -independent pathways

Exposure of serum-deprived 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), synthetic diacylglycerols, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or pituitary fibroblast growth factor (FGF) resulted in stimulated phosphorylation of an acidic, multicomponent, soluble protein of Mr 80,000. Phosphorylation of this protein was promoted to a lesser extent by epidermal growth factor; however, neither insulin nor dibutyryl cAMP was effective. Phosphoamino acid analysis and peptide mapping of the Mr 80,000 32P-protein after exposure of fibroblasts to PDGF revealed identical patterns to those obtained with PMA or diacylglycerols. In contrast to the Mr 80,000 protein, proteins of Mr 22,000 (and pI 4.4) and Mr 31,000 were also phosphorylated in response to insulin as well as to PMA, diacylglycerols, epidermal growth factor, PDGF, and FGF in these cells. Similar findings were noted in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Preincubation of the cells with high concentrations of active phorbol esters abolished specific [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding, protein kinase C activity, and immunoreactivity and also prevented stimulated phosphorylation of the Mr 80,000 protein by PMA, diacylglycerols, PDGF, or FGF, supporting the contention that this effect was mediated through protein kinase C. The stimulated phosphorylation of the Mr 22,000 and 31,000 proteins in response to PMA was also abolished by such pretreatment. In contrast, the ability of insulin, PDGF, and FGF to promote phosphorylation of the Mr 22,000 and 31,000 proteins was unaffected in the protein kinase C-deficient cells. We conclude that PDGF and FGF may exert some of their effects on these cells through at least two distinct pathways of protein phosphorylation, phorbol ester-like (P) activation of protein kinase C, and an insulin-like (I) pathway exemplified by phosphorylation of the Mr 22,000 and 31,000 proteins.     

Alkyllysophospholipid ET-18-OCH3 acts as an activator of protein kinase C in HL-60 cells

HL-60 cells are very sensitive to the cytotoxic action of ether lipids. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this cytotoxicity. We investigated the influence of the alkylphospholipid ET-18-OCH₃ on the activity of protein kinase C. HL-60 cells were incubated with ET-18-OCH₃ at a concentration of 20 μg/ml for 4 h. After the incubation the membrane fraction of the HL-60 cells was isolated and the activity of protein kinase C was determined while it was still associated with the membrane, using the synthetic peptide substrate [Ser²⁵]-protein kinase C (19–31) as a protein kinase C specific substrate. The activity of the membrane-bound protein kinase C was increased in HL-60 cells treated with ET-18-OCH₃ compared to untreated HL-60 cells. The increase in protein kinase C activity was not a consequence of translocation and appeared to be additive to the effect of the phorbol ester 12-myristate 13-acetate. In contrast, solubilized protein kinase C from HL-60 cells could be inhibited or stimulated in vitro by ET-18-OCH₃, dependent on the mode of addition of ET-18-OCH₃ and phospholipids.     

Mechanism of phorbol diester-induced regulation of surface transferrin receptor involves the action of activated protein kinase C and an intact cytoskeleton

Phorbol diesters are tumor-promoting agents that cause differentiation of HL60 human leukemic cells and concomitantly regulate surface transferrin receptors. Regulation of transferrin receptors by phorbol diesters involves receptor internalization in association with increased receptor phosphorylation (hyperphosphorylation). The intracellular mechanism of action of phorbol diester involves binding to and activation of the Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). Present studies comparing results obtained with whole cells and those from a cell-free system reconstituted from purified protein kinase C and transferrin receptor components have revealed that the transferrin receptor is phosphorylated by protein kinase C activated by phorbol esters. Following tryptic digestion and two-dimensional separation of phosphopeptides of phosphorylated transferrin receptors, two major and several minor phosphoserine-containing fragments are resolved. These fragments are identical whether transferrin receptor is phosphorylated in whole cells incubated with phorbol diesters or following phosphorylation of affinity immobilized transferrin receptor in the in vitro reconstitution system. Phosphoamino acid analysis of these fragments indicates that serine is the only amino acid phosphorylated in whole cells or in the cell-free system. In addition, colchicine is shown to inhibit in a dose-dependent manner phorbol diester-induced internalization but not hyperphosphorylation of the surface transferrin receptor in whole cells. This inhibition is specific for colchicine since inactive beta- and gamma-Lumicolchicine have no such effect, while taxol reverses the inhibition. These results indicate that the phorbol diester-mediated process of down-regulation of the surface transferrin receptor is associated with phosphorylation of the receptor by activated protein kinase C and requires an intact cytoskeleton to affect receptor internalization.     

Effects of 60 Hz magnetic field exposure on polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation

We have investigated the effects of a sinusoidal 60 Hz magnetic field on free radical (superoxide anion) production, degranulation (beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme release) and viability in human neutrophils (PMNs). Experiments were performed blindly in very controlled conditions to examine the effects of a magnetic field in resting PMNs and in PMNs stimulated with a tumor promoter: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Exposure of unstimulated human PMNs to a 60 Hz magnetic field did not affect the functions examined. In contrast, exposure of PMNs to a 22 milliTesla (mT), 60 Hz magnetic field induced significant increases in superoxide anion (O2-) production (26.5%) and in beta-glucuronidase release (53%) when the cells were incubated with a suboptimal stimulating dose of PMA. Release of lysozyme and lactate dehydrogenase was unchanged by the magnetic field, whether the cells were stimulated or not. A 60 Hz magnetic field did not have any effect on O2- generation by a cell-free system xanthine/xanthine oxidase, suggesting that a magnetic field could upregulate common cellular events (signal transduction) leading to O2- generation and beta-glucuronidase release. In conclusion, exposure of PMNs to a 22 mT, 60 Hz magnetic field potentiates the effect of PMA on O2- generation and beta-glucuronidase release. This effect could be the result of an alteration in the intracellular signaling.     

Phorbol diester-induced alterations in the expression of protein kinase C isozymes and their mRNAs. Analysis in wild-type and phorbol diester-resistant HL-60 cell clones.

In an HL-60 cell subline (PR-17) which was greater than 100-fold resistant to the differentiating and cytostatic activities of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the protein kinase C phenotype was found to be nearly identical to that of wild-type HL-60 cells. A measurable decrease (30%) in the specific activities of crude preparations of PR-17 cell protein kinase C was observed when the enzyme was measured with histone as the phosphate acceptor substrate, but other aspects of the protein kinase C phenotype (intracellular concentrations and binding affinities of phorbol diester receptors, translocation of activated enzyme from cytosolic to particulate subcellular fractions, relative expression of the alpha and beta isozyme proteins) were equivalent in both PMA-resistant PR-17 cells and in wild-type HL-60 cells. Direct analysis of the behavior of the alpha and beta isozymes after the exposure of each cell type to 100 nM PMA for 12 h revealed that the activities and intracellular concentrations of both isozymes were downregulated to an equivalent extent in both wild-type and PMA-resistant cells. These results suggest that the cellular basis for the resistance to the effects of PMA was present "down-stream" from the activation and down-regulation of protein kinase C and was perhaps a nuclear component. Among the genes which were likely to be differentially regulated when each of the two cell lines were treated with PMA were those for the protein kinase C isozymes themselves. In wild-type HL-60 cells, the intracellular concentrations of type HL-60 cells, the intracellular concentrations of mRNA for each of the beta isozymes were increased (up to 5-fold) 48 h after the initiation of PMA treatment; further studies indicate that an activator of protein kinase C could influence the expression of HL-60 cell protein kinase C genes in an isozyme-specific manner. Comparable PMA-induced alterations in mRNA levels were not observed in PMA-resistant cells, even under conditions of significant activation and subsequent down-regulation of protein kinase C protein. Taken together, these data suggest that activation and down-regulation of the isozymes of protein kinase C may not represent absolute determinants of the PMA-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells, but that specific alterations in the levels of the mRNA for the beta isozymes of protein kinase C, or of other genes which may be regulated by the activated kinase isozymes, are important to the induction of leukemia cell differentiation by PMA.