Delta opioid receptors expressed by stably transfected jurkat cells signal through the map kinase pathway in a ras-independent manner.

Delta opioid receptors (DOR) are G-protein coupled 7-transmembrane receptors (GPCR), expressed by thymic and splenic T cells, that modulate interleukin (IL)-2 production and proliferation in response to concanavalin A or crosslinking the TCR. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in mediating intracellular responses to TCR crosslinking. In addition, MAPKs can be activated by signaling cascades that are initiated by the release of G-proteins from GPCRs. To determine whether DORs expressed by T cells signal through the MAPKs, extracellular-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2, two delta opioid peptides, deltorphin and [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]-enkephalin (DADLE), were studied in Jurkat cells that had been stably transfected with DOR (DOR-Ju.1). These peptides rapidly and dose-dependently induced ERK phosphorylation; pretreatment with naltrindole (NTI), a selective DOR antagonist, abolished this. Pertussis toxin (PTX) also inhibited phosphorylation, indicating the involvement of the Gi/o proteins. Herbimycin A, a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, reduced the DADLE-induced ERK phosphorylation by 68%. ERK phosphorylation was inhibited by Bisindolylmaleimide 1 (GF109203X), an inhibitor of PKC, and by pretreatment with PMA prior to DADLE. A GTP/GDP exchange assay was used to assess the potential role of Ras in the pathway leading to ERK phosphorylation; DADLE failed to stimulate GTP/GDP exchange in comparison to PMA. Additional studies showed that DADLE stimulated an increase in cfos mRNA; this was reduced by the inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), PD98059. Therefore, in DOR-Ju.1 cells, DOR agonists stimulate ERK phosphorylation in a Ras independent and PKC-dependent manner; PTKs appear to be involved. MAPKs mediate the increase in cfos mRNA induced by DOR agonists.

Cellular signaling mechanisms for stimulation of growth hormone secretion and growth hormone primary transcripts by immunosuppressant agents, FK506 and cyclosporin A, in cultured rat pituitary cells.

Although an immunosuppressant, FK506, has been known to stimulate growth hormone (GH) release from rat somatotropes, the cellular signaling mechanism is unknown. In the present study, intracellular signaling pathways were investigated for FK506- and cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced GH release in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. Northern and Western blot analysis revealed that the FK506-binding protein (FKBP12) and the CsA-binding protein (cyclophilin A) exist at the mRNA and protein level in the rat anterior pituitary tissue. FK506 and CsA increased GH release in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited calcineurin (CaN) activity in the cultured pituitary cells. The third immunosuppressant, rapamycin (RP), inhibited the FK506-induced GH release, although RP alone had no effect. Protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, H-89 and HA-1004 and EGTA blocked FK506- and CsA-induced GH release. TGF-beta did not alter basal GH release, but inhibited FK506-induced GH release. GH primary transcripts were increased by FK506, and the effects were blocked by H-89 and HA-1004. These results suggest that the immunosuppressants, FK506 and CsA, stimulate GH release by inhibiting CaN activity which results in the activation of the PKA system in the rat somatotropes. TGF-beta receptors might be involved in FK506-induced GH release as a separate pathway. FK506 also stimulates GH primary transcripts via a PKA-dependent mechanism in a manner similar to its effects on GH release.

LAT: the ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase substrate that links T cell receptor to cellular activation.

Despite extensive study, several of the major components involved in T cell receptor-mediated signaling remain unidentified. Here we report the cloning of the cDNA for a highly tyrosine-phosphorylated 36-38 kDa protein, previously characterized by its association with Grb2, phospholipase C-gamma1, and the p85 subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Deduced amino acid sequence identifies a novel integral membrane protein containing multiple potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites. We show that this protein is phosphorylated by ZAP-70/Syk protein tyrosine kinases leading to recruitment of multiple signaling molecules. Its function is demonstrated by inhibition of T cell activation following overexpression of a mutant form lacking critical tyrosine residues. Therefore, we propose to name the molecule LAT-linker for activation of T cells.