Protease-activated receptor-2 stimulates intestinal epithelial chloride transport through activation of PLC and selective PKC isoforms
Serine proteases play important physiological roles through their activity at G protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs). We examined the roles that specific phospholipase (PL) C and protein kinase (PK) C (PKC) isoforms play in the regulation of PAR2-stimulated chloride secretion in intestinal epithelial cells. Confluent SCBN epithelial monolayers were grown on Snapwell supports and mounted in modified Ussing chambers. Short-circuit current ( Isc) responses to basolateral application of the selective PAR2 activating peptide, SLIGRL-NH2, were monitored as a measure of net electrogenic ion transport caused by PAR2 activation. SLIGRL-NH2 induced a transient Isc response that was significantly reduced by inhibitors of PLC (U73122), phosphoinositol-PLC (ET-18), phosphatidylcholine-PLC (D609), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K; LY294002). Immunoblot analysis revealed the phosphorylation of both PLCβ and PLCγ following PAR2 activation. Pretreatment of the cells with inhibitors of PKC (GF 109203X), PKCα/βI (Gö6976), and PKCδ (rottlerin), but not PKCζ (selective pseudosubstrate inhibitor), also attenuated this response. Cellular fractionation and immunoblot analysis, as well as confocal immunocytochemistry, revealed increases of PKCβI, PKCδ, and PKCε, but not PKCα or PKCζ, in membrane fractions following PAR2 activation. Pretreatment of the cells with U73122, ET-18, or D609 inhibited PKC activation. Inhibition of PI3K activity only prevented PKCδ translocation. Immunoblots revealed that PAR2 activation induced phosphorylation of both cRaf and ERK1/2 via PKCδ. Inhibition of PKCβI and PI3K had only a partial effect on this response. We conclude that basolateral PAR2-induced chloride secretion involves activation of PKCβI and PKCδ via a PLC-dependent mechanism resulting in the stimulation of cRaf and ERK1/2 signaling.