Erythropoietin production in long-term cultures of human renal carcinoma cells : The role of cell population density

The present studies report the maintenance of erythropoietin (Ep) production in long-term cultures of a human renal carcinoma from a patient with erythrocytosis. The renal carcinoma cells were grown and maintained in monolayer cultures for 7 months. They were serially passaged every 2-3 weeks when the cultured cells reached confluency. Ep levels measured with a sensitive radioimmunoassay in the spent culture media of the cells in the stage of semiconfluent or confluent density were less than 20 and 30 mU/ml, respectively, throughout the period of 15 successive passages. However, when the renal carcinoma cells were maintained in culture without passage after reaching confluency, Ep levels in the spent media of these cells reproducibly showed an exponential increase to more than 300 mU/ml at the time of saturation density. The importance of cell population density in Ep production by the renal carcinoma cell cultures was further confirmed by the observation that the cultures with higher seeding density reached confluency earlier and began an exponential increase in Ep production sooner than those cultures with lower seeding density.     

Effects of prostaglandins on erythropoiesis

A model has been presented for the role of the kidney in the physiologic and pathophysiologic control of erythropoiesis. It is postulated that an oxygen deficit created by anemia or hypobaric hypoxia results in the release of prostacyclin and its metabolite 6-keto PGE1, and the release of PGE2 with ischemic hypoxia. Prostacyclin, 6-keto-PGE1, or PGE2 activation of adenylate cyclase, an increase in cyclic AMP, activation of a protein kinase and the phosphorylation of hydrolases, which have been released from lysosomes by hypoxia, lead to increased biosynthesis of erythropoietin (Ep). The mechanism of labilization of lysosomes and the release of hydrolases from these cell organelles is postulated to be related to increases in cyclic GMP levels in a renal cell. An Ep-producing human renal carcinoma cell line grown in tissue culture has been demonstrated to produce significant amounts of PGE2. Meclofenamate, an inhibitor of prostaglandins synthesis, was found to inhibit in vitro production of PGE2, Ep, and dome formation in these renal carcinoma cells, giving support to our hypothesis that pathophysiologic production of Ep tumor cells depends upon prostaglandins production. An Ep-producing clone from this renal carcinoma cell line has been developed that contains low electron density (LED) cells after the cells reach confluency, which show a cytoplasm, with abundant and widely dilated endoplasmic reticulum, an oval nucleus, dispersed chromatin, and prominent nucleoli. These are the cells responsible for dome formation and Ep production. Non-EP-producing clones have also been produced from this renal carcinoma cell line, which did not produce domes even at high cell density and had a distinctly different cell type than the Ep-producing clone. Thus, it is postulated that prostacyclin (PGI2) and its metabolite 6-keto PGE1 play a significant role in hypoxic hypoxia stimulation of Ep production and PGE2 is involved in ischemic hypoxia and renal carcinoma cell production of Ep. A modulating effect of PGE2 and PGD2, the two primary bone marrow prostaglandins, has been proposed in Ep stimulation of the erythroid progenitor cell compartment (CFU-E and BFU-E).     

Downregulation of T cell growth factor production by ornithine decarboxylase and its product putrescine: D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine suppresses general protein synthesis but augments simultaneously the production of interleukin-2

Treatment of EL-4 lymphoma cells with tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate (TPA), a well-known activator of protein kinase C, induces the production of the T cell growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the expression of IL-2-specific mRNA within 4-8 h. This system is an ideal model for studies on the induction of a differentiated function in a homogeneous lymphoid cell population by a defined signal. TPA induces also an increase of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and elevates the intracellular concentrations of putrescine and polyamines within 4-8 h. A similar increase of intracellular putrescine and polyamine concentrations can be achieved by administration of 2 mM putrescine to the culture medium. However, putrescine cannot induce the production of IL-2 in the absence of TPA and cannot reconstitute the IL-2 production in cultures with PGE2 or cyclosporine A, i.e., two well-known immunosuppressive substances which inhibit ODC activity. Putrescine has rather a counter-regulatory effect as concluded from the observation that the TPA-induced TCGF production and IL-2-specific mRNA expression are augmented (superinduced) by the ODC inhibitor D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and again suppressed after the administration of putrescine or polyamines to DFMO-treated cultures. The glycolytic activity, general protein synthesis [( 3H]leucine incorporation), and the cell cycle progression from G2/M to G1, in contrast, are inhibited by DFMO and reconstituted by putrescine. This demonstrates that the cells are able to sacrifice to a large extent several vital functions including their general protein synthesis and to devote themselves at the same time to a fulminant production of their functionally most relevant protein IL-2. This process is downregulated by ODC and its product putrescine. A correlation between increased IL-2 production and accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase was also observed in cultures treated with hydroxyurea or with a combination of amethopterin and adenosine.     

Involvement of protein kinase C in the regulation of cortisol production by guinea pig adrenocortical cells.

Cytosol of the guinea pig adrenals was found to contain a protein kinase which was dependent on the presence of both calcium and phospholipids (phosphatidylserine and diolein), i.e., calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). The peak of protein kinase C was separated from type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase by DE-52 chromatography. 12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) caused dose-dependent increments of cortisol formation without affecting cAMP formation by guinea pig adrenocortical cells as well as angiotensin II did. TPA-activated cortisol production was blocked by the addition of aminoglutethimide and cycloheximide, suggesting that the site of action of TPA might be located at a point before the production of pregnenolone in the mitochondria. Since TPA showed an increase in the cortisol production, protein kinase C may be involved in modulating steroidogenesis in the guinea pig adrenals in addition to the classical cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway.     

Characterization of the morphological, growth, and steroidogenic effect of TPA on mouse Y-1 adrenal cortical tumor cells in culture

The tumor-promoting agent 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) caused a time- and dose-dependent morphological change in Y-1 adrenocortical tumor cells. The morphological alteration was apparent 2 hr following addition of 1 microgram/ml TPA to cell cultures and became more striking with longer treatment times. Smaller doses of TPA took a longer time to produce an effect. Cultures grown in the presence of TPA exhibited more rounding and piling up of cells than similar cultures maintained in medium lacking TPA. These TPA-stimulated morphological changes were reversible, and after 24 hr in TPA-free media, the cultured cells began to flatten. After 96 hr in TPA-free media they resembled the control cultures. The reversibility of the morphological change was also dose dependent: cells treated with 1 microgram/ml TPA took a longer time to resume the typical control morphology than did cultures treated with 0.01 microgram/ml TPA. In addition, TPA treatment resulted in a decrease in cell growth rate, an increase in steroid production, and an increase in the localization of free catalytic units of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the cytoplasm. The steroidogenic effect of ACTH on the cell population was inhibited in cultures maintained in TPA. The results of this study indicate that TPA induces morphological changes in the Y-1 adrenocortical tumor cell population while increasing steroidogenesis and the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and decreasing cell growth rate.     

Effect of Continuous Phorbol Ester Treatment on Muscarinic Receptor-Mediated Calmodulin Redistribution in SK-N-SH Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: Stimulation of muscarinic receptors by carbachol and activation of protein kinase C elicits the translocation of calmodulin (CaM) from membranes to cytosol in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH. Our previous studies have suggested a role for protein kinase C in the regulation of CaM redistribution. To explore further the role of protein kinase C in carbachol-induced calmodulin translocation, we treated cells for 17 h with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) to down-regulate protein kinase C isozymes or 72 h to differentiate the cells. Treatment of SK-N-SH cells for 17 h with 70 nM TPA nearly abolished the effect of carbachol on CaM redistribution. After 72 h of TPA, however, the cells appeared differentiated, and the ability of carbachol to increase cytosolic CaM levels was restored. In untreated control cells, the carbachol-mediated increase in cytosolic CaM content was mimicked by TPA and blocked by pretreatment with the selective protein kinase C inhibitor Ro 31-8220 at 10 µM. In the 72-h TPA-treated cells, however, the ability of TPA to increase cytosolic CaM levels was significantly reduced, and the action of carbachol was no longer blocked by Ro 31-8220. The effect of prolonged TPA treatment on select protein kinase C isozymes was examined by immunoblotting. Treatment of cells for either 17 or 72 h abolished the α-isozyme in the cytosol and reduced (17 h) or abolished (72 h) the content in the membranes. In both 17- and 72-h TPA-treated cells, the ε-isozyme was nearly abolished in the cytosol and slightly reduced in the membranes. Some protein kinase C activity may have been maintained during TPA treatment because the basal level of phosphorylation of the protein kinase C substrate myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate was enhanced in cells treated for either 17 or 72 h with TPA. The potential dissociation of carbachol and protein kinase C in eliciting increases in cytosolic CaM content was a function of prolonged TPA treatment and not differentiation per se because carbachol-mediated increases in cytosolic CaM levels were inhibited by Ro 31-8220 in retinoic acid-differentiated SK-N-SH cells. This study demonstrates that continuous TPA treatment, although initially down-regulating the protein kinase C-mediated effect of carbachol on CaM redistribution, uncouples carbachol and protein kinase C at longer times.     

Biochemical, functional, and morphological characterization of a primary culture of rabbit proximal tubule cells.

Primary cultures of renal rabbit proximal tubule cells were initiated from a pure suspension of proximal tubule fragments. Proximal tubule cells were grown in a hormone-supplemented, serum-free medium containing low concentrations of antibiotics. Confluent monolayers exhibited multicellular dome formation, indicating the presence of transepithelial solute and water transport. Ultrastructural examination revealed a monolayer of polarized epithelial cells with tight junctions and sparse membraneous microvilli facing the culture medium. Time course biochemical characterization was performed using a palette of 12 enzymes, representative of important metabolic functions or pathways. Brush-border-associated enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminopeptidase) were moderately reduced throughout the culture whereas alkaline phosphatase was markedly decreased at confluency. Mitochondrial and lysosomal marker enzymes were well preserved over the culture period. Glutathione-S-transferase activity remained stable during the 16-day culture period investigated. Glycolysis enzyme activities (lactate dehydrogenase and hexokinase) were enhanced, as a function of culture age. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity rise was concomitant with the increase of glycolysis marker enzymes. In contrast, the gluconeogenesis marker enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase, fell dramatically to reach a low level equivalent to 4% of the activity measured in isolated proximal tubules. Primary cultures exhibited several differentiated functions of the proximal tubule cell: (a) PTH alone was able to induce a significant stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity, unlike isoproterenol, thyrocalcitonin, and arginine vasopressin, and (b) sodium-dependent alpha-methylglucoside (AMG) transport was detected. This AMG uptake was selectively inhibited by phlorizin (5 X 10(-3) M), which is a competitive inhibitor of glucose uptake at the apical membrane. Complete characterization made it possible to investigate hitherto unexplored aspects of in vitro cultured proximal tubule cells. This primary culture model could provide a useful and reliable tool to investigate in vitro renal proximal tubule function, under normal conditions or after a drug-induced toxicity.     

Stimulation of Phospholipase D Activity by Phorbol Esters in Cultured Astrocytes

The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was found to stimulate phospholipase D activity in cultured primary astrocytes. Both the hydrolysis and the transphosphatidylation reaction catalyzed by phospholipase D were studied in cells labeled with [3H]glycerol. Phosphatidic acid (PA) synthesis was increased after addition of 100 nM TPA. When ethanol was present in the cell culture medium, phosphatidylethanol (Peth), a product of phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation, was formed. The half-maximum effective concentrations (EC50) of TPA were 25 nM for PA increase as well as for Peth formation. The formation of Peth in ethanol-treated cells was accompanied by an inhibition of the TPA-induced increase in labeled PA. Increasing ethanol concentrations led to an increase in [3H]Peth and a decrease in [3H]PA. A protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7), inhibited both the synthesis of PA and the formation of Peth observed after TPA addition to the astrocytes. Dioctanoyl-glycerol (100 microM) stimulated the formation of Peth in the presence of ethanol. In addition to the induction of Peth formation in astrocytes, TPA induced Peth formation in ethanol-treated neurons. The present results indicate that phospholipase D activity is stimulated by TPA in cultured primary brain cells. Modulation of phospholipase D activity by protein kinase C is a mechanism that may be important in signal transduction cascades.     

Downregulation of T cell growth factor production by ornithine decarboxylase and its product putrescine: -α-Difluoromethylornithine suppresses general protein synthesis but augments simultaneously the production of interleukin-2

Treatment of EL-4 lymphoma cells with tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate (TPA), a well-known activator of protein kinase C, induces the production of the T cell growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the expression of IL-2-specific mRNA within 4–8 h. This system is an ideal model for studies on the induction of a differentiated function in a homogeneous lymphoid cell population by a defined signal. TPA induces also an increase of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and elevates the intracellular concentrations of putrescine and polyamines within 4–8 h. A similar increase of intracellular putrescine and polyamine concentrations can be achieved by administration of 2 mM putrescine to the culture medium. However, putrescine cannot induce the production of IL-2 in the absence of TPA and cannot reconstitute the IL-2 production in cultures with PGE₂ or cyclosporine A, i.e., two well-known immunosuppressive substances which inhibit ODC activity. Putrescine has rather a counter-regulatory effect as concluded from the observation that the TPA-induced TCGF production and IL-2-specific mRNA expression are augmented (superinduced) by the ODC inhibitor -α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and again suppressed after the administration of putrescine or polyamines to DFMO-treated cultures. The glycolytic activity, general protein synthesis ([³H]leucine incorporation), and the cell cycle progression from G₂/M to G₁, in contrast, are inhibited by DFMO and reconstituted by putrescine. This demonstrates that the cells are able to sacrifice to a large extent several vital functions including their general protein synthesis and to devote themselves at the same time to a fulminant production of their functionally most relevant protein IL-2. This process is downregulated by ODC and its product putrescine. A correlation between increased IL-2 production and accumulation of cells in the G₂/M phase was also observed in cultures treated with hydroxyurea or with a combination of amethopterin and adenosine.     

Phosphorylation of membrane-associated proteins by phorbol esters in isolated bag cell neurons of Aplysia

Following brief synaptic stimulation, the bag cell neurons in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia undergo a series of changes in electrophysiological and secretory properties that triggers egg laying behavior. Activation of protein kinase C appears to play an important role in these changes and, in particular, causes the unmasking of a new species of voltage-dependent calcium channel. We have now used isolated bag cell neurons maintained in cell culture to study changes in protein phosphorylation that are induced by exposure to an activator of protein kinase C. Primary cultures of bag cell neurons were labeled with 32P orthophosphate and then incubated with either tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a potent activator of protein kinase C, or with an inactive phorbol ester. When protein extracts were separated with 2D electrophoresis approximately 100 phosphoproteins could be distinguished. Only four of these proteins, with molecular weights of 20, 32, 200, and 250 kD, underwent a reproducible increase in the extent of phosphorylation of at least twofold in response to TPA. TPA-induced changes in phosphate incorporation were blocked by pretreatment with the protein kinase C inhibitor H7. One of the TPA-regulated phosphoproteins was localized in a plasma membrane-containing fraction and was sensitive to trypsin treatment of intact cells, suggesting that it is a membrane protein with sites exposed to the extracellular medium. Two of the other TPA-regulated phosphoproteins may be associated with the inner face of the plasma membrane. Our results indicate that only a small number of proteins undergo a major change in phosphorylation state following the activation of protein kinase C in isolated bag cell neurons. One or more of these proteins may contribute to the unmasking of the calcium channels.     

A protein from Naegleria amoebae causes apoptosis in chick embryo and cho cells after they become confluent

Summary Exposure for less than an hour to a protein isolated from Naegleria amoebae initiates a process that has no apparent effect on the appearance or growth of chick embryo or CHO cell cultures for 4 to 9 days; after the development of confluency, at some unknown signal, all of the cells undergo an apoptotic death within a 12- to 24-hour period. Abnormalities detected among the last mitotic cells include chromosomal breakage and early reversal in metaphase to telo/interphase daughter nuclei with irregular shapes. Additional events in the dying cultures include the development of a cytoplasmic amoebicrelated immunogen, gross DNA fragmentation, cell blebbing, shrinkage, and apoptotic body formation. Culture death included all cells, those present in confluent cultures when the protein was added, and in other cultures, those formed during a more than 30-fold increase in cells as the cultures became confluent. The increase in the number of cells followed by the uniformity and synchrony of their death pattern indicates that the signal to kill has increased and spread throughout the culture; upon an unknown condition related to confluency, events are initiated that lead to the unusual apoptotic death of the culture.     

Differential phosphorylation of CK8 and CK18 by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes.

The phosphorylation of cytokeratin was investigated in primary cultures of hepatocytes. The two hepatocyte cytokeratins CK8 and CK18 (55,000 and 49,000 M_r, respectively) were phosphorylated, CK8 being more phosphorylated than CK18. Treatment of the hepatocytes with 150 nM 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) an activator of protein kinase C induced a transient increase in the level of phosphorylation of CK8 but not CK18. This effect was maximal after 15 min of TPA treatment and was maintained for up to 3 h. After 22 h of treatment with TPA, which down-regulates protein kinase C, CK8 phosphorylation was returned to the basal level. Further addition of TPA to the 22-h treated cells did not cause an increase in CK8 phosphorylation. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody to CK8 indicated that while the addition of TPA induced the formation of granular cytokeratin aggregates in some hepatocytes, in most hepatocytes no major changes in the intermediate filament network were observed. Staining for actin showed that actin microfilaments were rapidly reorganized after the treatment and a loss of stress fibres were observed. We propose that CK8 is an in vitro substrate for protein kinase C and that the specific phosphorylation of CK8 plays a role in protein kinase C signal transduction.     

Activation of protein kinase C potentiates cyclic AMP production and stimulates steroidogenesis in differentiated ovarian granulosa cells

Gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis in the differentiating ovarian granulosa cell is mediated through the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and is also modulated by calcium-dependent mechanisms. Granulosa cells contain calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C kinase), and show an increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover in response to GnRH agonist analogs. To evaluate the role of C kinase in ovarian steroidogenesis, the potent phorbol ester, TPA, and the permeant diacylglycerol, OAG, were used to activate C kinase in granulosa cells from PMSG-treated immature rats. Both TPA and OAG caused dose-dependent stimulation of progesterone production without affecting intra- or extracellular cAMP levels. However, the maximum steroid responses to these compounds were less than those stimulated by cAMP. The ED50 for TPA-stimulated progesterone production was 3 nM, which is close to the known Km for activation of C kinase. Stimulation of steroidogenesis was only observed with biologically-active phorbol esters and permeant diacylglycerols such as OAG and DOG. Exposure of granulosa cells to phospholipase C also increased progesterone production in a dose-dependent manner without changing the cAMP content. Although TPA and OAG did not increase basal cAMP production, both agents enhanced the cAMP responses stimulated by hCG and forskolin; likewise, phospholipase C alone did not change cAMP production but caused a dose-dependent increase in the cAMP responses to hCG and forskolin. These results demonstrate that activation of C kinase promotes steroidogenesis in ovarian granulosa cells, and potentiates the activation of adenylate cyclase by hCG and forskolin. Such findings support the possibility that the calcium, phospholipid-dependent enzyme could be involved in the regulation of progesterone production by hormonal ligands such as gonadotropins and GnRH.     

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.     

Failure of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol to mimic the cell-differentiating action of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in HL-60 cells

Treatment of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60 cells) with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) results in terminal differentiation of the cells to macrophage-like cells. Treatment of the cells with TPA induced marked enhancement of the phosphorylation of 28- and 67-kDa proteins and a decrease in that of a 75-kDa protein. When the cells were treated with diacylglycerol, i.e. 50 micrograms/ml 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), similar changes in the phosphorylation of 28-, 67-, and 75-kDa proteins were likewise observed, indicating that OAG actually stimulates protein kinase C in intact HL-60 cells. OAG (1-100 micrograms/ml), which we used, activated partially purified mouse brain protein kinase C in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of HL-60 cells with 10 nM TPA for 48 h caused an increase by about 8-fold in cellular acid phosphatase activity. Although a significant increase in acid phosphatase activity was induced by OAG, the effect was scant compared to that of TPA (less than 7% that of TPA). After 48-h exposure to 10 nM TPA, about 95% of the HL-60 cells adhered to culture dishes. On the contrary, treatment of the cells either with OAG (2-100 micrograms/ml) or phospholipase C failed to induce HL-60 cell adhesion. Ca2+ ionophore A23187 failed to act synergistically with OAG. In addition, hourly or bi-hourly cumulative addition of OAG for 24 h also proved ineffective to induce HL-60 cell adhesion. Our present results do not imply that protein kinase C activation is nonessential for TPA-induced HL-60 cell differentiation, but do demonstrate that protein kinase C activation is not the sole event sufficient to induce HL-60 cell differentiation by means of this agent.     

Stimulation of virus production and induction of self-syncytium formation in human T-cell leukemia virus type I- and type II-infected T cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

Treatment of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)- and HTLV-II-infected T-cell lines with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated virus release. However, this stimulation was mainly detected at 42 to 48 h of treatment, whereas later virus release declined rapidly. During the first 48 h, TPA had no effect on cell growth, but later, the number of viable cells was profoundly lower in the TPA-treated than in the untreated cultures. This shift in virus release and cell number resulted from self-fusion of a large proportion of the virus-producing cells, which seemed to consequently enter into a dying process. This fusion, which resulted in syncytium formation, was strongly inhibited by anti-HTLV-I env monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, no self-fusion was detected in three different uninfected T-cell lines similarly treated with TPA. On the other hand, stimulation of virus production by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) treatment failed to induce self-fusion in the infected cells. Moreover, no syncytium was detected when these 3-MC-treated infected cells were cocultured with any of the TPA-treated uninfected cells. The effects of TPA on virus production and syncytium formation were both abolished by three different protein kinase C inhibitors. Taken together, these data suggest that the self-fusion observed in these experiments required both enhanced virus production and protein kinase C-phosphorylated viral or/and virally induced cellular component(s).     

1-Oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol promotes immunoglobulin production independent of cell proliferation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

1-Oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) stimulated IgG and IgM production in a dose-dependent manner in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) but not PBM proliferation. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) did not stimulate Ig production. OAG did not stimulate an increase in IL-2 generation or IL-2 receptor expression. H-7, a protein kinase C blocker completely inhibited OAG-stimulated Ig production. The results suggest that OAG stimulation of Ig production is independent of cell proliferation; a generalized increase in T-cell activation does not appear to be necessary in the OAG stimulation of Ig production. Finally, PBMs respond differently to OAG and TPA although both are protein kinase C activators.     

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP resistant MDCK cells in serum free medium have reduced cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity and a diminished effect of PGE1 on differentiated function

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has a stimulatory effect both on the growth and the expression of differentiated function of Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells in a hormonally defined medium (Medium K-1). While the stimulatory effect of PGE1 on MDCK cell growth is observed in subconfluent cultures, the effect of PGE1 on differentiated function (i.e., dome formation) is observed at confluency. PGE1 may possibly affect growth and such differentiated functions by separate mechanisms. In order to examine this possibility, dibutyryl cyclic AMP resistant variants of MDCK were selected. All of the variants were partially resistant to the growth inhibitory effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline. The cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity of four of the five variant clones studied was significantly reduced as compared with normal MDCK cells. The dependence of the kinase activity of several of the dibutyryl cyclic AMP resistant variants (DBr2 and DBr3) on the cyclic AMP concentration in the reaction mixture was compared with that of normal MDCK cells. At all of the cyclic AMP concentrations tested DBr2 and DBr3 cells had reduced protein kinase activity as compared with normal MDCK cells. This reduced activity could be attributed to a decrease in the Vmax for kinase in the two variants, rather than to a change in the Km of kinase for cyclic AMP. The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of dibutyryl cyclic AMP resistant variants was also studied. Unlike PGE1 independent clone 1, DBr2 and DBr3 cells did not differ significantly from normal MDCK cells with regard to their ability to degrade cyclic AMP. The growth and functional responsiveness of DBr2 and DBr3 cells to PGE1 was also examined. DBr2 and DBr3 cells were shown to retain a normal growth response to PGE1. However the capacity of DBr2 and DBr3 cells to form domes in response to PGE1 was dramatically reduced as compared with normal MDCK cells. Nevertheless DBr3 cells were shown to still retain the capacity to form domes in response to other inducers. The effect of PGE1 on one of the functional parameters involved in dome formation (the activity of the Na+/K+ATPase) was examined. The rate of ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake was observed to be elevated in confluent monolayers of normal MDCK cells maintained in Medium K-1, as compared with monolayers maintained in Medium K-1 minus PGE1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced apoptosis is mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha in human monocytic U937 cells.

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a phorbol ester that is known as a tumor promoter, induces differentiation of myeloid cells and suppresses their proliferation. We studied the regulation of apoptosis by TPA in human monocytic cell line U937 cells that lack p53. Untreated U937 cells constitutively underwent apoptosis, and TPA enhanced apoptosis in these cells. Further studies showed that TPA increased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in U937 cells, and exogenously added TNFalpha induced apoptosis. Moreover, the induction of apoptosis by TPA was blocked by anti-TNFalpha antibody. Similar results were obtained in the myeloblastic cell line KY821 cells. We also found that the induction of apoptosis by TPA was increased in cells overexpressed with TNF receptor 1 but not in control cells. Furthermore, TPA failed to induce the production of TNFalpha and apoptosis in cells with either their protein kinase C or mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway blocked. Our results indicate that TPA induces apoptosis, at least in part, through a pathway that requires endogenous production of TNFalpha in U937 cells. Our data also suggest that the induction of apoptosis by TPA occurs through activation of protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase and TNFalpha is an autocrine-stimulating factor for the induction of apoptosis in these cells.