Basic fibroblast growth factor expression in human omental microvascular endothelial cells and the effect of phorbol ester.

The human omentum contains a potent, not yet identified angiogenic activity. The omentum is very vascularized. Therefore, we investigated whether human omental microvascular endothelial cells (HOME cells) express the angiogenic peptide basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Cytosol prepared from HOME cells stimulated DNA synthesis in bovine epithelial lens cells (BEL cells). The mitogenic activity could be neutralized by an anti-bFGF antibody. Basic FGF-like material from the HOME cell cytosol was bound onto a heparin-Sepharose column at 0.6 M and was eluted at 3 M NaCl. The 3 M NaCl eluted material reacted with the specific anti-bFGF antibody in an ELISA and stimulated DNA synthesis. It did not react with a specific anti-acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) antibody. Western blotting experiments using the same bFGF antibody showed the presence of a major band of 17 Kd and a doublet of 20-22 Kd. Northern blotting of non-stimulated HOME cells using a specific 1.4 kb bFGF probe showed the presence of 5 molecular species of 6.6, 3.7, 2.2, 2.0, and 1.0 kb. No aFGF mRNA was detected with a specific previously characterized 4.04 kb probe. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) did not influence significantly the expression of bFGF at the protein and mRNA level in HOME cells. Thus, protein kinase C activation by TPA did not appear to modulate significantly the expression of bFGF for that cell type. Contrastingly, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE cells), which expressed no bFGF and aFGF mRNA at a basal level, were induced to express bFGF but not aFGF mRNA when stimulated by TPA. These results suggest that the described angiogenic activity could be the bFGF-like mitogen contained in HOME cells and that these cells are different from endothelial cells derived from large vessels (HUVE cells) regarding the expression of bFGF.     

Differential effects of phorbol ester and diacylglycerols on inositol phosphate formation in C62B glioma cells

Application of acetylcholine (ACh) to C62B glioma cells results in a rapid release of inositol phosphates. Since this response is transient, we evaluated the possible role of protein kinase C (PKC) in its desensitization. Pretreatment with 100 nM phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) significantly inhibited ACh-induced accumulation of [3H]inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates. However, interpretation of this result as proof of PKC involvement was complicated by the failure of 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, 1,2-didecanoylglycerol, or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol pretreatments to mimic the phorbol ester effect. Further evidence against PKC involvement was obtained using the PKC inhibitor sphingosine; PDBu inhibition of inositol phosphate formation was not reversed by sphingosine pretreatments at concentrations which blocked ACh-stimulated PKC activation of inositol trisphosphate phosphatase activity. These results suggest that there may be phorbol effects not mediated by PKC.     

Differential effects of phorbol ester on the beta-adrenergic response of normal and ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells

The basal and isoproterenol stimulated levels of cyclic AMP in NIH3T3 and H-ras transformed NIH3T3 cells were equivalent. In exponentially growing cells, the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA) inhibited the beta-adrenergic response of NIH3T3 cells, but not of the ras-transformed line. Another line of NIH3T3 cells transformed by a non-ras gene exhibited the normal loss of beta-adrenergic response by the tumor promoter. These results are consistent with a role for p21 in signal transduction related to the effects of TPA.     

Differential phosphodiesterase expression and cytosolic Ca2+ in human CNS tumour cells and in non-malignant and malignant cells of rat origin

A promising attempt in the field of tumour therapy is the modulation of intracellular, proliferation-associated signalling pathways. The role of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), key enzymes in cAMP/cGMP signal transduction, was investigated in two human CNS tumour cell lines as well as in the rat glioblastoma cell line C6 in comparison with rat cerebellar astrocytes with the emphasis on target evaluation. We found differential PDE expression patterns in human CNS tumour cell lines as well as in CNS cells of rat origin. In human glioblastoma cells, intracellular cAMP and Ca(2+) levels correlated well with the PDE expression pattern. There were, however, marked differences in PDE expression and Ca(2+) kinetics between the human glioblastoma cell lines. In contrast to human epithelial tumour cells, shown earlier by us to express significantly enhanced cAMP-specific PDE activity, this was not the case in rat glioblastoma cells compared with non-malignant rat astrocytes. Despite different levels of PDE1 and PDE4 expression and activity, cyclic nucleotide and Ca(2+) levels in non-malignant and malignant rat CNS cells were similar. These in vitro data do not support the concept of PDE1C representing a target exploitable for drug treatment of malignant CNS tumours.     

The effects of erythropoietin signaling on telomerase regulation in non-erythroid malignant and non-malignant cells

Treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) in several cancers is associated with decreased survival due to cancer progression. Due to the major importance of telomerase in cancer biology we hypothesized that some of these effects may be mediated through EPO effect on telomerase. For this aim we explored the possible effects of EPO on telomerase regulation, cell migration and chemosensitivity in non-erythroid malignant and non-malignant cells.     

Differential effects of norepinephrine and phorbol ester on alpha-1 adrenergic receptor number and surface-accessibility in DDT1 MF-2 cells

The short (5-60 min) and long (24 hrs) term effects of norepinephrine (10 uM) and the phorbol ester, 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (10 nM), on total cellular and surface-accessible alpha-1 adrenergic receptor number were determined in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells. The density of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors was determined with [3H]-prazosin in a crude cellular homogenate (total cellular receptors) and in intact cells at 4 degrees C (surface-accessible receptors). Under basal conditions, all receptors were accessible to the cell surface at 4 degrees C. Short term norepinephrine exposure caused an approximately 40% decrease in surface-accessible binding without a change in total receptor number. Long term norepinephrine exposure caused a further decrease in surface-accessible binding, and an approximately 30% decrease in total receptor number. In contrast, phorbol ester had no effect on surface-accessible or total receptor number with either short or long term exposure. These data suggest that sequestration of cell surface alpha-1 adrenergic receptors is an early step in the process of agonist-mediated down-regulation. In DDT1 MF-2 cells, phorbol ester, alone, does not mimmick the effect of agonist on receptor sequestration or number.     

Differential effects of phorbol ester on phenylephrine and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in isolated hepatocytes

Receptor-mediated breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 produces two cellular signals, Ins(1,4,5)P3, which can release intracellular Ca2+, and diacylglycerol, which activates a Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). This study assesses the significance of protein kinase C in relation to phenylephrine- and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in hepatocytes. Phorbol ester (4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate), which can directly activate protein kinase C, had no effect either on Ca2+ efflux from the cell (measured with arsenazo III) or on Ca2+ influx (measured with Quin-2), processes which are inhibited and stimulated, respectively, by both phenylephrine and vasopressin. No evidence of synergism between phorbol ester pretreatment of hepatocytes and the Ca2+ ionophore (ionomycin)-mediated effects on the increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ and phosphorylase activation could be obtained. These findings suggest that protein kinase C is not obligatorily involved in the regulation of hepatocyte Ca2+ fluxes. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with phorbol ester (PMA) or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol totally inhibited the effects of phenylephrine in elevating the cytosolic free Ca2+; half-maximal inhibitory effects occurred at PMA and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol concentrations of 1 ng/ml and 12 micrograms/ml, respectively. In contrast, pretreatment with PMA had a much smaller effect on Ca2+ mobilization induced by vasopressin. These observations suggest that protein kinase C may be involved in "down-regulation" of the alpha 1-receptor in hepatocytes and may thus exert a negative influence on the Ca2+-signalling pathway.     

Teleocidin and phorbol ester tumor promoters exert similar mitogenic effects on human lymphocytes

The tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) affects a wide variety of cellular functions via its binding to protein kinase C (PKC). The TPA molecule contains a diacylglycerol (DAG)-like structure, which may explain its ability to mimic DAG in PKC activation. Teleocidin (TCD) is a different tumor promoter which can compete with TPA in binding to its cell surface receptors even though structurally unrelated to TPA or DAG. Since TCD may use an additional receptor system and/or be distinguished from TPA in its effect on cells, we compared the effects of TPA and TCD on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Both tumor promoters preferentially enhanced cell proliferation of sheep erythrocyte-rosetted lymphocytes, which were enriched for T cells. Additionally, TPA and TCD both induced a high density of cell surface receptors for interleukin 2 (IL2) and transferrin, but not synthesis or production of IL2. However, either of the tumor promoters synergized with T cell mitogens to induce high level IL2 production by PBL. In dose response and kinetic studies, matching concentrations of TPA and TCD induced similar effects in PBL. The results thus demonstrate that TPA and TCD are alike in mitogenic capacity, and suggest that structural similarity between the tumor promoter and DAG, the physiological activator of PKC, is not an essential property for promoting tumors or affecting a wide variety of cellular functions.     

'Sezary-like' cells in malignant and non-malignant diseases.

Lymphocyte-like distinctive cells with cerebriform and serpentiform nuclei, as described in 'Sézary syndrome' were detected in the peripheral blood of two patients, one with plasma-cell leukemia and one with bacterial sepsis. These observations suggest that 'Sézary cells' are not strictly specific, neither for a neoplastic nor for a nonneoplastic disease, but rather representing a reactive form of lymphocytes to different stimuli.     

The effects of phorbol ester on alloantigen presentation

B cells and Ia+ thyroid cells fail to stimulate alloreactive T cells in a primary mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) and fail to activate some allo-class II (I-A) reactive T cell hybridomas. We now demonstrate that B cells can specifically stimulate a primary MLR in combination with the phorbol ester, PMA, but not with interleukin 1 (IL 1) or calcium ionophore. The primary MLR induced with B cells plus PMA can be blocked by either monoclonal anti-I-A or anti-L3T4 antibodies. In contrast, thyroid cells that can be induced to express Ia antigens after incubation with interferon-gamma fail to stimulate a primary MLR even in the presence of PMA or IL 1. We confirmed these observations by using the alloreactive T cell hybridoma, HTB-9.3, which does not react to stimulator B cells. In the presence of PMA, however, this I-Ab-specific hybridoma line was able to respond to relevant but not to control stimulator B cells. Furthermore, the response of HTB-9.3 to B cells plus PMA was also blocked by anti-I-A or anti-L3T4 antibody. In contrast to B cells, Ia+ thyroid cells could not activate HTB-9.3 even in the presence of PMA or IL 1. The data indicate that for primary class II restricted allo-responses, B cells provide signals that can be complemented with the phorbol ester PMA, whereas Ia+ thyroid cells do not, suggesting the existence of additional requirements for T cell activation.     

Multiple effects of phorbol ester on secretory activity in rabbit gastric glands and parietal cells

Acid secretory activity and respiration in rabbit gastric glands are stimulated by cAMP-dependent and -independent agonists. Potentiation between agonists suggests interaction of the activation pathways. Regulation of secretory response by protein kinase C was investigated with 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). TPA elevated basal respiration, pepsin release, and acid secretion but inhibited histamine and carbachol stimulation of acid secretion by gastric glands, as measured by [dimethylamino-14C]aminopyrine accumulation. The inhibition of histamine response was specific for protein kinase C activators, occurred after a 20-min lag, and was not reversed by removal of TPA after 3 min of preincubation. TPA pretreatment inhibited acid secretory responses to cholera toxin and forskolin but enhanced the response to cAMP analogues. Cholera toxin and pertussis toxin simulated ADP-ribosylation of 45 and 41 kDa proteins, respectively, in parietal cell membranes. Therefore, both stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) GTP binding proteins of adenylyl cyclase appear to be present in parietal cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin attenuated PGE2 but not TPA inhibition of histamine stimulation of aminopyrine accumulation. Thus, the inhibitory effect of TPA does not appear to be associated with an action on Gi. The results with histamine and carbachol suggest that protein kinase C may regulate both cAMP-dependent and -independent stimulation of parietal cell acid secretion.     

The effects of phorbol ester on anabolism of lipids of cultured human skin fibroblasts

We have investigated the independent effects of phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) on anabolism of the major lipid components in cultured diploid human skin fibroblasts. When we incubated these cells with [3H]acetate in serum-free medium for 18 h in the presence of 16 nM phorbol ester, [3H]acetate incorporation and the cellular content of cholesterol ester increased, and free cholesterol decreased. Enhancement of [3H]acetate incorporation into cholesterol ester was also observed when the cells were incubated with phorbol ester for 5 h in medium containing lipoprotein-deficient serum. Incorporation of [3H]galactose into glycosphingolipids increased many fold upon exposure of the cells either to fetal calf serum or separately to phorbol ester. Therefore, phorbol ester independently affects cholesterol and glycosphingolipid metabolism in a way that may be similar to that reported for serum low-density lipoproteins and unknown other factors in fetal calf serum. We have observed these effects of phorbol ester in the intact living cell. These findings should provide useful means for the study of metabolism of the plasma membrane lipid components in fibroblasts.     

The effect of prostacyclin agonists on the differentiation of phorbol ester treated human erythroleukemia cells

Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induces megakaryocytopoeisis in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells which is characterized by the increase in cell size, increase in nuclear polyploidization and expression of megakaryocyte marker, CD41. However, upon treatment with 100 nM of selective prostacyclin (IP) agonist beraprost inhibits the induced differentiation. Moreover, selective non-prostanoid IP agonist, BMY 45778 prevents PMA induced megakaryocytopoeisis in HEL cells similarly, while prostaglandin E(2) and specific EP(3) agonist sulprostone have no effect. Thus, IP receptor is involved. Furthermore, adenylate cyclase activator forskolin and cAMP analog dibutyryl-cAMP also prevented PMA induced megakaryocytopoeisis in HEL cells. Thus, IP agonists inhibition of PMA induced megakaryocytopoeisis in HEL cells may involve a cAMP dependent pathway.     

A phorbol ester and a daphnane ester stimulate a calcium-independent kinase activity from human mononuclear cells

TPA and a non-promoting, pro-inflammatory ester RX were used to stimulate the forms of PKC isolated from human mononuclear cells. Three peaks of kinase activity corresponding to gamma, beta and alpha PKC were stimulated by TPA in the presence and absence of calcium and/or phosphatidylserine (PS) but were not activated by RX. A fourth peak eluted at high phosphate concentration was activated by TPA and RX in the presence of PS and the absence of calcium. Activity in this fraction was labile to freezing and thawing and was inhibited by staurosporine.     

Differential effect of retinoic acid on growth regulation by phorbol ester in human cancer cell lines.

Phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and all-trans-retinoic acid (trans-RA) are potent regulators of growth of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of TPA and trans-RA alone or their combination on proliferation of human breast cancer ZR75-1 and T47D and lung cancer H460 and H292 cell lines. trans-RA caused various degrees of growth inhibition of these cell lines. However, TPA showed inhibition of proliferation of H460 and H292 cells and induction of ZR75-1 cell growth. Although trans-RA did not significantly regulate the growth inhibitory effect of TPA, it completely prevented its growth stimulating function. The divergent effects of TPA were associated with specific disruption of cell cycle events, an induction of G(0)/G(1) arrest in H460 and H292 cells and inhibition of G(0)/G(1) arrest with increase of S phase in ZR75-1 cells. Induction of G(0)/G(1) arrest was accompanied by induction of p21(WAF1) and ERK activity, whereas inhibition of G(0)/G(1) arrest was associated with enhanced activity of JNK and AP-1 but not ERK. trans-RA did not affect TPA-induced p21(WAF1) expression. However, it inhibited TPA-induced AP-1 activity in ZR75-1 cells and the constitutive AP-1 activity in H460 and H292 cells. Thus, trans-RA modulates TPA activity through its interaction through TPA-induced JNK/AP-1 pathway but not TPA-induced ERK/p21(WAF1) pathway.     

Cyclic AMP-like effects of polyamines on phosphatidylcholine synthesis and protein phosphorylation in human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. Comparison with the effects of phorbol ester

Spermine or putrescine increased cAMP levels through a catalase-sensitive mechanism, resulting in, most notably, a dephosphorylation of protein A (Mr 45,000, pI 5.15) and protein B (Mr 45,000, pI 4.9) and slightly increased phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in HL60 cells. Exogenous dibutyryl cAMP mimicked the polyamine effects. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also promoted the protein dephosphorylation and PC synthesis, the effects augmented by R59022 and mimicked by exogenous 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol. The effects of spermine (or dibutyryl cAMP) and TPA on PC synthesis were synergistic. It was suggested that cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C might mediate, in an independent but inter-related manner, the effects of polyamines and TPA.