Neurochemical and morphological studies on differentiation of NG108-15 cells by phorbol ester and forskolin

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP induced neurite outgrowth and inhibition of cell growth in NG108-15 cells. TPA, forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP significantly increased specific activity of choline acetyltransferase. Forskolin markedly stimulated cAMP accumulation, but not TPA, suggesting that forskolin could induce differentiation by increasing the cAMP content via adenylate cyclase activation, but TPA-induced differentiation seems not to be due to the raise of the cAMP level. Incubation of the cells with TPA, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP for 24 h resulted in enhancement of 50 mM K⁺-evoked Ca²⁺ influx and neurite elongation, although incubation with these agents for 1 h didn't affect these events. From these results, it is suggested that TPA and forskolin induce differentiation of NG108-15 cells to acetylcholine neurons via different mechanisms: protein kinase C activation by TPA and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation by forskolin. In addition, it is likely that Ca²⁺ channels in cells differentiated by TPA, forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP become sensitive to depolarization.     

Modulation of protein synthesis by nerve growth factor.

The effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and two analogs of cAMP have been studied in the PC12 line of rat pheochromocytoma cells. We have used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to detect more than 800 proteins from control and NGF-treated cells. Of these proteins, none were qualitatively repressed in response to NGF, and no new proteins appeared after NGF treatment. Visual inspection of the gels showed that approximately 5% of the proteins were detectably increased or decreased in rate of synthesis by NGF, and each of these changes was mimicked by both cAMP analogs. The two-dimensional gel data were further analyzed by a computerized scanning system. This analysis has revealed many significant changes that are smaller than those detected by eye. Approximately 25 to 30% of the proteins analyzed were found to be altered in rate of synthesis by 30% or more. Statistical analysis has shown that the response to NGF and the response to dibutyryl cAMP are highly correlated, even down to changes as small as 30%. No proteins were found to be significantly altered by both dibutyryl cAMP and 8-bromo cAMP, but not by NGF. These results show that NGF causes only quantitative modulations of protein synthesis in PC12 cells, and these data strongly suggest that the response of PC12 cells to NGF is mediated by cAMP.     

Tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate suppresses follicle-stimulating hormone-induced synthesis of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme complex in rat ovarian granulosa cells

The effect of tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced synthesis of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage (SCC) enzyme complex was studied in rat ovarian granulosa cells cultured for 48 h in serum-free medium. Cell proteins were radiolabeled with [35S]methionine, followed by immunoprecipitation of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (P-450SCC) as well as the iron-sulfur protein adrenodoxin. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography of the immunoprecipitates showed that TPA, when added in combination with FSH (50 ng/ml) or dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP; 1 mM), suppressed the stimulatory effects of these compounds on the synthesis of the SCC components in a concentration-dependent fashion. The effect of TPA was accompanied by decreased progesterone formation and decreased cAMP accumulation. The structural analog of TPA, phorbol-4 alpha-didecanoate, which does not activate protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme), had no effect on the FSH- or Bt2cAMP-stimulated synthesis of SCC and progesterone or on cAMP formation. In addition to inhibiting the synthesis of these proteins, TPA greatly reduced the FSH- and Bt2cAMP-induced increase in levels of mRNA encoding the precursor form of P-450SCC. It is concluded that the effect of the phorbol ester TPA to inhibit FSH-stimulated progesterone formation in cultured ovarian granulosa cells of the rat involves decreased synthesis of the components of the SCC enzyme complex due to reduced levels of mRNA encoding the precursor forms of these proteins. The results are indicative that TPA not only inhibits FSH-mediated stimulation of cAMP formation but also may block cAMP-mediated induction of SCC synthesis. It is postulated that the effects of TPA may reflect the physiological role of protein kinase C in the regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis.     

Drug-induced alterations in rat peritubular cell cytoskeleton result in proteoglycan synthesis modifications. Comparison with some intracellular signaling pathways.

The influence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), dibutyryl cAMP and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) as well as cytoskeletal disrupting drugs on morphological changes has been studied in peritubular cells isolated from immature rat testis. Morphological studies were combined with immunofluorescence investigations of cytoskeletal elements and their rearrangements by various agents. The results were correlated with modulation of proteoglycan synthesis. Peritubular cells exposed to dibutyryl cAMP or cytochalasin D were transformed from flattened, fibroblast-like into neuronal-like morphology. In such cells, destruction of actin filaments was accompanied with a 50% decrease in cell-associated proteoglycan synthesis as well as with oversulfation of total proteoglycans. On the contrary, peritubular cell shape has been slightly altered after addition of PMA, IGF-1, vinblastine or colchicine. After these treatments, destruction or rearrangement of cytoskeletal elements was observed; cell-layer proteoglycan synthesis remained either unchanged or increased while total proteoglycans were always undersulfated. IGF-1, PMA and dibutyryl cAMP modified the peritubular cell morphology, cytoskeletal organization and proteoglycan production; the cytoskeleton disrupting drugs such as vinblastine, colchicine and cytochalasin D mimicked some of these effects. These observations suggest that alterations in proteoglycan biosynthesis, after activation of tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C and protein kinase A pathways might be mediated, at least in part, by the disorganization of the cytoskeleton structure.     

Regulation of protein kinase C by cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and a tumor promoter in skeletal myoblasts

The specific activity of protein kinase C in rat skeletal myoblasts decreased when they were exposed for very short periods to isoproterenol, forskolin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP), or the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In the presence of Bt2cAMP or forskolin only the cytosolic but not the membrane-bound kinase activity was found to decrease. Treatment with TPA, however, led to a decrease in the activity of the enzyme both in the cytosolic as well as the membrane fractions. The effects observed in vivo could be duplicated in crude extracts of myoblasts incubated with cAMP analogues or TPA. In the presence of ATP, protein kinase C activity decreased considerably in crude cytosolic fractions treated with the cAMP analogues, but a requirement for ATP was not evident for the decrease in activity brought about by TPA. For the cAMP analogues the decrease in protein kinase C was also prevented by incubation of the extracts with an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The regulation of protein kinase C by Bt2cAMP (but not by TPA) was altered in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed myoblasts. It is considered likely that a component affected by cAMP (probably a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase) participates in the regulation of protein kinase C activity, and it is altered in unknown ways in transformed myoblasts.     

Induction and regulation of human interleukin 2 gene expression: significance of protein kinase C activation

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) act synergistically to induce interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA in human lymphocytes in vitro. The induction was inhibited by a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (C-kinase), 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) at less than 10 microM. H-7 inhibited C-kinase activity itself in lymphocytes at the same range of the concentration but did not interfere with the translocation of C-kinase from the cytosol to the membrane fraction of the lymphocytes induced by TPA. H-7 is also known to inhibit cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase). However, the lymphocytes cultured with dibutyryl cAMP or dibutyryl cGMP could not be activated to produce IL2 mRNA. These results show that activation of C-kinase but not A-kinase and G-kinase is necessary in signal transduction for IL2 gene expression. Prostaglandin E2, which is known to elevate intracellular cAMP level, also inhibited IL2 mRNA induction in the lymphocytes stimulated with PHA and TPA. Addition of alpha-methylornithine and methylglyoxal bis (guanyl hydrazone), which inhibit polyamine synthesis, did not affect the induction of IL2 mRNA in the lymphocytes stimulated with PHA and TPA, indicating that polyamine synthesis is not necessary for IL2 mRNA induction.     

Phorbol ester stimulates catecholamine synthesis in isolated bovine adrenal medullary cells

In isolated bovine adrenal medullary cells, the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C, stimulated [14C]catecholamine synthesis from [14C]tyrosine, but not from [14C]DOPA. This stimulatory effect of TPA on [14C]catecholamine synthesis was not dependent upon extracellular Ca2+, and TPA did not affect the uptake of 45Ca2+ or the release of catecholamine by the cells. TPA also did not affect the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level. 4 alpha-Phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate, which is not an activator of protein kinase C, did not stimulate the synthesis of [14C]catecholamine from [14C]tyrosine. The stimulatory effect of TPA on [14C]catecholamine synthesis was additive with that of carbamylcholine, but not with that of dibutyryl cAMP (DB-cAMP). From these results, it was suggested that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity and that this regulatory mechanism might be similar to that involving cAMP.     

Independent inhibition of DNA synthesis by protein kinase C, cyclic AMP and interferon alpha/beta in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells

In quiescent cultures of rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells, whole blood serum-induced DNA synthesis was inhibited markedly by protein kinase C-activating 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), cyclic AMP-derivatives, such as dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, and interferon alpha/beta. Neither TPA nor interferon alpha/beta elevated the cellular cyclic AMP level. Neither Bt2cAMP nor interferon alpha/beta induced the phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides. The down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged treatment with PDBu abolished the antiproliferative action of TPA but did not affect that of Bt2cAMP or interferon alpha/beta. TPA and Bt2cAMP inhibited the serum-induced DNA synthesis when added within 12 h after the addition of the serum, while interferon alpha/beta was active only when added within 6 h. These results suggest that there are at least three independent signaling systems, protein kinase C- and cyclic AMP-mediated systems and an unidentified system for interferon alpha/beta, which are involved in the antiproliferative mechanisms in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells.     

Activation of the serum response element and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element by the activated c-raf-1 protein in a manner independent of protein kinase C

Transfection of the cDNA encoding the activated c-raf-1 protein or addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or dibutyryl cAMP to NIH/3T3 cells activated the c-fos gene enhancer linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase or luciferase reporter gene. Prolonged treatment of NIH/3T3 cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate caused down-regulation of protein kinase C. In these cells, addition of TPA did not stimulate the c-fos gene enhancer any more, but transfection of the c-raf-1 cDNA or addition of dibutyryl cAMP still stimulated the c-fos gene enhancer to the same extent as those induced in the control cells. Transfection of the c-raf-1 cDNA or addition of TPA to NIH/3T3 cells stimulated the serum response element and TPA response element but not the cAMP response element. In contrast, addition of dibutyryl cAMP to NIH/3T3 cells stimulated the cAMP response element but not the serum response element or TPA response element. These results indicate that the activated c-raf-1 protein stimulates the serum response element and TPA response element in a manner independent of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Since the c-fos gene enhancer has been shown to contain the serum response element and cAMP response element, it is most likely that the c-raf-1 protein is involved in the regulation of c-fos gene expression through the serum response element.     

Des-Arg9 bradykinin modulates DNA synthesis, phospholipase C, and protein kinase C in cultured mesangial cells. Distinction from effects of bradykinin

The effects of the neuropeptide bradykinin (BK) and its natural proteolytic fragment Des-Arg9 bradykinin (DBK) on DNA synthesis and phospholipase C activation were investigated in cultured mesangial cells. DBK, acting through a distinct bradykinin receptor, induced DNA synthesis in serum-starved cultured mesangial cells. The effect of DBK was dose dependent (ED50 = 0.6 microM) and was strongly potentiated by insulin. Under the same conditions, BK had no effect. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by long term pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) markedly reduced DBK-induced DNA synthesis. In the same way, co-incubation with the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine potently attenuated the response to DBK, suggesting a role of protein kinase C in DBK-induced mitogenesis. Analysis of phosphoproteins from 32P-labeled mesangial cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that DBK, like TPA but not BK, induced a net increase in the phosphorylation of an acidic cellular protein migrating with an apparent Mr = 80,000 (termed 80K), identified as a major and specific substrate of protein kinase C. Phosphorylation of the 80K protein by DBK or TPA was completely abolished in cells depleted of protein kinase C. DBK and TPA also induced an increase in phosphorylation of an Mr = 28,000 protein. Moreover, DBK but not TPA stimulated the phosphorylation of an Mr = 18,000 protein in normal as well as in protein kinase C-depleted cells. Analysis of phospholipase C activation revealed that DBK induced a large and sustained increase in diacylglycerol production and inositol phosphate accumulation over a 10-min incubation. BK had only a minor effect on both parameters. These results demonstrate that DBK, but not BK, modulates DNA synthesis through protein kinase C activation in cultured mesangial cells.     

A Nerve Growth Factor-Sensitive S6 Kinase in Cell-Free Extracts from PC 12 Cells

Soluble extracts from nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated PC12 cells prepared by alkaline lysis show a two- to 10-fold greater ability to phosphorylate the 40S ribosomal protein S6 than do extracts from control cells. The alkaline lysis method yields a preparation of much higher specific activity than does sonication. Half-maximal incorporation of 32P from [32P]ATP into S6 occurred after 4-7 min of NGF treatment. The partially purified NGF-sensitive S6 kinase has a molecular weight of 45,000. It is not inhibited by NaCl, chlorpromazine, or the specific inhibitor of cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase, nor is it activated by addition of diolein plus phosphatidylserine. Trypsin treatment of either crude extracts or partially purified S6 kinase from control or NGF-treated cells was without effect. These data suggest that the S6 kinase stimulated by NGF is neither cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C nor the result of tryptic activation of an inactive proenzyme. Treatment of intact cells with dibutyryl cAMP or 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine also increases the subsequent cell-free phosphorylation of S6. This observation suggests that cAMP-dependent protein kinase may be involved in the phosphorylation of S6 kinase.     

Contribution of Known Mitogenic Signaling Pathways to Induction of DNA Synthesis in Quiescent Chinese Hamster Fibroblasts

The mitogenic pathways so far identified in mammalian cells fall into three main categories: tyrosine kinase, kinase C, and the cAMP-dependent pathways. In quiescent murine 3T3 fibroblasts, all three signaling pathways synergize with each other to restart DNA synthesis. In order to establish if the same was true in other rodent fibroblast lines we studied the effects of factors, known to modulate the above-mentioned pathways, on DNA synthesis in Chinese hamster embryo fibroblasts (CHEF/18). The factors examined were: (1) EGF and insulin representative of tyrosine kinase-activating growth factors, (2) TPA as specific activator of protein kinase C, (3) cholera toxin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and theophylline as compounds increasing cAMP levels. We found that EGF alone is a strong mitogen in CHEF/18 cells, probably because it can modulate by itself all three pathways. Although cAMP acts as a growth enhancer in 3T3 cells, in CHEF/18 where high levels of cAMP were found, increased concentrations of this second messenger produce strong DNA synthesis inhibition and temporal disturbance of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation. Possible interpretations of these findings are presented.     

Dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein during differentiation of HL60 cells.

Immunoprecipitated retinoblastoma protein from HL60 cells migrated as a series of bands during electrophoresis. The heterogeneity appeared to be generated by phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. Treatment of the cells with the phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), resulted in both a loss of the heterogeneity of the pRB species and a significant decrease in the level of pRB phosphorylation. These changes accompanied differentiation of the HL60 cells into macrophages. Treatment of the cells with dibutyryl cAMP also resulted in dephosphorylation of pRB as well as cell cycle arrest, although no recognizable differentiation occurred. These results are consistent with a model in which TPA and dibutyryl cAMP dependent pathways can activate pRB by altering its phosphorylation.     

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.     

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters induces DNA synthesis and protein phosphorylations in glomerular mesangial cells

The tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) is shown to be mitogenic for quiescent glomerular mesangial cells cultured in serum-free conditions. TPA induces DNA synthesis measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 of 7 ng/ml and an optimal response for 50 ng/ml. The phorbol ester action is potentiated by insulin with an increase of the maximal effect from 232 +/- 15% for TPA alone to 393 +/- 96% for TPA plus insulin. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged exposure to TPA completely abolishes the mitogenic effect of the phorbol ester. Using a highly resolutive 2D electrophoresis, we have shown that TPA is able to stimulate the phosphorylation of 2 major proteins of Mr 80,000, pl 4.5 (termed 80K) and Mr 28,000, pI 5.7-5.9 (termed 28K). The 80K protein phosphorylation is time- and dose-dependent with an ED50 of 8 ng/ml TPA. Exposure of mesangial cells to heat-shock induces synthesis of a 28K protein among a set of other proteins suggesting that the 28K protein kinase C substrate belongs to the family of low molecular mass stress proteins. Mitogenic concentrations of TPA and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate inhibit [125 I]epidermal growth factor binding and stimulate the 80K protein phosphorylation with the same order of potency. The inactive tumor-promoter 4 alpha-phorbol was found to be ineffective both on these 2 parameters and on DNA synthesis. These results suggest a positive role for protein kinase C on mesangial cell proliferation and indicate the existence in this cell line of 2 major protein kinase C substrates.     

Control of platelet protein kinase C activation by cyclic AMP

Experiments were performed to elucidate the role of adenosine 3': 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in the control of platelet protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Platelet aggregation and secretion in response to 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) were inhibited by dibutyryl cAMP in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of these functional activities paralleled a decrease in the PMA-induced phosphorylation of the Mr 47,000 substrate (p47) of PKC by pre-incubation of platelets with dibutyryl cAMP. These changes were also observed when platelet cAMP was increased by prostacyclin (PGI2), forskolin, or theophylline. The ADP scavenger creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase (CP/CPK) and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin also diminished the aggregation and p47 phosphorylation responses to PMA or OAG. Pre-incubation of platelets with dibutyryl cAMP significantly potentiated the inhibition of aggregation and p47 phosphorylation effected by CP/CPK and indomethacin. These results are consistent with the model that PMA- or OAG-induced activation of platelets is amplified by secreted ADP and that the response to secreted ADP is inhibited by cAMP. Furthermore, the findings that increased intracellular cAMP inhibits PMA- or OAG-induced p47 phosphorylation in excess of that due solely to CP/CPK, and that cAMP significantly potentiates the effects of ADP removal and inhibition of cyclooxygenase in blocking p47 phosphorylation suggest that cAMP also exerts non-ADP-mediated inhibitory effects on PKC in intact platelets.     

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.     

Cooperative interactions of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase systems in human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells

Interactions of protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) systems were investigated in HL60 cells. It was found that the differentiating effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were potentiated by dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In addition, dbcAMP or PGE2 inhibited TPA-induced binding of PKC to plasma membrane, leading to decreased protein phosphorylation, and promoted subsequent redistribution of enzyme to the nuclear membrane region. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that PKC and PKA systems regulate cooperatively the phenotypical differentiation of leukemic cells.