Theta-isoform of PKC is required for alterations in cytoskeletal dynamics and barrier permeability in intestinal epithelium: a novel function for PKC-theta

Using intestinal Caco-2 cells, we previously showed that assembly of cytoskeleton is required for monolayer barrier function, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Because the -isoform of PKC is present in wild-type (WT) intestinal cells, we hypothesized that PKC- is crucial for changes in cytoskeletal and barrier dynamics. We have created the first multiple sets of gastrointestinal cell clones transfected with varying levels of cDNA to stably inhibit native PKC- (antisense, AS; dominant negative, DN) or to express its activity (sense). We studied transfected and WT Caco-2 cells. First, relative to WT cells, AS clones underexpressing PKC- showed monolayer injury as indicated by decreased native PKC- activity, reduced tubulin phosphorylation, increased tubulin disassembly (decreased polymerized and increased monomeric pools), reduced architectural integrity of microtubules, reduced stability of occludin, and increased barrier hyperpermeability. In these AS clones, PKC- was substantially reduced in the particulate fractions, indicating its inactivation. In WT cells, 82-kDa PKC- was constitutively active and coassociated with 50-kDa tubulin, forming an endogenous PKC-/tubulin complex. Second, DN transfection to inhibit the endogenous PKC- led to similar destabilizing effects on monolayers, including cytoskeletal hypophosphorylation, depolymerization, and instability as well as barrier disruption. Third, stable overexpression of PKC- led to a mostly cytosolic distribution of -isoform (<10% in particulate fractions), indicating its inactivation. In these sense clones, we also found disruption of occludin and microtubule assembly and increased barrier dysfunction. In conclusion, 1) PKC- isoform is required for changes in the cytoskeletal assembly and barrier permeability in intestinal monolayers, and 2) the molecular event underlying this novel biological effect of PKC- involves changes in phosphorylation and/or assembly of the subunit components of the cytoskeleton. The ability to alter the cytoskeletal and barrier dynamics is a unique function not previously attributed to PKC-. microtubules; tubulin; occludin; epithelial barrier permeability; protein kinase C isoform