Platelet-derived growth factor and fibroblast growth factor differentially regulate interleukin 1beta- and cAMP-induced nitric oxide synthase expression in rat renal mesangial cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) regulate mesangial cell proliferation and matrix production in vitro and in vivo and crucially participate in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis. We investigated whether PDGF-BB and bFGF influence nitric oxide (NO) production, another important effector molecule in inflammatory glomerular injury. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) induction in rat glomerular mesangial cells has been described in response to two principal classes of activating signals comprising inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) or elevation of cyclic AMP (cAMP). Treatment of mesangial cells with IL-1beta induces iNOS activity measured as nitrite levels in cell culture supernatants. Coincubation of mesangial cells with PDGF-BB inhibits production of nitrite by approximately 95%. This effect can be reversed by the simultaneous incubation of PDGF-BB in the presence of calphostin C, a potent and selective inhibitor of protein kinase C. In contrast, incubation of cells in the presence of bFGF potentiates IL-1beta-induced production of NO and is functionally associated with an increased rate of apoptosis of mesangial cells. Western blot analyses reveal that PDGF-BB causes a decrease in the formation of iNOS protein which is preceded by decreases in iNOS mRNA steady state levels. bFGF drastically increases iNOS protein levels as well as the corresponding iNOS mRNA steady state levels. Nuclear run-on experiments reveal that PDGF-BB decreases the IL-1beta-induced transcription rate of the iNOS gene, whereas bFGF potentiates the transcriptional activity of the iNOS gene. Northern blot analyses demonstrate that bFGF strongly potentiates the formation of IL-1beta-induced IL-1 type I receptor mRNA levels, whereas PDGF-BB has no effect. Treatment of mesangial cells with the membrane-permeable cAMP analogue N6, O-2'-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-phosphate (Bt2cAMP) markedly increases the production of nitrite. Whereas PDGF-BB does not affect cAMP-induced nitrite levels, bFGF strongly potentiates them. PDGF-BB alters neither cAMP-induced iNOS protein levels nor the corresponding iNOS mRNA steady state levels. By contrast, bFGF superinduces cAMP-stimulated iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA levels. These changes by bFGF are due to an increase in cAMP-induced transcriptional activity of the iNOS gene which is not affected by PDGF-BB. In summary, the results show that PDGF and bFGF differentially regulate iNOS expression in mesangial cells in a stimulus-specific way. The timely sequence of expression of PDGF and bFGF and of cytokines like IL-1 will crucially determine the amounts of NO produced and the functional consequences thereof in the course of progressive glomerular diseases.

Extracellular nucleotides induce migration of renal mesangial cells by upregulating sphingosine kinase-1 expression and activity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Extracellular nucleotides act as potent mitogens for renal mesangial cells (MC). In this study we determined whether extracellular nucleotides trigger additional responses in MCs and the mechanisms involved. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: MC migration was measured after nucleotide stimulation in an adapted Boyden-chamber. Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK-1) protein expression was detected by Western blot analysis and mRNA expression quantified by real-time PCR. SK activity was measured by an in vitro kinase assay using sphingosine as substrate. KEY RESULTS: Nucleotide stimulation caused biphasic activation of SK-1, but not SK-2. The first peak occurred after minutes of stimulation and was followed by a second delayed peak after 4-24 h of stimulation. The delayed activation of SK-1 is due to increased SK-1 mRNA steady-state levels and de novo synthesis of SK-1 protein, and depends on PKC and the classical MAPK cascade. To see whether nucleotide-stimulated cell responses require SK-1, we selectively depleted SK-1 from cells by using small-interference RNA (siRNA). MC migration is highly stimulated by ATP and UTP; this is mimicked by exogenously added S1P. Depletion of SK-1 by siRNA drastically reduced the effect of ATP and UTP on cell migration but not on cell proliferation. Furthermore, MCs isolated from SK-1-deficient mice were completely devoid of nucleotide-induced migration. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These data show that extracellular nucleotides besides being mitogenic also trigger MC migration and this cell response critically requires SK-1 activity. Thus, pharmacological intervention of SK-1 may have impacts on situations where MC migration is important such as during inflammatory kidney diseases.

FTY720 suppresses interleukin-1beta-induced secretory phospholipase A2 expression in renal mesangial cells by a transcriptional mechanism.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: FTY720 is a potent immunomodulatory prodrug that is converted to its active phosphorylated form by a sphingosine kinase. Here we have studied whether FTY720 mimicked the action of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and exerted an anti-inflammatory potential in renal mesangial cells. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) was quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay. Secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) protein was detected by Western blot analyses. mRNA expression was determined by Northern blot analysis and sPLA(2)-promoter activity was measured by a luciferase-reporter-gene assay. KEY RESULTS: Stimulation of cells for 24 h with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is known to trigger increased PGE(2) formation which coincides with an induction of the mRNA for group-IIA-sPLA(2) and protein expression. FTY720 dose-dependently suppressed IL-1beta-induced IIA-sPLA(2) protein secretion and activity in the supernatant. This effect is due to a suppression of cytokine-induced sPLA(2) mRNA expression which results from a reduced promoter activity. As a consequence of suppressed sPLA(2) activity, PGE(2) formation is also reduced by FTY720. Mechanistically, the FTY720-suppressed sPLA(2) expression results from an activation of the TGFbeta/Smad signalling cascade since inhibition of the TGFbeta receptor type I by a specific kinase inhibitor reverses the FTY720-mediated decrease of sPLA(2) protein expression and sPLA(2) promoter activity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In summary, our data show that FTY720 was able to mimic the anti-inflammatory activity of TGFbeta and blocked cytokine-triggered sPLA(2) expression and subsequent PGE(2) formation. Thus, FTY720 may exert additional in vivo effects besides the well reported immunomodulation and its anti-inflammatory potential should be considered.

Phosphorylation of a constrained azacyclic FTY720 analog enhances anti-leukemic activity without inducing S1P receptor activation.

The frequency of poor outcomes in relapsed leukemia patients underscores the need for novel therapeutic approaches. The Food and Drug Administration-approved immunosuppressant FTY720 limits leukemia progression by activating protein phosphatase 2A and restricting nutrient access. Unfortunately, FTY720 cannot be re-purposed for use in cancer patients due to on-target toxicity associated with S1P receptor activation at the elevated, anti-neoplastic dose. Here we show that the constrained azacyclic FTY720 analog SH-RF-177 lacks S1P receptor activity but maintains anti-leukemic activity in vitro and in vivo. SH-RF-177 was not only more potent than FTY720, but killed via a distinct mechanism. Phosphorylation is dispensable for FTY720's anti-leukemic actions. However, chemical biology and genetic approaches demonstrated that the sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2)-mediated phosphorylation of SH-RF-177 led to engagement of a pro-apoptotic target and increased potency. The cytotoxicity of membrane-permeant FTY720 phosphonate esters suggests that the enhanced potency of SH-RF-177 stems from its more efficient phosphorylation. The tight inverse correlation between SH-RF-177 IC50 and SPHK2 mRNA expression suggests a useful biomarker for SH-RF-177 sensitivity. In summary, these studies indicate that FTY720 analogs that are efficiently phosphorylated but fail to activate S1P receptors may be superior anti-leukemic agents compared to compounds that avoid cardiotoxicity by eliminating phosphorylation.

Cross-talk between secretory phospholipase A2 and cytosolic phospholipase A2 in rat renal mesangial cells.

Incubation of rat glomerular mesangial cells with potent proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin 1beta, (IL- 1beta) triggers the expression of a non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and increases the formation of prostaglandin E2. We show here that sPLA2 acts in an autocrine fashion on mesangial cells and induces a rapid activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes delta and epsilon and of p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), two putative activators of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). sPLA2 also activates Raf-1 kinase in mesangial cells which integrates the signals coming from PKC for further processing along the MAPK cascade. Subsequently a phosphorylation and activation of cPLA2 is observed, thus arguing for a cross-talk between the two classes of PLA2. Pretreatment of cells with either the highly specific PKC inhibitor Ro-318220 or the highly specific MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 98059 completely blocked the sPLA2-induced cPLA2 activation, indicating that both kinases are essential for the cross-talk between the two types of PLA2. The effect of sPLA2 is mimicked by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a reaction product of sPLA2 activity. LPC stimulates PKC-epsilon, Raf-1 kinase and MAPK activation as well as cPLA2 activation with a subsequent increase in arachidonic acid release from mesangial cells. These data suggest that sPLA2 by cleaving membrane phospholipids and generating LPC and other lysophospholipids activates cPLA2 via the PKC/Raf-1/MAPK signalling pathway. Hence a network of interactions between different PLA2s is operative in mesangial cells and may contribute to the progression of glomerular inflammatory processes.

Interleukin-1 stimulates de novo synthesis of mitogen-activated protein kinase in glomerular mesangial cells.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) stimulates a time- and concentration-dependent mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in rat mesangial cells. A rapid increase in activity (maximal at 10 min) is followed by a second persistent level of activity which steadily increases over 24 h. The second peak of MAP kinase activity is paralleled by a marked de novo synthesis of p42 MAP kinase as measured by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labelled mesangial cells and by a 60% increase in total p42 MAP kinase protein as detected by Western blot analysis. We propose that IL-1 induced de novo synthesis of p42 MAP kinase is important for the multiplicity of long-term actions of this cytokine in renal mesangial cells.

Transforming growth factor beta 2 stimulates acute and chronic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in rat renal mesangial cells.

Exposure of rat glomerular mesangial cells to transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF beta 2) stimulates a biphasic mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) activation. A rapid increase in activity (maximal at 10 min) is followed by a second persistent level of activity which steadily increases over 24 h. The second peak of MAP kinase activity is markedly attenuated by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and consequently is paralleled by a pronounced de-novo synthesis of p42 and p44 MAP kinase as measured by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled mesangial cells. In addition, an increased de-novo synthesis of MAP kinase kinase (MEK), the upstream activator of MAP kinase, is observed in response to TGF beta 2 stimulation. We propose that TGF beta-induced activation and de-novo synthesis of MAP kinases and MEK is important for the multifunctional actions of this cytokine in mesangial cells and its role in disease states characterized by excessive fibrosis.

Nitric oxide stimulates stress-activated protein kinases in glomerular endothelial and mesangial cells.

Exposure of rat glomerular mesangial cells and primary cultures of bovine glomerular endothelial cells to compounds releasing nitric oxide (NO), including MAHMA-NONOate, S-nitrosoglutathione, and spermine-NO, results in a time- and concentration-dependent activation of stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) as measured by the phosphorylation of c-Jun in a solid phase kinase assay. Dibutyryl cGMP had no effect on SAPK activity. Pretreatment of the cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein strongly attenuated NO-induced c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, N-acetylcysteine markedly reduced the activation of SAPK in response to NO. These studies identify SAPK as a target for NO which may be critical for the NO-induced apoptosis of glomerular mesangial and endothelial cells.

A role for protein kinase C-epsilon in angiotensin II stimulation of phospholipase D in rat renal mesangial cells.

The role of Ca2+ and protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of phosphatidylcholine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D (PLD) was investigated in angiotensin II-stimulated mesangial cells. Elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ by the calcium ionophore, A23187, or the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, slightly increased PLD-stimulated phosphatidylethanol formation. However, chelation of cytosolic Ca2+ with high concentrations of quin 2 did not attenuate angiotensin II-induced phosphatidylethanol production, thus suggesting that Ca2+ is not crucially involved in agonist-stimulated PLD activation. Stimulation of PKC by phorbol esters increased PLD activity in mesangial cells. Down-regulation of PKC-alpha and -delta isoenzymes by 8 h phorbol ester treatment still resulted in full PLD activation. In contrast, a 24 h treatment of mesangial cells with phorbol ester, a regimen that also causes depletion of PKC-epsilon, abolished angiotensin II-evoked phosphatidylethanol formation. In addition, the selective PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, attenuated hormone-induced PLD activity. In summary, these data suggest that angiotensin II stimulation of phospholipase D appears to involve the PKC-epsilon isoenzyme, activated by DAG derived from phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Immunocharacterization of delta- and zeta-isoenzymes of protein kinase C in rat renal mesangial cells.

The isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) present in rat mesangial cells were identified by immunoblot analysis with antibody raised against isotype-specific peptides. In addition to the previously observed alpha- and epsilon-subspecies, mesangial cells also express the delta- and zeta-isoenzymes of PKC. On exposure to phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) a complete depletion of PKC-delta is observed within 8 h. Removal of PDB results in a recovery of PKC-delta. In contrast, PKC-zeta is unaffected by addition or removal of PDB.

Negative regulation of interleukin-1beta-activated neutral sphingomyelinase by protein kinase C in rat mesangial cells.

Endogenous ceramide is produced by the action of acidic or neutral sphingomyelinases (SMase) in response to stimuli such as proinflammatory cytokines or other inducers of stress. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is known to stimulate ceramide formation in rat renal mesangial cells; however, the respective subtype of SMase and its regulation have not been investigated. We found that IL-1beta induced an increase in endogenous ceramide levels via the action of a neutral SMase but not an acidic SMase in rat mesangial cells. Cytokine-induced activation of neutral SMase was inhibited by stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by the phorbol ester TPA which caused a reduction of ceramide back to control levels. This inhibitory effect of TPA was reversed by the specific PKC-inhibitor Ro-318220. Long-term incubation (24 h) of mesangial cells with TPA, which downregulates PKC-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon isoenzymes, resulted in a recovery of IL-1beta-stimulated neutral SMase activity as well as ceramide formation. These data implicate an important modulatory function of PKC in ceramide production in IL-1beta-activated mesangial cells.

Nitric oxide augments release of chemokines from monocytic U937 cells: modulation by anti-inflammatory pathways.

Nitric oxide (NO) appears to act as an inflammatory mediator on monocytic cells. Exogenous NO augmented release of chemokines from human promonocytic U937 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Pharmacological strategies aiming at modulation of NO-induced release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) were investigated in U937 cells in detail. Release of IL-8 was down-regulated by transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2), by the protein tyrosine-kinase inhibitor genistein, and via rises in intracellular cyclic AMP, generated by prostaglandin E(2), rolipram, pentoxifylline, forskolin, or dibutyryl-cyclic AMP. In addition, incubation with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone or suppression of activity of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by SB-203580 modulated release of IL-8. Activation of p38 MAP kinases was confirmed by the demonstration of an augmented appearance of phosphorylated p38 in the presence of NO. The present data suggest that exposure to exogenous NO resembles activation of U937 cells by proinflammatory stimuli. The anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta2, as well as anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents such as genistein, pentoxifylline, rolipram, dexamethasone, and SB-203580 modulate inflammatory, chemokine-inducing actions of NO.

Translocation of protein kinase C isoenzymes by elevated extracellular Ca2+ concentration in cells from a human giant cell tumor of bone.

In this study we investigated the protein kinase C isoenzymes expressed by human osteoclast-like cells harvested from a giant cell tumor of bone (GCT23 cells), and by freshly isolated rat osteoclasts. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the -alpha, -delta, and -epsilon, PKC isoforms, but not the -beta isoenzyme, are expressed by GCT23 cells. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that PKC-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon are homogeneously expressed by both mononuclear and multinucleated GCT23 cells, as well as by rat osteoclasts. Similar to authentic osteoclasts, GCT23 cells responded to an increase of extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) with a dose-dependent elevation of the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). An increase of [Ca2+]o stimulated the translocation of PKC-alpha from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction, suggesting the involvement of this isoenzyme in the signal transduction mechanism prompted by stimulation of the [Ca2+]o sensing. By contrast, PKC-delta was not altered by exposure to elevated [Ca2+]o, whereas PKC-epsilon underwent reciprocal translocation, disappearing from the insoluble fraction and increasing in the cytosol. The effects of PKC on GCT23 cell functions were investigated by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA). We observed that activation of PKC by PMA failed to affect adhesion onto the substrate, but down-regulated the [Ca2+]o-induced [Ca2+]i increases. The latter effect was specific, since it was reversed by treatment with the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and chelerythrine.

Stimulation by extracellular ATP and UTP of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and proliferation of rat renal mesangial cells.

1. Extracellular ATP and UTP have been reported to activate a nucleotide receptor that mediates phosphoinositide and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipases C and D, respectively. Here we report that ATP and UTP potently stimulate mesangial cell proliferation. 2. Both nucleotides stimulate phosphorylation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and a biphasic phosphorylation of the up-stream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. 3. When added at 100 microM, ATP gamma S, UTP and ATP were the most potent activators of mitogen-activated protein kinase. beta gamma-imido-ATP was somewhat less active and ADP and 2-methylthio-ATP caused a weak induction of enzyme activity. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by both ATP and UTP is dose-dependently attenuated by the P2-receptor antagonist, suramin. 4. The protein kinase C activator 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, but not the biologically inactive 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, increased mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in mesangial cells, suggesting that protein kinase C may mediate nucleotide-induced stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. 5. Down-regulation of protein kinase C -alpha and -delta isoenzymes by 4 h or 8 h treatment with phorbol ester partially inhibited ATP- and UTP-triggered mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Moreover, a 24 h treatment of mesangial cells with phorbol ester, a regimen that also causes depletion of protein kinase C-epsilon did not further reduce the level of mitogen-activated protein kinase stimulation. 6. The specific protein kinase C inhibitor, CGP 41251, which displayed a selectivity for the Ca2+-dependent isoenzymes, as compared to the Ca2+-independent isoenzymes did not inhibit nucleotide stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, thus implicating the involvement of a Ca2+-independent protein kinase C isoform.7. In summary, these results suggest that ATP and UTP trigger the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling cascade in mesangial cells and this may be responsible for the potent mitogenic activity of both nucleotides.

Stimulation by extracellular ATP and UTP of the stress-activated protein kinase cascade in rat renal mesangial cells.

1. Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) have been shown to activate a nucleotide receptor (P2U receptor) in rat mesangial cells that mediates phosphoinositide and phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipases C and D, respectively. This is followed by an increased activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and cell proliferation. Here we show that ATP and UTP potently stimulate the stress-activated protein kinase pathway and phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun. 2. Both nucleotides stimulated a rapid (within 5 min) and concentration-dependent activation of stress-activated protein kinases as measured by the phosphorylation of c-Jun in a solid phase kinase assay. 3. When added at 100 microM the rank order of potency of a series of nucleotide analogues for stimulation of c-Jun phosphorylation was UTP > ATP = UDP = ATP gamma S > 2-methylthio-ATP > beta gamma-imido-ATP = ADP > AMP = UMP = adenosine = uridine. Activation of stress-activated protein kinase activity by ATP and UTP was dose-dependently attenuated by suramin. 4. Down-regulation of protein kinase C-alpha, -delta and -epsilon isoenzymes by 24 h treatment of the cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate did not inhibit ATP- and UTP-induced activation of c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, the specific protein kinase C inhibitors, CGP 41251 and Ro 31-8220, did not inhibit nucleotide-stimulated c-Jun phosphorylation, suggesting that protein kinase C is not involved in ATP- and UTP-triggered stress-activated protein kinase activation. 5. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, strongly attenuated ATP- and UTP-induced c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, N-acetyl-cysteine completely blocked the activation of stress-activated protein kinase in response to extracellular nucleotide stimulation. 6. In summary, these results suggest that ATP and UTP trigger the activation of the stress-activated protein kinase module in mesangial cells by a pathway independent of protein kinase C but requiring a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein and tyrosine kinase activation.

Extracellular nucleotides activate the p38-stress-activated protein kinase cascade in glomerular mesangial cells.

1. Extracellular ATP and UTP have been reported to activate a nucleotide receptor (P2Y2-receptor) that mediates arachidonic acid release with subsequent prostaglandin formation, a reaction critically depending on the activity of a cytosolic phospholipase A2. In addition, extracellular nucleotides trigger activation of the classical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade and cell proliferation as well as of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) cascade. 2. In this study, we report that ATP and UTP are also able to activate the p38-MAPK pathway as measured by phosphorylation of the p38-MAPK and its upstream activators MKK3/6, as well as phosphorylation of the transcription factor ATF2 in a immunocomplex-kinase assay. 3. Time courses reveal that ATP and UTP induce a rapid and transient activation of the p38-MAPK activity with a maximal activation after 5 min of stimulation which declined to control levels over the next 20 min. 4. A series of ATP and UPT analogues were tested for their ability to stimulate p38-MAPK activity. UTP and ATP were very effective analogues to activate p38-MAPK, whereas ADP and gamma-thio-ATP had only moderate activating effects. 2-Methyl-thio-ATP, beta gamma-imido-ATP, AMP, adenosine and UDP had no significant effects of p38-MAPK activity. In addition, the extracellular nucleotide-mediated effect on p38-MAPK was almost completely blocked by 1 mM of suramin, a putative P2-purinoceptor antagonist. 5. In summary, these results demonstrate for the first time that extracellular nucleotides are able to activate the MKK3/6- p38-MAPK cascade most likely via the P2Y2-receptor. Moreover, this finding implies that all three MAPK subtypes are signalling candidates for extracellular nucleotide-stimulated cell responses.

Comparison of different tumour promoters and bryostatin 1 on protein kinase C activation and down-regulation in rat renal mesangial cells.

The effects of a series of protein kinase C (PKC) activators with different spectra of biological activities and reportedly different patterns of PKC isoenzyme activation were examined in renal mesangial cells. Treatment of mesangial cells with the tumor promoters phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), debromoaplysiatoxin, dihydroteleocidin and thymeleatoxin, as well as with the marine natural product bryostatin 1, caused translocation and at least partial down-regulation of the PKC-alpha, -delta and -epsilon isoenzymes as assessed by immunoblot analysis. Bryostatin 1 mediates a faster depletion of PKC-alpha isoform than any of the other PKC activators. Thymeleatoxin, which has been reported to selectively activate PKC-alpha, -beta and -gamma, but not PKC-delta or -epsilon isoenzymes in vitro, turned out to exert the most potent effect on PKC-delta and -epsilon in mesangial cells and down-regulated these isotypes within 8-24 hr. None of the compounds tested affected cellular distribution or amount of PKC-zeta in mesangial cells. Thus, all of the PKC activators tested are able to translocate and down-regulate three of the four PKC isoenzymes present in mesangial cells although with different kinetics. All PKC activators stimulated a phospholipase A2-mediated arachidonic acid release, a phospholipase D-mediated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, a comparable small proliferative response and an inhibition of phospholipase C-mediated inositol trisphosphate generation. These results suggest: (i) that the PKC activators investigated in this study do not display any type of isotype-specificity that could be used to selectively activate or down-regulate PKC isoenzymes in intact cell-systems; (ii) that thymeleatoxin has a different isoenzyme selectivity in intact cells as compared to in vitro enzyme inhibition data; and (iii) PKC-zeta is resistant to all PKC activators investigated in this study.

Activation of protein kinase C subtypes alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta by tumor-promoting and nontumor-promoting agents.

Protein kinase C (PKC) subtypes alpha, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta have been expressed using the baculovirus expression system. The partially purified PKC subtypes have been studied for their substrate specificities and phospholipid-independent activation by various chemically different nontumor- and tumor-promoting agents, as well as their inhibition of kinase activity by staurosporine and two related compounds. An endogenous PKC-like kinase activity of Sf9 cells was detected and analyzed for cofactor requirements and inhibition. Protamine sulfate was most efficiently phosphorylated by all of the PKC subtypes tested, although this phosphorylation was independent of phosphatidylserine (PS) and diacylglycerol (DAG) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Except for PKC-zeta, all subtypes tested phosphorylated myelin basic protein (MBP), histone, or a peptide derived from the pseudosubstrate region of PKC-alpha in a PS/DAG-dependent manner but to varying extents. Among the various agents tested, TPA most efficiently stimulated the kinase activities of the PKC subtypes in a phospholipid-dependent manner. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) was less effective than TPA but displayed no major difference among the subtypes. Activation of PKC-alpha by bryostatin-1 reached only half of the TPA response whereas the other subtypes were activated more effectively. The weak tumor promoter resiniferonol 9,13,14-orthophenyl acetate (ROPA) mainly stimulated PKC-alpha and PKC-gamma at 1 microM concentration, whereas PKC-epsilon and PKC-eta were much less activated. Sapintoxin D, mezerein, indolactam V, and resiniferatoxin at concentrations of 1-100 nM preferentially activated PKC-alpha in a DAG-like manner, whereas at 1 microM other subtypes were activated as well. Preferential activation of PKC-alpha was also noted for tinyatoxin and thapsigargin, but their mode of activation is unclear because these two compounds did not compete for the phorbol ester binding of the PKC subtypes as the other agents did. Of the three PKC inhibitors tested, staurosporine most efficiently inhibited kinase activity of the PKC subtypes, whereas K252a and CGP 41251 were at least 10 times less effective. However, K252a showed certain specificity for inhibition of PKC-alpha, and CGP 41251 failed to inhibit PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta. Given the different substrate specificities and modes of activation by various tumor-promoting and nontumor-promoting agents, as well as the different sensitivities towards different inhibitors, our results indicate a divergence of individual PKC subtypes in signal transduction.

Protein kinase C in the rat retina: immunocharacterization of calcium-independent delta, epsilon and zeta isoenzymes.

Using isoenzyme-specific antibodies, subtypes of protein kinase C were determined in isolated retinae of dark adapted and light-exposed rats by SDS-PAGE-Western blotting. In addition to the previously observed alpha- and beta-subspecies, the rat retina also expressed the delta-, epsilon- and zeta-isoenzymes of protein kinase C. Exposure of the animals to physiological or high levels of light does not elicit changes in the pattern or in the distribution of the different isoenzymes in the cytosolic or particulate fractions. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of three calcium-independent protein kinase C isoenzymes in the rat retina.

Identification of ceramide targets in interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling in mesangial cells.

An increasing number of cell-surface receptors have been shown to trigger sphingomyelin turnover and generation of the lipid signaling molecule ceramide. Ceramide plays a role in mediating cellular responses as diverse as inflammation, differentiation, gene expression, growth suppression, and apoptosis. A radioiodinated, photoaffinity-labeling analog of ceramide ([125I]TID-ceramide) was used to identify downstream signaling targets of ceramide. Ceramide was found to bind specifically to and activate protein kinase c-Raf, leading to subsequent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) module in mesangial cells. We found also that ceramide binds to and differentially modulates the activity of distinct protein kinase C isoenzymes. These data are discussed in the context of interleukin 1beta-induced inflammatory gene expression in mesangial cells.