Phosphoprotein and Protein Kinase C Changes in Human Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Cells

OBJECTIVE: The expression of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and its receptor as a part of an autocrine regulatory system of cell proliferation has been demonstrated in a number of human malignant tumours, including cancers of the endometrium. The signalling pathway through which LHRH acts in endometrial cancer is distinct from that in pituitary gonadotrophs. The LHRH receptor interacts with the mitogenic signal transduction of growth factor receptors via activation of a phosphotyrosine phosphatase, resulting in down-regulation of cancer cell proliferation. In addition, LHRH activates nucleus factor kappaB (NFkappaB) and protects the cancer cells from apoptosis. This study was conducted to investigate additional signalling mechanisms of the LHRH receptor cooperating with NFkappaB in endometrial cancer cells. DESIGN: The LHRH agonist triptorelin-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation was analysed using a pAP-1-SEAP reporter gene assay. Expression of c-jun mRNA was quantified using quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity was measured by quantification of phosphorylated c-Jun protein. RESULTS: Treatment of Ishikawa and Hec-1A human endometrial cancer cells with 100 nM triptorelin resulted in a 3.1-fold and 3.5-fold activation of AP-1 respectively (P<0.05). If the cells had been made quiescent, treatment with triptorelin (100 nM) resulted in a 41.7-fold and 48.6-fold increase of AP-1 activation respectively (P<0.001). This effect was completely blocked by simultaneous treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX). A 17.6-fold and 17.3-fold increase of c-jun mRNA expression respectively (P<0.001) was obtained after 20 min of stimulation with triptorelin (100 nM). Treatment with 1 nM triptorelin resulted in a 12.5-fold or an 11.9-fold increase, and treatment with 10 pM triptorelin resulted in a 6.5-fold or a 5.2-fold increase of maximal c-jun mRNA expression respectively (P<0.001). Maximal c-Jun phosphorylation (68.5-fold and 60.2-fold, respectively, P<0.001) was obtained after 90 min incubation with triptorelin (100 nM). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the LHRH agonist triptorelin stimulates the activity of AP-1 in human endometrial cancer cells mediated through PTX-sensitive G-protein alphai. In addition, triptorelin activates JNK, known to activate AP-1. In earlier investigations we have shown that triptorelin does not activate phospholipase and protein kinase C (PKC) in endometrial cancer cells. In addition, it has been demonstrated that triptorelin inhibits growth factor-induced mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK) activity. Thus triptorelin-induced activation of the JNK/AP-1 pathway in endometrial cancer cells is independent of the known AP-1 activators, PKC or MAPK (ERK).

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Protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ), a marker of inflammation and tuberculosis disease progression in humans, is important for optimal macrophage killing effector functions and survival in mice

Mucosal Immunology ◽

10.1038/mi.2017.68 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 496-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

S P Parihar ◽

M Ozturk ◽

M J Marakalala ◽

D T Loots ◽

R Hurdayal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase C ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Lung Pathology ◽

Effector Functions ◽

Kinase C ◽

Human Participants ◽

Functional Relevance ◽

Macrophage Killing

Abstract We previously demonstrated that protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ) is critical for immunity against Listeria monocytogenes, Leishmania major, and Candida albicans infection in mice. However, the functional relevance of PKCδ during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is unknown. PKCδ was significantly upregulated in whole blood of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease. Lung proteomics further revealed that PKCδ was highly abundant in the necrotic and cavitory regions of TB granulomas in multidrug-resistant human participants. In murine Mtb infection studies, PKCδ−/− mice were highly susceptible to tuberculosis with increased mortality, weight loss, exacerbated lung pathology, uncontrolled proinflammatory cytokine responses, and increased mycobacterial burdens. Moreover, these mice displayed a significant reduction in alveolar macrophages, dendritic cells, and decreased accumulation of lipid bodies (lungs and macrophages) and serum fatty acids. Furthermore, a peptide inhibitor of PKCδ in wild-type mice mirrored lung inflammation identical to infected PKCδ−/− mice. Mechanistically, increased bacterial growth in macrophages from PKCδ−/− mice was associated with a decline in killing effector functions independent of phagosome maturation and autophagy. Taken together, these data suggest that PKCδ is a marker of inflammation during active TB disease in humans and required for optimal macrophage killing effector functions and host protection during Mtb infection in mice.

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Inhibition of growth-factor-induced phosphorylation and activation of protein kinase B/Akt by atypical protein kinase C in breast cancer cells

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3520475 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 352 (2) ◽

pp. 475-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Muling MAO ◽

Xianjun FANG ◽

Yiling LU ◽

Ruth LAPUSHIN ◽

Robert C. BAST ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Protein Kinase C ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Protein Kinase B ◽

Akt Phosphorylation ◽

Kinase C ◽

Pkc Inhibitors

The protein kinase B/Akt serine/threonine kinase, located downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K), is a major regulator of cellular survival and proliferation. Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) family members are activated by PI-3K and also contribute to cell proliferation, suggesting that Akt and aPKC might interact to activate signalling through the PI-3K cascade. Here we demonstrate that blocking PKC activity in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells increased the phosphorylation and activity of Akt. Functional PI-3K was required for the PKC inhibitors to increase Akt phosphorylation and activation, potentially owing to the activation of specific PKC isoforms by PI-3K. The concentration dependence of the action of the PKC inhibitors implicates aPKC in the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and activity. In support of a role for aPKC in the regulation of Akt, Akt and PKCζ or PKCλ/ℓ were readily co-precipitated from the BT-549 breast cancer cell line. Furthermore, the overexpression of PKCζ inhibited growth-factor-induced increases in Akt phosphorylation and activity. Thus PKCζ associates physically with Akt and decreases Akt phosphorylation and enzyme activity. The effects of PKC on Akt were transmitted through the PI-3K cascade as indicated by changes in p70 s6 kinase (p70s6k) phosphorylation. Thus PKCζ, and potentially other PKC isoenzymes, regulate growth-factor-mediated Akt phosphorylation and activation, which is consistent with a generalized role for PKCζ in limiting growth factor signalling through the PI-3K/Akt pathway.

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