Synergistic Action of Postsynaptic α-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation on Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide-Induced Increases in Pineal N-Acetyltransferase Activity

The alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine and methoxamine, at concentrations that have little effect on pineal N-acetyltransferase activity, markedly enhance stimulation of this enzyme by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). This augmentation can be blocked by the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists phenoxybenzamine and prazosin and, at 10 but not 1 microM, by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine. The time course for VIP stimulation is not altered by concomitant alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Augmented activity does not require concomitant alpha-adrenergic stimulation, but alpha-adrenergic agonists must be present for augmentation to be maintained. Phorbol 12,13-diacetate or -dibutyrate but not 4 alpha-phorbol can substitute for phenylephrine, a finding suggesting that protein kinase C is involved in the augmentation. These results are, in general, analogous to alpha-adrenergic magnification of N-acetyltransferase induction by beta-adrenergic agonists.     

Protein Kinase C Agonists Increase the Expression of Angiotensin II Receptors in Neuronal Cultures

Previous studies have shown that norepinephrine is important in the regulation of central angiotensin II receptors, an effect mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Because alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation leads to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis and activation of protein kinase C, we have examined a possible role of this enzyme in the regulation of central angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors. In the present study, we have examined the effects of protein kinase C activators, phorbol esters, on the expression of Ang II receptors in neuronal cultures prepared from 1-day-old rat brains. The active phorbol ester phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) caused time- and concentration-dependent increases in the specific binding of [125I]Ang II to its receptors in neuronal cultures of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat brains. The stimulatory effect of TPA on Ang II receptors was apparent within 15 min and reached a maximum between 1 and 2 h. Ang II specific binding had returned to control levels by 24 h. Various phorbol esters increased [125I]Ang II binding in accordance with their order of potency in stimulating protein kinase C activity. Saturation and Scatchard analysis revealed that the phorbol ester-induced increase in [125I]Ang II binding was due to an increase in the number of Ang II receptors. These observations indicate that activation of protein kinase C results in an increased expression of Ang II receptors in neuronal cultures from both normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rat brains. The results suggest a possible role of phosphorylation in Ang II receptor expression in neuronal cultures.     

Down-Regulation of Pinealocyte Protein Kinase C: Effect on α1-Adrenergic Potentiation of β-Adrenoceptor Stimulation of Cyclic AMP Accumulation and Induction of Serotonin N-Acetyltransferase Activity

Treatment of rat pinealocytes with 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate down-regulated protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Loss of activity was concentration-dependent (50% loss at 8 x 10(-7) M after 18 h of treatment) and time-dependent (50% loss after 2 h with 3 x 10(-6) M). Phenylephrine, an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist, and phorbol esters unable to activate PKC did not down-regulate the enzyme. alpha 1-Adrenergic amplification of beta-adrenergic stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation, a response previously shown to be mediated by PKC activation, was reduced by only 50% in cells in which PKC activity was down-regulated by approximately 95%. These data suggest that there is not a simple proportional relationship between the degree of activation of pinealocyte PKC and the alpha 1-adrenergic amplification of beta-adrenergic cyclic AMP synthesis. In down-regulated cells, alpha 1-adrenergic amplification of beta-adrenergic induction of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity, a key cyclic AMP-responsive enzyme involved in the nocturnal synthesis of the pineal hormone melatonin, was unchanged. Thus, even though alpha 1-adrenergic amplification of cyclic AMP synthesis is impaired, sufficient cyclic AMP is generated to allow a full induction of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity. This finding raises the important question of whether the alpha 1-adrenergic amplification mechanism has a physiological role in regulating melatonin synthesis in vivo.     

Phospholipid and Ca++ dependency of phorbol ester receptors

The phospholipid and Ca++ dependency of a partially purified phorbol ester apo-receptor from the soluble fraction of mouse brain homogenates was studied. This apo-receptor is believed to be identical with the Ca++ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Binding of phorbol esters to the receptor/kinase C was shown to be entirely dependent on phospholipids. The negatively charged phospholipids phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid all fully reconstituted binding. The neutral phospholipids were inactive. Among active phospholipids and mixtures of phospholipids, substantial differences (greater than 100-fold) were observed in the amounts required to achieve reconstitution. Although Ca++ was not required for reconstitution of binding activity, it dramatically (up to 100-fold) increased the potency of phospholipids for reconstitution. The phospholipids not only permitted reconstitution of the apo-receptor but also played a major role in determining the binding characteristics of the complex. The KD values of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate were in the range of 0.8 nM for the complex with phosphatidylserine to 30 nM for the complex with dioleoyl-phosphatidic acid. Like the binding affinity, the stimulation of protein kinase C activity by phorbol esters was dependent on the phospholipid into which the receptor/kinase C was reconstituted. The importance of the lipid domain for controlling the receptor/kinase C activity and for modulation of cellular sensitivity to phorbol esters is discussed.     

Dissimilar effects of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on fatty acid synthesis in isolated rat-liver cells

Exogenous 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) is known to mimic the action of tumour-promoting phorbol esters in various cell types. However, in isolated rat hepatocytes OAG depressed the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis and the activity of the key enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2), in contrast to the pronounced stimulation of both parameters by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The inhibition by OAG appeared to be dose- and time-dependent. On the other hand, medium-chain 1,2-diacylglycerols like 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol did mimic the stimulatory action of PMA. The anomalous effect of OAG may well be explained by its metabolic breakdown leading to liberation of oleate and subsequent inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity by endogenously formed oleoyl-CoA. The stimulatory effects of both PMA and medium-chain diacylglycerols are likely to be mediated by protein kinase C.     

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Stimulates Chick Pineal Melatonin Production and Interacts with Other Stimulatory and Inhibitory Agents but Does Not Show α1-Adrenergic Potentiation

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is known to mimic the effects of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation in the rat pineal, including marked potentiation by alpha 1-adrenergic receptor stimulation, and to cause increased melatonin synthesis. In contrast, the chick pineal does not respond to beta-adrenergic stimulation, and melatonin synthesis is inhibited by norepinephrine via an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor. The present experiments show that chick pineal cells in primary culture do, however, respond to VIP with increased melatonin production. The effect of VIP was inhibited by addition of norepinephrine or of nitrendipine or by exposing the cells to "unexpected" white light. Stimulation by VIP was enhanced by addition of forskolin or Bay K 8644 but not by alpha 1-adrenergic receptor stimulations. Although stimulation by VIP appears similar in the chick pineal to that seen in the rat pineal and other systems, "dual-receptor regulation," at least with alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, appears to be absent.     

Insulin increases membrane protein kinase C activity in rat diaphragm

Calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity (protein kinase C) was identified in rat diaphragm membrane and cytosol fractions by means of in vitro phosphorylation either of histones or of a specific 87 kDa protein substrate, combined with phosphopeptide-mapping techniques. Both insulin and tumor-promoting phorbol ester treatment of the diaphragm preparations led to increased protein kinase C activity in the membrane fractions. In contrast to the phorbol ester, however, insulin did not induce a concomitant decrease in cytosolic activity, indicating that translocation of the enzyme had not taken place. Thus, insulin appears to increase specifically membrane protein kinase C activity in rat skeletal muscle, possibly through a mechanism not identical to that induced by phorbol esters.     

Phorbol esters as probes of the modulatory site on protein kinase G–an overview

Phorbol esters as probes of the modulatory site on protein kinase C–an overview. The phorbol esters, diterpene derivatives produced by members of the family Euphorbiaceae, are of major scientific importance as tumour promoters. Their primary site of action is protein kinase C, an enzyme involved in the message transduction pathway for a large class of hormones which cause enhanced phosphatidylinositol turnover. Heterogeneity in the response of biological systems to the phorbol esters may be explained in part by heterogeneity in the phospholipids associated with protein kinase C, in its subcellular localization, and by proteolytic processing, as well as by isoforms of the enzyme. Development of other classes of activators of protein kinase C through computer modelling and natural product isolation suggests possible new approaches for intervention in the pathway.     

Interactions Among Lithium, Calcium, Diacylglycerides, and Phorbol Esters in the Regulation of Adrenocorticotropin Hormone Release from AtT-20 Cells

Interactions among lithium, calcium, and phorbol esters in the regulation of adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) release were examined in a tumor cell line (AtT-20) of the anterior pituitary. Lithium, which blocks the phosphatase that converts inositol phosphates (IPs) to inositol, increases the levels of IPs in these cells and stimulates ACTH release. This ion potentiates the ability of calcium, an activator of phospholipase C, to raise levels of IPs in these cells and to stimulate ACTH secretion. Pretreatment of AtT-20 cells with calcium specifically abolishes the ACTH release response to lithium or calcium, a result suggesting that these secretagogues may act through a common mechanism to induce hormone secretion. Prior exposure of AtT-20 cells to either lithium or calcium also attenuates the ACTH release induced by phorbol ester, an activator of protein kinase C. To examine the link among lithium, calcium, phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover, and phorbol ester-evoked ACTH secretion, AtT-20 cells were treated with 1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-3-glycerol (OAG), an analogue of the diacylgylcerols that are formed by phospholipase C during PI metabolism and that also activate protein kinase C. OAG itself does not alter ACTH release or the levels of IPs in AtT-20 cells. Pretreatment of AtT-20 cells with OAG, however, selectively blocks the ACTH release response to lithium, calcium, or phorbol ester. Furthermore, such pretreatment reduced the ability of lithium to increase levels of IPs. The results suggest that one mechanism of action of lithium is to potentiate selectively an action of calcium, possibly the stimulation of phospholipase C activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

PKCepsilon-PKD1 signaling complex at Z-discs plays a pivotal role in the cardiac hypertrophy induced by G-protein coupling receptor agonists

Cardiac hypertrophy is triggered in response to mechanical stress and various neurohumoral factors, such as G-protein coupling receptor (GPCR) and gp130 cytokine receptor agonists. Recent studies have suggested cardiac Z-disc plays a pivotal role to regulate these cellular responses. Here, we demonstrate stimulations with GPCR agonists (norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and endothelin 1) and phorbol ester activated and translocated protein kinase D1 (PKD1) to the Z-discs in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent manner, whereas gp130 agonist did not. Especially, upon the alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist stimulations, following the PKCepsilon-PKD1 complex formation, PKCepsilon-dependent activation of PKD1 was essential to induce hypertrophic responses. Constitutively active mutant of either PKD1 or PKCepsilon also induced cardiac hypertrophy ex vivo. Taken together, the PKCepsilon-PKD1 complex at Z-discs could play a pivotal role in the cardiac hypertrophy induced by GPCR agonists, at least alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist.     

Osmotic activation of the Na+/H+ antiport in protein kinase C-depleted lymphocytes

The Na+/H+ antiport of rat thymic lymphocytes is activated when protein kinase C is stimulated by phorbol esters. A similar activation of the antiport is obtained when the cells are treated with hypertonic solutions. We tested the possibility that protein kinase C also mediates the osmotic activation of Na+/H+ exchange. Protein kinase C was depleted by preincubation of thymocytes for 24 hr in the presence of high concentrations of phorbol ester. Disappearance of the enzyme was assessed by direct measurement of phosphotransferase activity, and by the loss of biological responses to phorbol esters. The Na+/H+ antiport in protein kinase C-depleted cells was not stimulated by addition of phorbol ester, but responded normally to hypertonic treatment. The results indicate that the osmotic activation of countertransport does not require stimulation of protein kinase C.     

Hepatic protein kinase C: translocation stimulated by prolactin and partial hepatectomy

Prolactin stimulates a hepatotrophic response similar to that caused by phorbol esters or partial hepatectomy in rats. Since phorbol esters, which activate protein kinase C, mimic prolactin action in liver, the relationship between prolactin administration and subsequent hepatic protein kinase C translocation was assessed. Prolactin administration rapidly stimulated a 4-fold elevation of membrane protein kinase C activity. The effect of prolactin on hepatic protein kinase C was specific for lactogenic hormones but could be duplicated by phorbol esters. Further, an increase in serum prolactin was demonstrated subsequent to partial hepatectomy and preceding hepatic protein kinase C translocation. Therefore, translocation of hepatic protein kinase C appears important for hepatic proliferation in response to prolactin administration and to partial hepatectomy.     

Effects of phorbol esters on endothelial cell microfilaments: Laser scanning confocal microscopy and quantitative morphometry of dose dependent changes

Phorbol esters are known to alter microfilaments but it is not clear if the changes correspond to modulation of the phosphoinositide turnover/protein kinase C system. The novel technique of laser scanning confocal epifluorescence was used to study fiber orientation in phorbol ester treated cells. We treated endothelial cells with control agents and agents known to stimulate protein kinase C: 4 alpha-phorbol, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), phorbol dibutyrate (PDB), or lipopolysaccharide. After incubation with the test agents, the endothelial cell microfilaments were stained with rhodamine pholloidin and viewed by conventional epifluorescence and by laser scanning confocal epifluorescence microscopy. The images obtained by the confocal microscopy corresponded to a thin optical section through the cells, 300 nm or more in thickness. The microfilaments extended predominantly in the plane of focus. After exposure of the cells to phorbol esters, the stress fibers became more nearly parallel in arrangement or were shortened, but remained in the plane of focus. The modification of microfilaments in response to phorbol esters was quantitated by a single blind analysis. In order to compare the morphological changes with a biochemical action of the phorbol esters, we measured phosphoinositide turnover. The dose-dependence of morphological changes was compared and contrasted to the dose-dependent effect of phorbol esters on bradykinin-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover. PMA had about the same EC50 (1-5 nM) for both biochemical and morphological processes. PDB was less potent in inducing the disruption of microfilament structure than in inhibiting phosphoinositide turnover. Lipopolysaccharide was ineffective in inducing a morphological change under these conditions. A simple activation of protein kinase C is insufficient to explain the dose-dependent effects of phorbol esters. Thus a morphometric analysis can help distinguish the potency of cytoskeleton modulators.     

Rapid effects of phorbol esters on isolated rat adipocytes. Relationship to the action of protein kinase C

Treatment of isolated rat adipocytes with tumor-promoting phorbol esters, caused a fivefold stimulation of glucose oxidation, determined as 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glucose and a fivefold increase in the rate of lipid synthesis from [14C]glucose. Treatment of the cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate increased the rate of 86Rb+ uptake into the cells. Also phospholipase C was able to stimulate the rate of glucose oxidation; phospholipase C and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate stimulated glucose oxidation in a non-synergistic fashion, indicating a common mechanism for their action. Active phorbol esters and, in part, also phospholipase C, caused a translocation of protein kinase C activity from the soluble to the particulate fraction of the adipocytes. This process was rapid, being complete 30 s after the addition of phorbol ester, and resulted in the appearance of the kinase mainly in the mitochondrial and plasma membrane fractions. A comparison between the binding characteristics of adipocyte protein kinase C and the metabolic effects of the phorbol esters on the adipocytes revealed that the dose-response relationship did not correlate with binding of the phorbol esters, but, rather, a correlation was observed between the dose of phorbol esters required for translocation of protein kinase C and the intracellular effects. The results indicate that the intracellular translocation of protein kinase C might be a trigger for the effects of phorbol esters on the adipocyte and that binding of the esters to protein kinase C is not a sufficient event to cause this effect. Furthermore, it is suggested that activation of protein kinase C might be partly the action of hormones, such as insulin, on the fat cells.     

Phorbol ester effects on alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding and phosphatidylinositol metabolism in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Tumor promoting phorbol esters stimulate Ca++ phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. It has been suggested that this enzyme regulates the functional properties of different cell membrane receptors. In this study we investigated the effect of phorbol esters on alpha 1-adrenoceptor binding and phosphatidylinositol metabolism in cultured smooth muscle cells derived from rabbit aorta. Treatment of these cells with biologically active phorbol esters for 15 min. to 2 hours caused a marked decrease of norepinephrine stimulation of inositol phospholipid metabolism and a 3 fold decrease in agonist affinity for 125I-HEAT binding to alpha 1-adrenoceptors in the intact smooth muscle cells. The ability of phorbol esters to modulate alpha 1-adrenoceptor responsiveness suggests that activation of protein kinase C may represent an important mechanism regulating alpha 1-adrenergic receptor functional properties.     

c-myc gene expression is stimulated by agents that activate protein kinase C and does not account for the mitogenic effect of PDGF

The role of the phosphoinositide turnover-protein kinase C pathway in mediating PDGF-stimulated c-myc expression and cell proliferation was studied. Both direct activators of kinase C (e.g. phorbol ester analogues) and hormones that activate kinase C via receptor-mediated phosphoinositide turnover (e.g. PDGF, bradykinin, or vasopressin) elicited a rapid increase in c-myc mRNA expression. Desensitization of the kinase C pathway by prolonged exposure to phorbol abolished the induction of c-myc by subsequent phorbol challenge and attenuated c-myc induction by PDGF and bradykinin, but did not affect PDGF-stimulated mitogenesis. Bradykinin and phorbol esters stimulated the same magnitude of c-myc expression as PDGF but elicited less than one-tenth the PDGF-induced mitogenic response. We conclude that stimulation of c-myc expression is a common response to a diverse group of agents that elicit phosphoinositide turnover and activate protein kinase C, and that neither activation of protein kinase C nor enhanced c-myc expression is sufficient for the mitogenic action of PDGF.     

The role of calcium, diglyceride ester bindings and a synthetic polypeptide in protein kinase C activation

Protein kinase C, which plays a significant role in the polyphosphoinositide pathway of transmembrane signaling, is activated by a large class of extracellular ligands including neurotransmitters, hormones and growth factors. Diacylglycerols are the intracellular mediators of protein kinase C activation. Tumor promoting phorbol esters mimic the diacylglycerol action in binding to the same site. Active diacylglycerols have the 1.2 sn configuration and saturated short chain or unsaturated long chain fatty acids. Alkyl analogs of diacylglycerols were devoid of activity when an ether bond was present in position 1, whereas activity of the alkyl analog in position 2 was retained. Protein kinase C activation and 3H-TPA binding to the enzyme occurred in the presence of 0.5 mM EGTA. Moreover it has been shown in vivo that full activation of the enzyme was obtained in the intact platelets loaded with an excess of Quin 2, prior to stimulation by phorbol esters. A peptide (residues 499-513) was synthesized which enhanced the affinity of protein kinase C for histone. It is suggested that it may be the receptor site for another peptide of the enzyme (residues 19 to 36) which behaves as a pseudosubstrate.     

Targeting protein kinase C and "non-kinase" phorbol ester receptors: emerging concepts and therapeutic implications

Phorbol esters, natural compounds that mimic the action of the lipid second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG), are known to exert their biological actions through the activation of classical and novel protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes. Phorbol esters, via binding to the PKC C1 domains, cause major effects on mitogenesis by controlling the activity of cyclin-cdk complexes and the expression of cdk inhibitors. In the last years it became clear that phorbol esters activate other molecules having a C1 domain in addition to PKCs. One of the most interesting families of "non-kinase" phorbol ester receptors is represented by the chimaerins, lipid-regulated Rac-GAPs that modulate actin cytoskeleton reorganization, migration, and proliferation. The discovery of the chimaerins and other "non-kinase" phorbol ester receptors has major implications in the design of agents for cancer therapy.     

Antiviral activity of phorbol myristate acetate and possible relationships with interferon action

Signal-induced turnover of membrane phospholipids represents a fundamental transducing mechanism that induces a signal cascade resulting in mobilization of calcium, activation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerol, release of arachidonic acid and stimulation of cyclic GMP production. In this pathway tumor-promoting phorbol esters such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) may substitute for diacylglycerol. The interferonlike antiviral effect of PMA described here suggests that the inositol phospholipid-diacylglycerol-protein kinase C signal-transducing mechanism may be involved in interferon action.     

Gonadotropin release and redistribution of calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in phorbol-stimulated rat pituitary cells

The effect of phorbol esters on calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent kinase (protein kinase C) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion was examined in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. The potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated LH secretion and activated pituitary protein kinase C in the presence of calcium and phosphatidylserine. The enzyme activity present in cytosol and particulate fractions was eluted at about 0.05 M NaCl during DE52-cellulose chromatography. Preincubation of pituitary cells with TPA markedly decreased cytosolic protein kinase C activity and increased enzyme activity in the particulate fraction. The maximal TPA-induced change in enzyme activity, with a 76% decrease in cytosol and a 4.3-fold increase in the particulate fraction, occurred within 10 min. The dose-dependent changes in protein kinase C redistribution in TPA-treated cells were correlated with the stimulation of LH release by the phorbol ester. These results suggest that activation of protein kinase C by TPA is associated with intracellular redistribution of the enzyme and is related to the process of secretory granule release from gonadotrophs.