A mutagenesis-enhancing activity of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate detected in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Tumour-promoting agents may bring about the completion of multi-step carcinogenesis by acting as enhancers of mutagenesis, recombinogens or clastogens. We report here that the classical mouse skin tumour promoter TPA, although non-mutagenic per se, can enhance the induction of OuaR CHO-K1 cell mutants by MNNG approximately 2-fold. This observation was made at a concentration approaching the compounds aqueous solubility limit which was non-cytotoxic. Mutagenesis enhancement was dependent on TPA being present throughout mutation expression and mutant selection. It was not accompanied by any modification of cell sensitivity to mutagen killing. In the same treatment protocol TPA did not enhance either EMS- or UV-induced mutagenesis. TPA exposure over 2 rounds of cell replication failed to produce an increase in the frequency of SCE in control or mutagen-treated CHO-K1 cultures. Likewise TPA exposure over 1 round of cell replication failed to produce an increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Apparently TPA is not a recombinogen or clastogen but in the right exposure regime is capable of acting to enhance mutagenesis by certain genotoxic agents, an action which may contribute to tumour promotion.     

Tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate stimulates simian virus 40 induction by DNA-damaging agents and tumor initiators.

Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed Syrian hamster kidney cells produce infectious SV40 virus particles after treatments which damage DNA, such as UV irradiation or mitomycin C treatment. We have found that the induction of SV40 by DNA-damaging agents is greatly stimulated when a typical tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), is present in the medium. Phorbol, which has a molecular structure similar to TPA but does not have any tumor-promoting activity, showed no such stimulatory effect on SV40 induction. This apparent synergistic effect of DNA-damaging agents and tumor promoter (TPA) was more pronounced when a tumor initiator, benzo [a]pyrene or 2-acetamido-fluorene, was combined with TPA. The effect of TPA on UV-triggered SV40 induction was greatly influenced by the timing of TPA addition to the culture medium, which was most efficient when addition of TPA was 5 to 20 h before UV irradiation. The effect of TPA, however, was not observed in SV40 rescue from hamster cells by cell fusion with permissive monkey (C7) cells.     

Ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation and morphological changes in response to the tumour promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in primary human tumour cells, established and transformed cell lines

The phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in fibroblasts, primary human tumour cells, established and SV40-transformed human cell lines was compared after the addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). In fibroblasts and primary tumour cell cultures, stimulation of S6 phosphorylation was about 4-6-fold. Established and transformed cell lines showed enhanced S6 phosphorylation which was not further stimulated by the addition of TPA. These findings indicated that the influence of TPA on the metabolic pathway, that finally leads to the phosphorylation of protein S6 in cells with a limited lifespan (fibroblasts, primary human tumour cells) can be mimicked by unknown steps also associated with immortalization (establishment function) and the transformed state of the tumour cells. Another interesting observation were morphological changes of the established and SV40-transformed cells which were visible as early as 20 min after the addition of TPA. In fibroblasts and primary tumour cells no changes in morphology were observed, even after 8h incubation.     

Effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on peroxisomal activities and enzyme activities involved in lipid metabolism in rat liver

The effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on hepatic lipids and key enzymes involved in esterification, hydrolysis and oxidation of long-chain fatty acids at increasing doses were investigated in rats. TPA administration tended to decrease the mitochondrial activities of palmitoyl-CoA synthetase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase. The microsomal palmitoyl-CoA synthetase activity was increased. TPA administration was also associated with a dose-dependent increase of glycerophosphate acyltransferase activity both in the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions in particular. The data are consistent with a decreased catabolism of long-chain fatty acids at the mitochondrial level, and an increased capacity for esterification of fatty acids in the microsomal fraction. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation was increased about 2-fold in the peroxisome-enriched fraction of TPA-treated rats while the catalase and urate oxidase activities were only marginally affected. TPA administration revealed elevated capacity for hydrolysis of palmitoyl-CoA and palmitoyl-L-carnitine in the microsomal fraction. Neither increased cytosolic palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activity nor increased hydroxylation of lauric acid nor changes of the hepatic content of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymic forms were observed in the TPA-treated animals. There was no induction of the protein content of the bifunctional enoyl-CoA hydratase. Thus, TPA behaves more like choline-deficient diet and ethionine treatment than well-known peroxisome proliferators. It seems possible that TPA selectively stimulated the peroxisomal activities, i.e., peroxisomal beta-oxidation rather than evoking a peroxisome proliferation capacity.     

Synergism between subthreshold concentrations of thrombin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in platelet activation

A comparison was made between the time courses and interdependence of platelet aggregation, serotonin release, and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in the same sample of platelets loaded with [14C]-serotonin and Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein aequorin. In 100 micrograms/ml aspirin-treated platelets, neither 0.01 U/ml thrombin nor 50nM TPA, an active phorbol ester, induced significant aggregation, serotonin release, or a rise in the intracellular calcium concentration. However, when these two agents were added together, marked aggregation and release were observed without a change in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. No correlation was observed between the extent of the synergistic effects and time of preincubation with TPA. Potentiatory effects of protein kinase C on receptor-mediated agonists need to be considered in platelet activation.     

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate potentiates the action of cAMP in inducing DNA cleavage in thymocytes

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) potentiated the action of cAMP in DNA cleavage in thymocytes induced by a low concentration of adenosine receptor-site agonists such as adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine and forskolin. The enhancement of DNA cleavage by TPA was also observed in dibutyryl cAMP-treated thymocytes. On the other hand, TPA suppressed accumulation of cAMP by the adenosine receptor-site agonists. These results suggest that activation of protein kinase C inhibits cAMP production, but stimulates cAMP-triggered process to induce DNA cleavage and death of thymocytes.     

Nicardipine-sensitive enhancement of high K+-evoked dopamine release in PC12 cells pretreated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate

The effects of the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on stimulus-evoked dopamine release were studied in PC12 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with TPA resulted in an enhancement of dopamine release which could be further stimulated by high concentrations of K⁺, A23187, but not with carbamylcholine. TPA-dependent, high-K⁺-evoked enhancement of dopamine release was studied in detail: a maximum release was observed (169% of control) in response to 50 mM KCl upon treatment with 10⁻⁷ M TPA for 5 min at 37°C. This enhancement of dopamine release was associated with the concomitant reduction of the concentration rise of intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) induced by a high concentration of K⁺ monitored by a fluorescent indicator, fura2. Thus, these data provide an example for alteration in the efficiency of stimulus-secretion coupling as pointed out in our previous paper. Moreover, we have shown that nicardipine, CdCl₂, and CoCl₂ inhibit high-K⁺-evoked dopamine release more effectively in TPA treated cells than that of untreated cells, and that the TPA-dependent, high-K⁺-evoked dopamine release observed in TPA treated cells is completely abolished by the presence of nicardipine, Cd²⁺ or Co²⁺, but is only partially inhibited in the presence of verapamil. These relevant findings suggest the possible involvement of protein kinase C in regulating the efficiency of a high-K⁺-evoked dopamine release through the modification of nicardipine-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels.     

The influence of exogenous and of membrane-bound phosphatidate concentration on the activity of CTP: phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase.

Rat liver microsomes were treated with phospholipase D to obtain microsomal membranes with varying amounts of membrane-bound phosphatidate. This treatment did not impair the activity of two microsomal-bound enzymes acting with phosphatidate as substrate, i.e. CTP: phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. The dependency of the activity of these enzymes on the concentration of membrane-bound phosphatidate was determined. Both enzymes showed a linear increase in activity with membrane-bound phosphatidate concentrations up to at least 100 nmol phosphatidate/mg microsomal protein. These results indicate that both enzymes have a large reserve capacity and suggest that the enzymes are operating intracellularly, i.e. at phosphatidate concentrations of 5-10 nmol/mg endoplasmic reticulum protein, far below their maximal capacity. The ratio of phosphatidate conversion into CDP-diglyceride and 1,2-diglyceride seems to be constant for a large range of membrane-bound phosphatidate concentrations. The membrane-bound enzymes cannot utilize phosphatidate substrate present in heat-denatured membranes, but are active on phosphatidate incorporated into membranes of phospholipid vesicles.     

Long-chain fatty acids and their acyl-CoA esters cause the translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosolic to the microsomal fraction of rat liver

A translocation of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from the cytosolic to the microsomal fraction was promoted in cell-free extracts of rat liver by oleate and palmitate and their CoA esters. Oleate was more potent in this respect than palmitate and the CoA esters were more effective than the unesterified acids. Octanoate, octanoyl-CoA and CoA did not cause the translocation. It is proposed that the interaction of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase with the membranes that synthesize glycerolipids causes it to become metabolically active. This enables the liver to increase its capacity for triacylglycerol synthesis in response to an increased supply of fatty acids.     

Proteome analysis of antiproliferative mechanism of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on cultured nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells

12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a plant derivative with multiple function as tumor promoter, differentiation revulsant or leukemia therapy drug. The molecular mechanism of its function is perplexing. Many studies have focused on the mechanism of TPA stimulation in tumor promotion of mouse models or terminal differentiation of leukemia cells, but the effect of TPA on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear, while TPA was considered to be associated with NPC development. In the present study, we employed proteomics techniques to study protein changes of a poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma cell line-CNE2 of human NPCs cells induced by TPA. Six significantly and reproducibly changed proteins were identified and their functional implications were discussed in some details.     

Ubiquitination and down-regulation of gap junction protein connexin-43 in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate treatment

Gap junctions are specialized plasma membrane domains enriched in connexin proteins that form channels between adjacent cells. Gap junctions are highly dynamic, and modulation of the connexin turnover rate is considered to play an important role in the regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication. In the present study, we show that the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induces ubiquitination of connexin-43 (Cx43) in IAR20 rat liver epithelial cells. The accelerated ubiquitination of Cx43 in response to TPA occurred concomitantly with Cx43 hyperphosphorylation and inhibition of cell-cell communication via gap junctions. The TPA-induced ubiquitination of Cx43 was mediated via protein kinase C and partly involved the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Following ubiquitination, Cx43 was internalized and degraded. The loss of Cx43 protein was counteracted by ammonium chloride, indicating that acidification of internalized Cx43 gap junctions is a prerequisite for its degradation. Furthermore, the Cx43 degradation was partly counteracted by leupeptin, an inhibitor of cathepsin B, H, and L. Cx43 internalization and subsequent degradation were blocked by inhibitors of the proteasome. Evidence is provided that Cx43 is modified by multiple monoubiquitins rather than a polyubiquitin chain in response to TPA. Moreover, the TPA-induced ubiquitination of Cx43 was blocked by proteasomal inhibitors. Taken together, the data indicate that Cx43 ubiquitination is a highly regulated process. Moreover, the results suggest that the proteasome might play an indirect role in Cx43 degradation by affecting the level of monoubiquitin conjugation and trafficking of Cx43 to endosomal compartments.     

Proteomics-based identification of proteins with altered expression induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy with high incidence in Southern China and South-East Asia. Etiology studies indicate that chemical carcinogen promoters, such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), are important factors causing NPC development. However, the mechanism of the TPA effect on NPC remains unclear. In the present study, cells from a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma NPC cell line, CNE2, were stimulated by TPA and proteomics technology was carried out to find protein discrepancies between control and TPA-treated cells. Results revealed that TPA treatment in CNE2 cells could upregulate the expression of ““““triosephosphate isomerase““““ and ““““14-3-3 protein sigma““““ and downregulate the expression of ““““reticulocalbin 1 precursor““““, ““““nucleophosmin““““, ““““mitochondrial matrix protein pl precursor““““, and ““““stathmin““““. The changes in the expression of these genes suggested that TPA induced CNE2 cells to antiproliferation and to apoptosis, which was confirmed by subsequent apoptosis detection. Therefore, the effects of TPA on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells were distinct from the effects on primary epithelial cells and we suggest reasons for these differences.     

Phospholipase D activation by the mitogens platelet-derived growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in NIH-3T3 cells

The effect of mitogens on phospholipase D activity was investigated in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts by measuring the accumulation of phosphatidylpropanol, produced by phospholipase D phosphatidyl transferase activity when 1-propanol acts as the phosphatidyl group acceptor. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) stimulated phosphatidylpropanol production by the cells. The dose-response relationships for activation of phospholipase D and stimulation of thymidine incorporation by PDGF and TPA were comparable. The possibility that activation of phospholipase D is utilized by mitogens as a trans-membrane pathway for signalling cell growth is discussed.     

Induction of endogenous xenotropic retrovirus expression by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

Summary The tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was examined for its ability to induce endogenous retrovirus from a high-passage clone of Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed Balb/c (K-Balb) mouse cells. TPA activated virus in a concentration-dependent manner (0.0016 to 4.0 μM). Exposure to 1mM actinomycin D inhibited virus induction, suggesting that cellular RNA synthesis is required de novo by this inducer. A broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody to murine type C virus, gp70, was shown to neutralize the infectivity of the induced virus. The activated virus had the host range of the xenotropic Balb virus:2, and after removal of the inducer, the activated state decayed rapidly. TPA stimulated DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in K-Balb cells, indicating that the mechanism of inducation may be different from that of previously identified virus inducers. The effects observed using the well-defined K-Balb system offer an opportunity to study the modulation of retrovirus gene expression by TPA. This work was conducted while the authors were with the Biological Carcinogenesis Program, Frederick Cancer Research Facility, Frederick, MD 21701, and was supported under Contract NO1-CO-75380 with the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20205.