Differential down-regulation of insulin-sensitive protein kinase-C isoforms by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in rat adipocytes and BC3H-1 myocytes

Modulation of ileal apical Na+-dependent bile acid transporter ASBT by protein kinase C

Ileal apical Na(+)-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) is responsible for reabsorbing the majority of bile acids from the intestinal lumen. Rapid adaptation of ASBT function in response to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli is essential for the maintenance of bile acid homeostasis. However, not much is known about molecular mechanisms responsible for acute posttranscriptional regulation of ileal ASBT. The protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway represents a major cell signaling mechanism influencing intestinal epithelial functions. The present studies were, therefore, undertaken to investigate ASBT regulation in intestinal Caco-2 monolayers by the well-known PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Our results showed that Na(+)-dependent [(3)H]taurocholic acid uptake in Caco-2 cells was significantly inhibited in response to 2 h incubation with 100 nM PMA compared with incubation with 4alpha-PMA (inactive form). The inhibitory effect of PMA was blocked in the presence of 5 microM bisindolylmaleimide I (PKC inhibitor) but not 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-AM (Ca(2+) chelator) or LY-294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor). PMA inhibition of ASBT function was also abrogated in the presence of myristoylated PKCzeta pseudosubstrate peptide, indicating involvement of the atypical PKCzeta isoform. The inhibition by PMA was associated with a significant decrease in the maximal velocity of the transporter and a reduction in ASBT plasma membrane content, suggesting a modulation by vesicular recycling. Our novel findings demonstrate a posttranscriptional modulation of ileal ASBT function and membrane expression by phorbol ester via a PKCzeta-dependent pathway.

PKC-dependent stimulation of the human MCT1 promoter involves transcription factor AP2

Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1) plays an important role in the absorption of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate in the human colon. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that phorbol ester, PMA (1 microM, 24 h), upregulates butyrate transport and MCT1 protein expression in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation of MCT1 gene expression by PMA in the intestine are not known. In the present study, we showed that PMA (0.1 microM, 24 h) increased the MCT1 promoter activity (-871/+91) by approximately fourfold. A corresponding increase in MCT1 mRNA abundance in response to PMA was also observed. PMA-induced stimulation of MCT1 promoter activity was observed as early as 1 h and persisted until 24 h, suggesting that the effects of PMA are attributable to initial PKC activation. Kinase inhibitor and phosphorylation studies indicated that these effects may be mediated through activation of the atypical PKC-zeta isoform. 5'-deletion studies demonstrated that the MCT1 core promoter region (-229/+91) is the PMA-responsive region. Site-directed mutagenesis studies showed the predominant involvement of potential activator protein 2 (AP2) binding site in the activation of MCT1 promoter activity by PMA. In addition, overexpression of AP2 in Caco-2 cells significantly increased MCT1 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. These findings showing the regulation of MCT1 promoter by PKC and AP2 are of significant importance for an understanding of the molecular regulation of SCFA absorption in the human intestine.

Phosphorylation and desensitization of the lysophosphatidic acid receptor LPA1

In C9 cells, LPA (lysophosphatidic acid) induced inositol phosphate production, increased intracellular calcium concentration and inhibited adenylate cyclase activity. These responses were abolished in cells challenged with active phorbol esters. Action of phorbol esters was blocked by inhibitors of PKC (protein kinase C) and by its down-regulation. LPA1 receptor phosphorylation was observed in response to phorbol esters. The effect was rapid (t1/2 approximately 1 min), intense (2-fold) and sustained (at least 60 min). PKC inhibitors markedly decreased the LPA1 receptor phosphorylation induced by phorbol esters. LPA1 receptor tagged with the green fluorescent protein internalized in response to PKC activation. In addition, LPA and angiotensin II were also capable of inducing LPA1 receptor phosphorylation, showing that LPA1 receptor can be subjected to homologous and heterologous desensitization.

Ectopic expression of protein kinase CbetaII, -delta, and -epsilon, but not -betaI or -zeta, provide for insulin stimulation of glucose uptake in NIH-3T3 cells

Insulin regulates a diverse array of signaling pathways involved in the control of growth, differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism. Insulin increases in glucose uptake via a protein kinase C-dependent pathway in target tissues such as fat and muscle are well documented. Insulin-regulated events, however, occur in all cells. The utilization of glucose as a preferred energy source is a ubiquitous event in eukaryotic cells. In NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, insulin treatment increased levels of the cPKC and nPKC activator, diacylglycerol. Insulin-responsive 2-[(3)H]deoxyglucose uptake was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner. The overexpression of protein kinase C (PKC)betaI, -betaII, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta was used to investigate the specificity of PKC isozymes for insulin-sensitive glucose uptake. The stable overexpression of PKCbetaII, -delta, and -epsilon resulted in increases in insulin-stimulated 2-[(3)H]deoxyglucose uptake compared to vector control cells, while basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake levels were not elevated. Overexpression of PKCbetaI and PKCzeta isozymes had no further effect on basal or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. The PKC-specific inhibitor, CGP41251, blocked insulin effects on 2-deoxyglucose uptake but not its effects on tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular substrates. Insulin-stimulated 3-O-methylglucose uptake was also greater in cells overexpressing PKCbetaII, -delta, and -epsilon, compared to control cells. The increased responsiveness was not accompanied by conversion of 3T3 cells to the adipocyte phenotype or the increased expression of insulin receptors or glucose transporters (GLUT1-type). Insulin-stimulated recruitment of GLUT1 to plasma membranes of cells overexpressing PKCbetaII, -delta, and -epsilon, was greater than that in control cells. The data suggest that more than one PKC isozyme is involved in insulin signaling pathways in fibroblasts, resulting in increased GLUT1 transporter recruitment to cell membranes.

Protein kinase C isoforms play differential roles in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation

In this study we first established, by immunoblotting with specific antibodies, the temporal changes in cellular levels of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms during differentiation of 3T3-F442A pre-adipocytes. Both pre-adipocyte and adipocyte 3T3-F442A cells were found to express PKC-alpha, -gamma, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -mu. However we were unable to detect PKC-beta, -eta or -theta. The same PKC isoform expression profile was found in rat adipocytes. The alpha, delta and gamma isoforms displayed similar temporal patterns of expression during differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells; all increased rapidly, peaking at day 2 of differentiation. Subsequently, the expression of these isoforms decreased, resulting in lower levels in fully differentiated adipocytes than in pre-adipocytes. The expression of PKC-epsilon increased steadily during differentiation, resulting in markedly elevated levels in adipocytes. Although expression of PKC-mu increased during differentiation, this was attributable to prolonged confluence rather than to the differentiation process itself. No change was observed in PKC-zeta levels during adipocyte development. Anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were used to deplete selectively the individual PKC subtypes. Each of the ODNs used effectively depleted the specific isoforms to undetectable levels and did not affect expression of the other PKC subtypes. This approach indicated that pre-adipocyte differentiation is not dependent upon PKC-zeta but that PKC-alpha,-delta and -mu each exert an inhibitory influence upon differentiation. Use of anti-sense ODNs to deplete PKC-epsilon and -gamma revealed that pre-adipocyte differentiation is dependent upon each of these isoforms. However, PKC-gamma, but not PKC-epsilon, appeared to be necessary for the clonal expansion of differentiating cells, suggesting that PKC-epsilon is required at a later phase in the differentiation process, when its expression is elevated, for the attainment and maintenance of the adipocyte phenotype.

The presence of an unusual PKC isozyme profile in rat liver cells

We have previously shown that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the mitogenic response of T51B cells to epidermal growth factor. In fact, epidermal growth factor was an excellent mitogen, even after prolonged pretreatment of cells with TPA, suggesting that the PKC isoform implicated in proliferation is not down-regulated by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We have now determined that the PKC isozymes -α, -βI, -δ, -ε, and -ζ are present in T51B cells. All five isoforms are associated with the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm and are either in or around the nucleus. PKC-βI has a slightly different subcellular profile from that of the other isoforms in that it is clearly and strongly associated with the nuclear membrane. Also, a unique and novel pattern is obtained from immunoblots with anti-PKC-βI. PKC-βI is detected as a single band of 70 kDa in the cytosolic fraction and as a doublet of 65 and 77 kDa in the membrane fraction. PKC-α, -δ, and -ε were down-regulated by pretreatment of cells with TPA, while PKC-ζ was unaffected. Of particular interest was the fact that TPA did not down-regulate PKC-βI. In fact, the amount of this isoform associated with the plasma membrane increased. These findings indicate that it is probably PKC-βI that is involved in the mitogenic response of T51B cells to epidermal growth factor. Since PKC-ζ is also not down-regulated by TPA, the possible involvement of this isoform needs to be resolved.Key words: protein kinase C, intracellular localization, cell proliferation, liver.

Protein kinase C and insulin regulation of red blood cell Na+/H+ exchange

Insulin activation of red blood cell (RBC) Na+/H+ (NHE) and Na+/Li+ (NLiE) exchanges is mimicked by okadaic acid, thus suggesting that it may change the state of phosphorylation of serine/threonine NHE residues. To investigate the role of the serine/threonine protein kinase C (PKC) in insulin regulation, we evaluated the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 1 microM) and insulin on PKC activity, membrane protein phosphorylation, and the activation kinetics of both exchangers. Our studies revealed that PMA decreased cytosolic PKC activity (4.1 +/- 0.6 to 2.3 +/- 0.5 pmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), n = 9, P < 0.001), increased membrane PKC activity (42.3 +/- 5 to 132 +/- 12 pmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), n = 11, P < 0.001), and enhanced serine phosphorylation of bands 3, 4.1, and 4.9 membrane proteins. PMA markedly reduced the Michaelis constant (Km) for intracellular H+ (415 +/- 48 to 227 +/- 38 nM, n = 11, P < 0.01) but had no effect on the maximal transport rate (Vmax) of NHE and the Km for Na+ of NLiE. NHE activation and PKC activity were affected differently by insulin (100 microU/ml) and PMA. Insulin increased the Vmax of NHE and the Km for Na+ of NLiE but had no effect on the Km for intracellular H+ and membrane PKC activity. These findings lead us to conclude that in the human RBC, NHE is modulated by PKC and insulin through different biochemical mechanisms.

Effect of phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate on ligand binding, enzyme activity and translocation of protein kinase C isoforms in the alpha T3-1 gonadotrope-derived cell line

The effect of incubating alpha T3-1 cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on the protein kinase C (PKC) isoform content (predominantly alpha, epsilon and zeta isoforms) was assessed by immunoblotting, enzyme activity assay and [3H]PDBu binding. After exposure to PDBu for 17 h the immunoreactivity detected for both PKC alpha and PKC epsilon had disappeared from cytosol and had increased slightly in membranes. Immunoreactivity for PKC zeta was present as two bands in cytosol; after PDBu treatment both bands decreased in intensity, the higher molecular weight band more than the lower. The lower molecular weight band corresponded with a component of constitutive PKC activity eluting from DEAE cellulose that was defined by inhibition of basal activity with GF 109203X or H7. Investigation of very short treatment times with PDBu using binding, immunoblot and activity measurements (in the presence/absence of Ca2+) indicated that translocation of PKC alpha and epsilon was very rapid-detectable by 10 sec, maximal within minutes. Reduction of these isoforms in membranes took much longer, and was not apparent up to 150 min. The immunoblot data for PKC zeta in cytosol showed no detectable effect of PDBu treatment on the low molecular weight band up to 150 min although it was reduced at 17 h. Translocation of the upper band was detectable at 10 sec but this band may have resulted from cross-reaction with other PKC isoforms. The constitutive activity and low molecular weight ("authentic') PKC zeta immunoreactivity were partially affected after long exposure only, suggesting an action of PDBu on PKC zeta secondary to activation of the other PKC isoforms. An endogenous receptor agonist, luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), was also used to assess by immunoblotting, translocation of the PKC isoforms. Although all the isoforms did translocate from cytosol to membrane fractions, they did so with distinctly different time courses: PKC epsilon moved more rapidly than PKC zeta which appeared to translocate more quickly than PKC alpha. After downregulation of the responsive PKC isoforms with PDBu, the remaining PKC zeta was not translocated by LHRH.

Oleic acid-induced mitogenic signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells. A role for protein kinase C

As an initial step in testing the hypothesis that high oleic acid concentrations contribute to vascular remodeling in obese hypertensive patients by activating protein kinase C (PKC), the effects of oleic acid on primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) were studied. Oleic acid, an 18-carbon cis-monounsaturated fatty acid (18:1 [cis]), from 25 to 200 mumol/L significantly increased [3H]thymidine uptake in RASMCs with an EC50 of 41.0 mumol/L and a maximal response of 196 +/- 15% of control (P < .01). Oleic acid from 25 to 200 mumol/L caused a concentration-dependent increase in the number of RASMCs in culture at 6 days, reaching a maximum of 210 +/- 13% of control at 100 mumol/L (P < .001). PKC inhibition with 4 mumol/L bisindolyImaleimide I and PKC depletion (alpha, mu, iota, and zeta) with 24-hour exposure to 200 nmol/L phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in RASMCs eliminated the mitogenic effects of oleic acid but did not reduce responses to 10% FBS. Stimulation of intact cells with oleic acid induced a peak increase of cytosolic PKC activity, reaching 328 +/- 8% of control (P < .001), but did not enhance PKC activity in the membrane fraction (105 +/- 4%, P = NS). The oleic acid-induced increase of PKC activity in cell lysates was similar in the presence and absence of Ca2+, phosphatidylserine, and diolein (maximum response, 360 +/- 4% versus 342 +/- 9% of control, P = NS). Unlike phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, oleic acid over 24 hours did not downregulate any of the four PKC isoforms detected in RASMCs. Oleic acid treatment activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. PKC depletion in RASMCs eliminated the rise in thymidine uptake, activation of PKC, and activation of MAP kinase in response to oleic acid. In contrast to oleic acid, 50 to 200 mumol/L stearic (18:0) and elaidic (18:1 [trans]) acids, which are less effective activators of PKC than oleic acid, did not enhance thymidine uptake. These data suggest that oleic acid induces proliferation of RASMCs by activating PKC, particularly one or more of the Ca(2+)-independent isoforms, and raise the possibility that the higher oleic acid concentrations observed in obese hypertensive patients may contribute to vascular remodeling.

Protein kinase C in beta-cells: expression of multiple isoforms and involvement in cholinergic stimulation of insulin secretion

The mammalian protein kinase C (PKC) family consists of at least 11 distinct isotypes with marked differences in tissue distribution, localization, cofactor dependence and substrate specificity. Evidence exists for the expression of some of the PKC isoforms in pancreatic beta-cells but no comprehensive analysis of all the known PKC types has been accomplished. To assess the functional relevance of phosphorylation by PKC in the mechanism of insulin secretion we firstly investigated the expression of PKC isoforms in pancreatic beta-cells. The combination of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern analysis and immunoblotting demonstrated the expression of PKC-alpha, beta II, epsilon, zeta, lambda and mu in MIN6 beta-cells. PKC-mu has not previously been detected in beta-cells. Expression of PKC-delta was also observed at the mRNA level; however, the protein could not be detected by Western blotting in MIN6 cells but was readily observed in RINm5F beta-cells. In short-term incubations, insulin release from MIN6 cells was augmented by 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), by carbachol, and by 40 mM K+. Culture of MIN6 cells overnight with TPA resulted in down-regulation of PKC-alpha (totally) and epsilon (partially), without significant change in the other isoforms. In such TPA-treated cells, the secretory response to TPA and to carbachol was abolished but not that elicited by high K+. It is suggested that PKC-alpha and/or epsilon may play a role in cholinergic potentiation of insulin secretion.

Growth hormone increases calcium uptake in rat fat cells by a mechanism dependent on protein kinase C

Growth hormone (GH; 500 ng/ml) rapidly doubled cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat adipocytes as determined with the Ca2+ indicator fura 2. No response was seen in Ca(2+)-free medium, suggesting that the increase in [Ca2+]i was due to Ca2+ influx. GH also doubled the influx of Mn2- as inferred from the rate of fluorescence quenching. Depolarization with 30 mMK+ also increased [Ca2+]i, and the increase in [Ca2+]i due to either GH or 30 mMK+ was blocked by 100 nM nimodipine, suggesting that GH increases [Ca2+]i by activating voltage-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels. GH increased [Ca2+]i even when K+ channels were blocked, suggesting that activation of Ca2+ uptake was not secondary to closure of K+ channels and consequent depolarization. A diacylglycerol (PAG) analogue, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (50 microM), duplicated, and the protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitors calphostin C (100 nM), chelerythrine (1 microM), and bis-indolylmaleimide (250 nM) inhibited the effects of GH on [Ca2+]i. Xanthogenate tricyclodecan-9-yl (D609), a specific inhibitor of phospholipase C(PLC), abolished the increase in [Ca2+]i due to GH but not to DAG. The results suggest that GH increases [Ca2+]i by activation of PLC, release of DAG, and activation of a Ca(2+)-independent isoform of PKC. PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of either the Ca2+ channels or a protein that regulates them may account for the influx of Ca2+ produced by GH.

Oleic acid inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthase by a protein kinase C-independent mechanism

Many obese hypertensive individuals have a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. This cluster includes plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations and turnover rates that are higher and more resistant to suppression by insulin than in lean and obese normotensive individuals. The higher fatty acids may contribute to cardiovascular risk in these patients by inhibiting endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase activity. To test this hypothesis, we quantified the effects of oleic (18:1[cis]) and other 18-carbon fatty acids on nitric oxide synthase activity in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells by measuring the conversion of [3H]L-arginine to [3H]L-citrulline. Oleic acid (from 10 to 100 mumol/L) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in nitric oxide synthase activity at baseline and during ATP and ionomycin (Ca2+ ionophore) stimulation. At 100 mumol/L, linoleic (18:2[cis]) and oleic acids caused similar reductions of nitric oxide synthase activity, whereas elaidic (18:1[trans]) and stearic (18:0) acids had no effect. Oleic acid also inhibited the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine in rabbit femoral artery rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (P < .05) but had no effect on the response to nitroprusside. The pattern of 18-carbon fatty acid effects on nitric oxide synthase activity in endothelial cells is consistent with activation of protein kinase C. Although oleic acid increased protein kinase C activity in endothelial cells, neither depletion of protein kinase C by 24-hour pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate nor its inhibition with staurosporine eliminated the inhibitory effect of oleic acid on nitric oxide synthase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Physical association and functional relationship between protein kinase C zeta and the actin cytoskeleton

Protein kinase C (PKC) was initially identified as a serine/threonine protein kinase dependent on calcium and phospholipids and shown to be involved in intracellular signaling pathways. PKC isoforms have been classified into four groups: Ca(2+)-dependent conventional PKC alpha, beta I, beta II, gamma; Ca(2+)-independent, novel PKC delta, epsilon, eta, phi; atypical PKC zeta, lambda, iota which are not activated by Ca2+ or diacylglycerol, and the recently discovered PKCmu. We reported that activation of the zeta PKC isoform is an important step in interleukin-2 (IL-2)-mediated proliferation (Gómez, J., Pitton, C., García, A., Martínez, A., Silva, A. and Rebollo, A., Exp. Cell Res. 1995. 218: 105.). zeta PKC is also required for mitogenic activation of fibroblasts and for the maturation pathway activated by insulin and Ras. Contradictory results have been reported regarding the subcellular redistribution of zeta PKC upon activation. We report here, using confocal microscopy, that IL-2 induces expression, translocation and association of zeta PKC to a structure coincident with the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, we show that zeta PKC has a role in maintaining the integrity of the actin cytoskeletal structure in IL-2-stimulated cells. On the contrary, zeta PKC is not involved in the actin cytoskeleton organization when cells are maintained in IL-4, confirming our previous results showing that IL-4-induced signal transduction is PKC independent.

Regulation of alternative splicing of protein kinase C beta by insulin

Insulin regulates a diverse array of cellular signaling processes involved in the control of growth, differentiation, and cellular metabolism. Insulin increases glucose transport via a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway in BC3H-1 myocytes, but the function of specific PKC isozymes in insulin action has not been elucidated. Two isoforms of PKC beta result via alternative splicing of precursor mRNA. As now shown, both isoforms are present in BC3H-1 myocytes, and insulin induces alternative splicing of the PKC beta mRNA thereby switching expression from PKC beta I to PKC beta II mRNA. This effect occurs rapidly (15 min after insulin treatment) and is dose-dependent. The switch in mRNA is reflected by increases in the protein levels of PKC beta II. High levels of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, which are commonly used to deplete or down-regulate PKC in cells, also induce the switch to PKC beta II mRNA following overnight treatment, and protein levels of PKC beta II reflected mRNA increases. To investigate the functional importance of the shift in PKC beta isoform expression, stable transfectants of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts overexpressing PKC beta I and PKC beta II were established. The overexpression of PKC beta II but not PKC beta I in NIH-3T3 cells significantly enhanced insulin effects on glucose transport. This suggests that PKC beta II may be more selective than PKC beta I for enhancing the glucose transport effects of insulin in at least certain cells and, furthermore, that insulin can regulate the expression of PKC beta II by alternative mRNA splicing.

Insulin increases mRNA levels of protein kinase C-alpha and -beta in rat adipocytes and protein kinase C-alpha, -beta and -theta in rat skeletal muscle

Effects of insulin of levels of mRNA encoding protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha, PKC-beta, PKC-epsilon and PKC-theta were examined by ribonuclease protection assay in primary cultures of rat adipocytes in vitro, and in rat adipose tissue and gastrocnemius muscle in vivo. In all cases, insulin increased the levels of PKC-alpha mRNA and PKC-beta mRNA, and, in muscle, insulin also increased the level of PKC-theta mRNA. PKC-epsilon mRNA levels, on the other hand, were not altered significantly. Insulin also stimulated the apparent translocation of PKC-alpha, -beta, -epsilon and -theta, to the membrane fractions of adipocytes, adipose tissue and gastrocnemius muscles, and, in some instances, total PKC levels were diminished, e.g. PKC-alpha and PKC-beta in cultured adipocytes in vitro and/or whole adipose tissue in vivo, and PKC-alpha and PKC-theta in the gastrocnemius muscle. Thus, insulin-induced increases in PKC mRNA may have been partly compensatory in nature to restore PKC levels following translocation and proteolytic losses. However, much more severe depletion of PKC-alpha and PKC-beta by phorbol ester treatment in cultured rat adipocytes in vitro resulted in, if anything, smaller increases in PKC-alpha mRNA and PKC-beta mRNA, and it therefore appears that insulin effects on PKC mRNA levels were not simply due to decreases in respective PKC levels. In addition, effects of insulin, particularly on PKC-beta mRNA, could not be attributed to increased glucose metabolism, which alone decreased PKC-beta mRNA in cultured adipocytes in vitro. We conclude that insulin-induced translocation and degradation of PKC-alpha, PKC-beta and PKC-theta are attended by selective increases in their mRNAs. This mechanism of increasing mRNA may be important in maintaining PKC levels during the continued action of insulin.

Long term phorbol ester treatment down-regulates the beta 3-adrenergic receptor in 3T3-F442A adipocytes

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor (beta 3-AR) gene was examined in murine 3T3-F442A adipocytes, which express this receptor subtype at a high level. We also investigated the involvement of this kinase in the modulation of beta 3-AR gene expression by insulin. Long term exposure of 3T3-F442A adipocytes to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased beta 3-AR mRNA content in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with maximal changes observed at 6 h (6.5-fold decrease) and at 100 nM PMA. This inhibition was selective for beta 3-AR transcripts, since beta 1- and beta 2-AR mRNA content remained unchanged. Also, (-)-[125I]cyanopindolol saturation and competition binding experiments on adipocyte membranes indicated that PMA induced an approximately 2-fold decrease in beta 3-AR expression, while that of the two other subtypes was not affected. This correlated with a lower efficacy of beta 3-AR agonists to stimulate adenylyl cyclase. Conversely, long term exposure to PMA did not alter adenylyl cyclase activity in response to guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or forskolin. The inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate did not repress beta 3-AR mRNA levels. Inhibition of beta 3-AR mRNA by PMA was suppressed by the PKC-selective inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide, and was not observed in PKC-depleted cells, indicating that PKC was involved in this response. mRNA turnover experiments showed that the half-life of beta 3-AR transcripts was not affected by long term PMA exposure. When 3T3-F442A adipocytes were pretreated with PMA for 24 h to down-regulate PKC, or with bisindolylmaleimide, the insulin-induced inhibition of beta 3-AR mRNA levels was reduced by 44-67%. These findings demonstrate that sustained PKC activation exerts a specific control of beta 3-AR gene expression and is involved, at least in part, in the modulation by insulin of this adrenergic receptor subtype.

Identification of protein kinase C and its multiple isoforms in FRTL-5 thyroid cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated as an important regulator of signal transduction in the FRTL-5 thyroid cell line, but little is known about its isoforms in this cell line. In the present investigation, we characterized the activation of PKC by measuring the enzyme activity and identifying its isoforms in both cytosol and membrane fractions. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used as a PKC activator in this study. PKC activity assay revealed that PMA (300 nM) induced a rapid translocation from cytosol to membrane within 1 min and led to an almost complete translocation within 15 min. Multiple PKC isoforms were examined by Western blot analysis with specific antibodies against alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta isoforms. PKC alpha, delta, epsilon, and zeta were identified in this cell line, but PKC beta and gamma were not. Exposure of the cells to PMA (300 nM) for 5 to 30 min led to the translocation of PKC alpha, delta, and epsilon from the cytosol to the membrane fraction, while PKC zeta was not affected. Treatment with PMA (300 nM) for 24 h resulted in the down-regulation of PKC alpha, delta, and epsilon, but not PKC zeta. This study demonstrates for the first time direct evidence for the activation of PKC, and expression and distribution of its isoforms in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.

Comparison of the effects of insulin and okadaic acid on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression

Many hormones regulate the rate of synthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the enzyme that governs the rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis. In H4IIE rat hepatoma cells, glucocorticoids, retinoic acid and cyclic AMP (cAMP) increase PEPCK gene transcription whereas insulin and phorbol esters have the opposite effect. Insulin and phorbol esters are dominant as they prevent cAMP- and glucocorticoid-stimulated PEPCK gene transcription. In contrast, insulin and phorbol esters both stimulate transcription of gene 33 in the same H4IIE cells, with the same time course as seen for their inhibitory effect on PEPCK gene transcription. We now report that the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, mimics the action of insulin and phorbol esters on expression of both gene 33 and PEPCK gene in H4IIE cells. Okadaic acid stimulates gene 33 mRNA accumulation whereas it inhibits cAMP- and glucocorticoid-stimulated PEPCK mRNA accumulation. The effect of okadaic acid on the PEPCK gene is mediated through the PEPCK promoter as, in a cell line, HL1C, stably transfected with a PEPCK-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) fusion gene, okadaic acid inhibits cAMP- and glucocorticoid-stimulated CAT expression. Desensitization of the protein kinase C pathway by exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 16 h abolishes the subsequent action of the phorbol ester but does not markedly affect the inhibition of cAMP- and glucocorticoid-stimulated CAT expression by insulin or okadaic acid. Even though insulin and okadaic acid appear to repress PEPCK gene expression through a pathway initially distinct from that used by phorbol esters, transient-transfection studies show that the final target of the action of okadaic acid, insulin and phorbol ester is the same DNA element.

Insulin-stimulated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis, diacylglycerol/protein kinase C signalling, and hexose transport in pertussis toxin-treated BC3H-1 myocytes

Pertussis toxin was used to block insulin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI)-glycan hydrolysis, consequent de novo synthesis of phosphatidic acid (PA) and the diacylglycerol (DAG) production that results from these two related processes in BC3H-1 myocytes. In contrast, pertussis toxin pretreatment did not inhibit insulin-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) which was found to be at least partly due to activation of a phospholipase D. Moreover, pertussis toxin-insensitive PC hydrolysis was accompanied by rapid biphasic increases in DAG and translocative activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Insulin-stimulated glucose transport was also insensitive to pertussis toxin pretreatment. Our findings suggest that insulin-stimulated PC hydrolysis pays an important role in DAG/PKC signalling during insulin action.

Phorbol esters showing selective activation of PKC isozymes in vitro regulate thyroid function and insulin-like growth factor binding protein secretion

We have examined the effects of phorbol derivatives which show selective activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in vitro, on several parameters of thyroid function. Functions examined were iodide uptake and organification, iodocompound secretion and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) secretion, all of which have been shown previously to be modulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a pan activator of PKC isozymes. All of the agents examined, including DOPPA (12-deoxyphorbol-13-O-phenylacetate-20 acetate), which is specific for the beta 1 isozyme in vitro, were able to mimic the effects of TPA. These effects were evident by 2 h in the iodide uptake and organification assays, by 4 h in the secretion assays and by 8 h in the IGFBP secretion assays. The phorbol derivatives differed from TPA in their ability to down-regulate total PKC activity, DOPPA being weakly effective at 8 h (14.7% inhibition) when TPA had effected > 70% down-regulation of PKC. As the effects of DOPPA were detected by 8 h at the latest, these data indicate that the effects observed were due to PKC activation rather than down-regulation. Furthermore, the differences in down-regulation profiles between DOPPA and TPA suggest that in vivo, DOPPA may maintain its in vitro specificity. We conclude that inhibition of thyroid iodide uptake and its organification, stimulation of iodocompound secretion and stimulation of IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 secretion may be effected through the modulation of a limited number of PKC isozymes and possibly initially, only through PKC beta 1.

Phorbol esters inhibit the glucocorticoid-mediated stimulation of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase gene transcription

The regulation of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAspAT) gene expression by phorbol esters was investigated in the highly differentiated hepatoma cell line Fao. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PdBu) had no effect on basal activity but partially inhibited the induction of cAspAT by dexamethasone. The extent of inhibition (40%) was similar to that obtained with insulin or vanadate. The inhibitory effects of PdBu and vanadate were additive. In the case of PdBu, the inhibitory effects could be eliminated by first incubating the cells with PdBu, which down-regulates protein kinase C. In contrast, inhibition by insulin was not modified by this treatment. The molecular mechanism of PdBu action was investigated. Northern blot analysis showed that the steady-state mRNA levels of cAspAT were decreased by PdBu in the presence of dexamethasone. In addition, the transcription rate, as measured by run-on experiments, was also decreased under the same conditions. Finally, a 2.4 kb promoter fragment driving the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene was stably transfected into the Fao cells. The regulation of the activity of this promoter fragment by dexamethasone and PdBu was similar to the regulation of the endogenous cAspAT activity. We conclude that PdBu acts by regulating the promoter activity of the cAsPAT gene.

Insulin activates myelin basic protein (p42 MAP) kinase by a protein kinase C-independent pathway in rat adipocytes. Dissociation from glucose transport

Myelin basic protein kinase (MBPK) activity of rat adipocytes was measured directly or in gels after purification of p42 microtubule-associated protein kinase (MAPK). Insulin and phorbol esters provoked 2- to 3-fold increases in MBPK/MAPK activity within 5-10 min. Whereas phorbol ester effects were blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) depletion or inhibition, insulin effects were fully intact, indicating that insulin activates MBPK/MAPK independently of PKC. In contrast, PKC depletion or inhibition markedly inhibited insulin effects on [3H]2-deoxyglucose uptake, suggesting that this effect requires PKC, rather than a factor within the ras/MAPK cascade.