Comparison of epidermal protein kinase C activity, ornithine decarboxylase induction and DNA synthesis stimulated by TPA or dioctanoylglycerol in mouse strains with differing susceptibility to TPA-induced tumor promotion

Protein kinase C family: on the crossroads of cell signaling in skin and tumor epithelium

The protein kinase C (PKC) family represents a large group of phospholipid dependent enzymes catalyzing the covalent transfer of phosphate from ATP to serine and threonine residues of proteins. Phosphorylation of the substrate proteins induces a conformational change resulting in modification of their functional properties. The PKC family consists of at least ten members, divided into three subgroups: classical PKCs (alpha, betaI, betaII, gamma), novel PKCs (delta, epsilon, eta, theta), and atypical PKCs (zeta, iota/lambda). The specific cofactor requirements, tissue distribution, and cellular compartmentalization suggest differential functions and fine tuning of specific signaling cascades for each isoform. Thus, specific stimuli can lead to differential responses via isoform specific PKC signaling regulated by their expression, localization, and phosphorylation status in particular biological settings. PKC isoforms are activated by a variety of extracellular signals and, in turn, modify the activities of cellular proteins including receptors, enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins, and transcription factors. Accordingly, the PKC family plays a central role in cellular signal processing. Accumulating data suggest that various PKC isoforms participate in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and death. These findings have enabled identification of abnormalities in PKC isoform function, as they occur in several cancers. Specifically, the initiation of squamous cell carcinoma formation and progression to the malignant phenotype was found to be associated with distinct changes in PKC expression, activation, distribution, and phosphorylation. These studies were recently further extended to transgenic and knockout animals, which allowed a more direct analysis of individual PKC functions. Accordingly, this review is focused on the involvement of PKC in physiology and pathology of the skin.

PKC and polyamine modulation of GluR2-deficient AMPA receptors in immature neocortical pyramidal neurons of the rat

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate the bulk of fast synaptic excitation in the CNS. We have recently shown that AMPAR-dependent synaptic transmission in immature neocortical pyramidal neurons is mediated by GluR2-deficient receptors that can be modulated by intra- or extracellular polyamines (PAs). Phosphorylation of AMPARs, e.g. by PKC, can lead to enhanced excitation, and PAs are known to modulate PKC activity. Therefore, PAs and PKC might interact to influence AMPAR function. To test this hypothesis, we made whole cell recordings from immature (P12-14) layer V pyramidal neurons and assayed two measures of PA influence on synaptic AMPAR function - inward rectification and use-dependent unblock (UDU), with the latter assayed by differences in rectification between a pair of EPSCs evoked at short (50 ms) latencies. We have previously shown that EPSCs in immature pyramidal neurons displayed inward rectification, which was enhanced by intracellular spermine, as was UDU. Staurosporin (ST), a PKC inhibitor, reversed the effect of PA on rectification and UDU, suggesting that PKC modulates postsynaptic activation of AMPARs. Similarly, polyamine-dependent rectification of spontaneous EPSCs was reversed by treatment with ST or GFX109203X, a specific PKC inhibitor. Chelating intracellular Ca(2+) with BAPTA reproduced the effects of ST. In addition, PA immunoreactivity in layer V pyramidal neurons was reduced by PKC inhibition indicating that PKC activity influences PA metabolism. Taken together, these data support the involvement of postsynaptic PKC activation in both the inward rectification and UDU of EPSCs in immature rat cortex, and suggest an important mechanism by which excitatory synaptic transmission can be dynamically modulated by changes in either [Ca(2+)](i) or [PA](i).

A catechol antioxidant protocatechuic acid potentiates inflammatory leukocyte-derived oxidative stress in mouse skin via a tyrosinase bioactivation pathway

The modifying effects of topical application of a catechol antioxidant protocatechuic acid (PA) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse skin were investigated. Treatment with a high dose (20,000 nmol) of PA, based on time of application, modifies inflammatory responses in the skin of the B6C3F(1) mouse, a resistant strain to inflammatory response induction by TPA, but shows much higher tyrosinase expression than that of an albino mouse. The responsibility of a large amount of PA-induced leukocyte infiltration to an inflamed region in a B6C3F(1) mouse is more sensitive than that of an ICR albino mouse. When ICR mice were treated with TPA (1.6 nmol) twice weekly for 5 weeks to induce chronic inflammatory responses, pretreatment with 1600 nmol PA 30 min prior to each TPA treatment significantly enhanced the inflammatory responses including edema formation, leukocyte infiltration, and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances. The dose-dependency was closely parallel to the results of a tumor promotion study of PA previously reported. Further, the treatment of PA alone resulted in tyrosinase-dependent contact hypersensitivity in ICR mouse skin. In addition, the in vitro study of cytotoxicity demonstrated that bioactivation by tyrosinase but not myeloperoxidase of PA significantly enhanced cytotoxicity and intracellular glutathione consumption. We conclude that the tyrosinase-derived reactive quinone intermediate(s) of PA, which binds nucleophilic residues of proteins including sulfhydryl group and conjugates of which are recognized as haptens, was partially involved in alteration of the cellular immune functions including oxygen radical-generating leukocytes migration to inflamed regions.

Development of a toxicological gene array and quantitative assessment of this technology

High-density arrays of DNA bound to solid substrates offer a powerful approach to identifying changes in gene expression in response to toxicants. While DNA arrays have been used to explore qualitative changes in gene regulation, less attention has focused on the quantitative aspects of this technology. Arrays containing expressed sequence tags for xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, proteins associated with glutathione regulation, DNA repair enzymes, heat shock proteins, and housekeeping genes were used to examine gene expression in response to beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). Upregulation of cytochrome P4501a1 (Cyp1a1) and 1a2 in mouse liver was maximal 8 h after beta-NF administration. Significant upregulation of Cyp1a2 was noted at beta-NF doses as low as 0.62 and 1.2 mg/kg when gene expression was measured by microarray or Northern blotting, respectively. Maximal Cyp1a2 induction is 5-fold by Northern analysis and 10-fold by microarray. Induction of Cyp1a1 was 15- and 20-fold by Northern and microarray analysis, respectively. The coefficient of variation for spot to spot and slide to slide comparisons was <15%; this variability was smaller than interanimal variability (18-60%). Comparison of mRNA expression in control animals indicated that there are differences in labeling/detection associated with Cy3/Cy5 dyes; accordingly, experiments must include methods for establishing baseline signals for all genes. We conclude that the dynamic range and sensitivity of DNA microarrays on glass slides is comparable to Northern blotting analysis and that variability of the data introduced during spotting and hybridization is less than the interanimal variability.

Topically applied diacylglycerols increase pigmentation in guinea pig skin

Exposure of human and murine melanocytes in vitro to the diacylglycerol (DAG) 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) markedly increases melanin production within 24 h. To determine whether OAG can increase melanin production in vivo, increasing concentrations of OAG (10-60 mg/ml) in propylene glycol were applied daily for 5 d to shaved guinea pigs. Dose-dependent increased pigmentation was visible first on days 17-22 and persisted for 10-14 weeks. Peak epidermal melanin content in OAG-treated sites was more than twice that of untreated or vehicle-treated sites, as assessed by computerized image analysis of Fontana-Masson stained biopsy cross sections. In another experiment to assess the mechanism of DAG-mediated pigmentation, guinea pigs received twice daily separate applications of OAG, dipalmitoylglycerol (diC16), dioctanoylglycerol (diC8), each 50 mg/ml, 20 microliters/application, and propylene glycol vehicle alone for 5 d. Increased pigmentation was visible after 10 d in the OAG and diC8 sites but not in diC16 or vehicle sites. These results correlate with the reported ability of these compounds to activate protein kinase C in vitro. In a final experiment, guinea pigs received OAG 25 mg/ml three times daily to one test site, and once daily ultraviolet B (70 mJ/cm2, equivalent to 0.6 minimal erythemal dose) radiation to another for 10 d. The OAG and ultraviolet B test sites developed comparable pigmentation by both clinical and histologic criteria. Our data demonstrate that topically applied DAGs can produce a long-lasting increase in epidermal pigmentation, presumably through protein kinase C activation, which clinically and histologically closely resembles ultraviolet-induced tanning.

Inhibition of 80 kDa protein phosphorylation by short-wavelength UV light in NIH 3T3 cells

The exposure of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells to 254 nm UV radiation resulted in a temporary depression of DNA synthesis and inhibition of 80 kDa protein phosphorylation. This inhibition of protein phosphorylation was correlated with decreased protein kinase C activity in the membrane fractions of UV-damaged cells. The inositol triphosphate contents measured, by the competitive binding assay using bovine adrenal binding protein, showed 80% reduction in the fibroblasts treated with 15 J/m2 of UV light. The intracellular diacylglycerol concentration was also markedly reduced in UV-damaged cells. The results suggest that UV light causes acute reductions of inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol contents in cells along with decreases in membrane protein kinase C activity, which leads to the inhibition of phosphorylation of an acidic protein of 80 kDa.

Induction of superoxide by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and thapsigargin, a non-phorbol-ester-type tumor promoter, in peritoneal macrophages elicited from SENCAR and B6C3F1 mice: a permissive role for the arachidonic acid cascade in signal transduction

Local production of reactive oxygen intermediates, e.g., superoxide anion, by tumor promoter-stimulated inflammatory macrophages (MPs) may contribute significantly to tumor development in classical models of two-stage chemical-induced carcinogenesis in murine skin. In the studies reported herein, peritoneal MPs elicited from phorbol-ester-sensitive SENCAR mice demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent release of superoxide anion (4-6 nmol/10(6) cells) when stimulated by 200 nM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in vitro; MP superoxide response was significantly inhibited (50-70%) by preincubation with 40 microM 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a protein-kinase inhibitor. Alternatively, TPA-stimulated MPs derived from relatively resistant B6C3F1 mice generated negligible superoxide under the same conditions. A similar strain-dependent induction of superoxide was observed when MPs were stimulated with thapsigargin (TG), a tumor promoter previously shown to act independently of protein kinase C (PKC). TG-stimulated SENCAR MPs released a significant amount of superoxide (2-3 nmol/10(6) cells) that was not inhibited by H-7; MPs from B6C3F1 mice demonstrated negligible stimulation by TG. Preincubation of SENCAR MPs with 100 microM dibromoacetophenone, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, completely suppressed the superoxide induced by TPA and TG stimulation. Like TPA, 50 microM 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, a diacylglycerol analogue and PKC activator, also induced a significant amount of superoxide from SENCAR MPs only. In parallel with the superoxide findings, TPA and TG stimulated significantly greater [3H]arachidonic acid release from prelabeled SENCAR MPs (a 32% and 48% increase, respectively, over unstimulated controls) relative to MPs from B6C3F1 mice. Two-dimensional gel-electrophoretic analysis indicated that TPA-induced phosphorylation of a 47-kDa protein (a presumed substrate for PKC previously linked to NADPH oxidase activation in guinea pig and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes) occurred in MPs from both SENCAR and B6C3F1 mice. Therefore, arachidonic acid production may be a common biochemical pathway by which phorbol-ester--and non-phorbol-ester--type tumor promoters activate MPs in SENCAR mice; such a response may be "permissive" for additive (or synergistic) interactions with PKC-driven signal pathways.

Hydrolyzable tannins: potent inhibitors of hydroperoxide production and tumor promotion in mouse skin treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in vivo

The anti-oxidant and the anti-tumor-promotion activities of several hydrolyzable tannins (HTs), including a commercial tannic-acid (TA) mixture, were examined in mouse skin treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in vivo. A single application of TPA gradually increases the hydroperoxide (HPx)-producing activity of the epidermis, which is maximally stimulated at 3 days and returns to control levels at 9 days. Pre-treatments with TA and ellagic acid (EA) strongly inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner, this HPx response to TPA. Total inhibition by TA lasts for about 16 hr, beyond which it is substantially reduced but not completely lost. TA can also reduce the level of epidermal HPx when it is applied 36 hr after the tumor promoter. EA is an antioxidant 10 times more potent than TA and n-propyl gallate (PG), which are equally effective against TPA-induced HPx production. Gallic acid is the least effective of the HTs in inhibiting HPx formation. TA also inhibits the production of HPx induced by several structurally different tumor promoters and the greater HPx responses produced by repeated TPA treatments. When applied 20 min before each promotion treatment, twice a week for 45 weeks, several HTs inhibit the incidence and yield of papillomas and carcinomas promoted by TPA in initiated skin. Overall, TA is more effective than EA and PG in inhibiting skin-tumor promotion by TPA, suggesting that the anti-oxidant effects of HTs are essential but not sufficient for their anti-tumor-promotion activity.

Evidence for and possible mechanisms of non-genotoxic carcinogenesis in mouse skin

Most chemicals that produce skin cancer are genotoxic by in vitro and in vivo short-term assays and produce a high incidence of skin cancer within a year if optimal doses are applied. If in long-term skin painting studies one or two tumours in 50 mice are observed there is a general consensus that no carcinogenic activity can be claimed and it has been suggested that if up to 10% tumours are induced by irritant substances this could be due to an enhancement of spontaneous tumour incidence. Observations of skin tumour incidences higher than 10% with non-genotoxic substances, usually after a long latent period, is considered to represent evidence for a non-genotoxic mechanism. Examples of such substances include croton oil, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, phenol, dodecylbenzene and petroleum-derived middle distillates. Two distinct mechanisms appear to be involved in the production of tumours by a non-genotoxic substance. The first of these is that seen with the strong promoting agents. These, by binding to and activating protein kinase C, appear to directly stimulate sustained epidermal hyperplasia without severe skin damage. The other appears to involve substances producing severe skin damage either by a direct caustic effect or by cumulative irritancy. These changes give rise to marked epidermal hyperplasia with repeated episodes of regeneration and damage. The tumour induction by both mechanisms probably results from oncogene activation and it is possible that oxidative enzymes from inflammatory cells may be involved in the activation process. Various reasons are given why non-genotoxic carcinogenesis in the skin is considered not to be relevant to man and ways of recognising and avoiding its occurrence in animals studies are recommended.

Partial characterization of epidermal protein kinase C in mice sensitive or resistant to phorbol ester

The present study has characterized several aspects of the mouse epidermal protein kinase C (PKC) system and compared phorbol ester-sensitive and -resistant mice. Protein immunoblots of partially purified epidermal PKC preparations from SENCAR and C57BL/6 mice indicated the presence of the gamma-, beta-, and alpha-isozymes of PKC in both strains. Hydroxylapatite chromatography profiles of epidermal PKC isozymes from SENCAR and C57BL/6 mice revealed three major peaks of PKC activity eluting in fractions similar to those observed in chromatograms of brain tissue and corresponding to PKC-gamma, -beta, and -alpha. Further analyses of hydroxylapatite chromatography fractions revealed that PKC-gamma and -beta were present in approximately similar proportions and were much more abundant than PKC-alpha. This distribution of epidermal PKC isozymes was similar in both strains. After a single topical application of 3.4 nmol 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to SENCAR mouse epidermis, total PKC activity in the cytosol fraction decreased rapidly to about 50% of control within 15 min and was accompanied by an increase (approximately 150% of control) of PKC activity in the membrane fraction. At 4 h, PKC activities were significantly lower than the control levels and remained downregulated through 96 h with a maximal decrease (to approximately 25-30% of the control) in both cytosol and membrane fractions at h. PKC activity returned to control levels by 168 h. Ca++/phospholipid-independent kinase activity was the same as control levels at 15 min, 1 h, and 4 h after TPA treatment but was elevated above control levels at 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h, and by 168 h returned essentially to control levels. No differences were found in the magnitude or kinetics of TPA-induced translocation and downregulation of total PKC or appearance of Ca++/phospholipid-independent kinase activity between SENCAR, DBA/2, and C57BL/6 mice. Scatchard analyses using a two binding site model revealed that the apparent Kd and Bmax values for binding of PDBu to epidermal cytosol and membrane fractions were similar between SSln, SENCAR, DBA/2, and C57BL/6 mice. The present results demonstrate for the first time that mouse epidermis contains significant amounts of the three major PKC isozymes that are present in brain, especially PKC-gamma. In addition, topical application of a promoting dose of TPA did not lead to complete loss of PKC activity in either the membrane or cytosol fractions of mouse epidermis. In conclusion, no differences were observed between phorbol ester-sensitive and -resistant mice in any aspect of epidermal PKC examined.