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Specific binding of phorbol esters to Friend erythroleukemia cells--general properties, down regulation and relationship to cell differentiation.

Specific and saturable binding sites for [20-3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDBu) were demonstrated in intact Friend erythroleukemia cells (FELC), in which inducible erythroid differentiation is reversibly inhibited by phorbol esters. The binding of [3H]PDBu to intact cells was maximal within only 15 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, after which there was a gradual decrease; binding at 4 degrees C however, was a slow process, requiring greater than 180 min for maximal binding. A Scatchard analysis showed that the dissociation constant for binding of [3H]PDBu is 8.3 nM; at saturation, approximately 1.75 x 10(5) molecules of [3H]PDBu are bound per cell. The binding of [3H]PDBu is blocked by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, mezerein, 4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate and resiniferatoxin, but not by phorbol or 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. There was, in general, a good correlation between the potency of these agents in inhibiting [3H]PDBu binding and their activity in promoting tumors on mouse skin. Inducers of differentiation, such as hexamethylene bisacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and butyric acid, as well as inhibitors of cell differentiation, dexamethasone and local anesthetics, did not significantly block the binding of [3H]PDBu to intact FELC. When FELC were induced to differentiate with 4 mM hexamethylene bisacetamide (approximately 80% of cells were benzidine-positive), a slight decrease (10-20%) in the number of binding sites at saturation was seen, but the dissociation constant was not changed. When the cells were precultured with non-radioactive phorbol esters, a significant decrease in [3H]PDBu binding was observed, suggesting a homologous down regulation of phorbol ester receptors. Scatchard analysis indicated that the decrease in [3H]PDBu binding was due to a decrease in the number of binding sites and not to a change in affinity. Such specific phorbol ester binding sites might mediate a number of biochemical and biological effects of phorbol esters on FELC.

Animals↗

Phorbol ester-induced synaptic facilitation is different than long-term potentiation.

The studies described here tested the hypothesis that the changes in synaptic efficacy produced by phorbol esters in hippocampal slices are equivalent to the long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by high-frequency stimulation. In contrast to the extremely stable synaptic potentiation induced by electrical stimulation, the facilitatory effects of phorbol 12,13-diacetate and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate were transient: washout of the drugs restored normal responses in approximately 1-2 and 2-4 hr for phorbol diacetate and phorbol dibutyrate, respectively. It is noteworthy that the more liposoluble of the phorbol esters required longer washout periods. Robust LTP still occurred in response to high-frequency stimulation after washout of phorbol esters and to a lesser degree during their application. Treatment of slices with H-7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, did not prevent LTP induction although it significantly affected neuronal excitability and produced effects opposite to those of phorbol esters. Finally, phorbol esters altered responses to repetitive stimulation in a way that could account for the reduced LTP elicited in their presence. These results indicate that the increases in synaptic responses caused by phorbol esters and high-frequency electrical stimulation are quite different and thus do not support the hypothesis that activation of protein kinase C, the presumed target of the phorbol esters, triggers LTP.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

The lipophilicity of phorbol esters as a critical factor in determining the pattern of translocation of protein kinase C delta fused to green fluorescent protein.

Our previous study showed differential subcellular localization of protein kinase C (PKC) delta by phorbol esters and related ligands, using a green fluorescent protein-tagged construct in living cells. Here we compared the abilities of a series of symmetrically substituted phorbol 12,13-diesters to translocate PKC delta. In vitro, the derivatives bound to PKC with similar potencies but differed in rate of equilibration. In vivo, the phorbol diesters with short, intermediate, and long chain fatty acids induced distinct patterns of translocation. Phorbol 12,13-dioctanoate and phorbol 12,13-nonanoate, the intermediate derivatives and most potent tumor promoters, showed patterns of translocation typical of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, with plasma membrane and subsequent nuclear membrane translocation. The more hydrophilic compounds (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and phorbol 12,13-dihexanoate) induced a patchy distribution in the cytoplasm, more prominent nuclear membrane translocation, and little plasma membrane localization at all concentrations examined (100 nM to 10 microM). The highly lipophilic derivatives, phorbol 12,13-didecanoate and phorbol 12, 13-diundecanoate, at 1 microM caused either plasma membrane translocation only or no translocation at incubation times up to 60 min. Our results indicate that lipophilicity of phorbol esters is a critical factor contributing to differential PKC delta localization and thereby potentially to their different biological activities.

Animals↗

The structural requirements for phorbol esters to enhance noradrenaline and dopamine release from rat brain cortex.

1. The effects of various protein kinase C (PKC) activators on the stimulation-induced (S-I) release of noradrenaline and dopamine was studied in rat cortical slices pre-incubated with [3H]-noradrenaline or [3H]-dopamine. The aim was to investigate a possible structure-activity relationship for these agents on transmitter release. 2. 4 beta-Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (4 beta PDB, 0.1-3.0 microM), enhanced S-I noradrenaline and dopamine release in a concentration-dependent manner whereas the structurally related inactive isomer 4 alpha-phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (4 alpha PDB, 0.1-3.0 microM) and phorbol 13-acetate (PA, 0.1-3.0microM) were without effect on noradrednaline release. Another group of phorbol 12, 13-diesters containing a common 13-ester substituent (phorbol 12, 13-diacetate, PDA, 0.1-3.0 microM; phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA, 0.1-3.0 microM; phorbol 12-methylaminobenzoate 13-acetate, PMBA, 0.03-3.0 microM) also enhanced S-I noradrenaline and dopamine release in a concentration-dependent manner with PMA being the least potent. 3. The 12-deoxyphorbol 13-substituted monoesters, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-acetate (dPA, 0.1-3.0 microM), 12-deoxyphorbol 13-angelate (dPAng, 0.1-3.0 microM), 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (dPiB, 0.03-3.0 microM) and 12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate (dPPhen, 0.1-3.0 microM) enhanced S-I noradrenaline and dopamine release in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-tetradecanoate (dPT, 0.1-3.0 microM) was without effect. 4. The involvement of PKC in mediating the effects of the various phorbol esters was further investigated. PKC was down-regulated by 20 h exposure of the cortical slices to 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (1 microM). In this case the facilitatory effect of 4 beta PDB and dPA was abolished whilst that of dPAng was significantly attenuated. This indicates that these agents were acting selectively at PKC. In support of this the PKC inhibitors, polymyxin B (21 microM) and bisindolylmaleimide I (3 microM), attenuated the facilitatory effect of 4 beta PDB and dPAng although that of dPA was not significantly altered. 5. The effects of these agents on transmitter release were not correlated with their in vitro affinity and isozyme selectivity for PKC. Short chain substituted mono- and diesters of phorbol were more potent enhancers of action-potential evoked noradrenaline and dopamine release than the long chain esters. Interestingly, these former agents are the least potent or non effective (e.g. dPA, PDA) tumour promoters. We suggest that the reason for the poor effects of lipophilic long chain phorbol esters (PMA, dPT) on transmitter release is that they are sequestered in the plasmalemma and do not access the cell cytoplasm where the PKC may be located.

Animals↗

Partial parallelism and partial blockade by bryostatin 1 of effects of phorbol ester tumor promoters on primary mouse epidermal cells.

Bryostatin 1, a macrocyclic lactone, functions like the phorbol esters biochemically in binding to and activating protein kinase C. Biologically, however, although it induces some phorbol ester responses such as mitogenesis in Swiss 3T3 cells, it paradoxically blocks the effects of the phorbol esters on differentiation in HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells and Friend erythroleukemia cells. Since the phorbol esters induce proliferation and terminal differentiation in distinct subpopulations of epidermal basal cells, we have now examined the action of bryostatin 1 in that system. Bryostatin 1 decreased epidermal growth factor binding and induced ornithine decarboxylase activity, the latter a marker of proliferation. The magnitude of the maximal induction of ornithine decarboxylase was less than for phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Bryostatin 1 only transiently caused the morphological change typical of phorbol ester treatment and did not induce transglutaminase or cornified envelope production, markers of the differentiative pathway. Combined treatment with bryostatin 1 and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate gave similar results to treatment with bryostatin 1 alone, i.e., slight reduction to complete inhibition of phorbol ester action, depending on the response. The mechanism may reflect time dependent block of the protein kinase C pathway by bryostatin 1 in this system; although bryostatin 1 inhibited epidermal growth factor binding at short incubation times (1-2 h), by 4 h of incubation its inhibition was markedly reduced and it correspondingly blocked inhibition of epidermal growth factor binding by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Since induction of terminal differentiation is proposed to be an essential component of phorbol ester mediated tumor promotion in skin, our findings suggest that bryostatin 1 may function as an inhibitor of phorbol ester promotion.

Animals↗

Reversibility of phorbol diester-induced macrophage spreading.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate induced spreading of mouse macrophages with 50% effective concentrations of 3 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Macrophages treated with 100 or 1000 nM phorbol 12, 13- dibutyrate showed a time related decrease in spreading after washout. Spreading induced by 1, 10, or 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was irreversible; however, washed phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-treated cells respread after a second exposure to this compound. Washout of 3[H]phorbol diesters corroborated these observations in that 5% of 3H-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and only 0.1% 3[H]phorbol, 12,13-dibutyrate remained associated with washed cells. Since phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate is much more lipophilic than phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, the reversibility of phorbol diester-induced macrophage spreading may depend upon the lipophilicity of the derivative utilized.

Animals↗

Positive and negative inotropic effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate: relationship to PKC-dependence and changes in [Ca2+]i.

The present study examined the concentration-dependent effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC-activating phorbol ester, on contractile force and [Ca2+]i in guinea-pig hearts and isolated cardiac myocytes, respectively. Contractile force was measured using isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts while [Ca2+]i was measured independently in isolated cardiac myocytes loaded with fura2-AM. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, as well as another PKC-activating phorbol, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), and two non-PKC-activating phorbols, alpha-phorbol didecanoate (alpha PDD) and 4 alpha-phorbol, exerted time- and concentration-dependent effects on contractility. A significant positive inotropic response was observed with either PMA (10(-12) M; 5-15 min of perfusion) or PDBu (10(-12) M; 5 min of perfusion). In contrast, 10(-10) M PMA caused a significant negative inotropic effect following 30 min of perfusion while 10(-8) M PMA produced a significant negative inotropic effect which occurred earlier (10 min) and was sustained throughout the 30 min perfusion period. A similar negative inotropic effect was seen with 10(-8) M of either PDBu or alpha PDD. In addition, 4 alpha-phorbol (10(-8) M) exerted a modest, but significant negative inotropic effect following 25 and 30 min of perfusion. Both concentration-dependent increases and decreases of +dF/dt and -dF/dt were observed in the presence of PMA. In addition, both PMA and PDBu caused a concentration-dependent increase in coronary perfusion pressure. The positive inotropic responses and coronary perfusion pressure effects elicited by PMA and PDBu were largely prevented by the addition of the PKC inhibitors H7 (6 nM) or HAG (10 nM); however, these drugs were without effect on the negative inotropic response to higher concentrations of both PKC-activating (PMA, PDBu) and non-PKC-activating (alpha PDD, 4 alpha-phorbol) phorbol compounds. The lowest concentration of either PMA or PDBu (10(-12) M) increased the 340/380 fluorescence ratio of isolated cardiac myocytes loaded with fura2-AM on a time scale similar to that at which the positive inotropic response was seen in the whole heart. However, in contrast to results in the isolated heart, PDBu elicited a greater and sustained increase in the fluorescence ratio measured in isolated cardiac myocytes. The higher concentration of either PMA or PDBu (10(-8) M), resulted in a decrease in the 340/380 ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Selective inhibition by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate of the alpha 1-receptor-mediated positive inotropic effect.

Influence of the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate on the alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic effect was studied in the rabbit ventricular myocardium. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (10(-8)-10(-6) M) inhibited the positive inotropic effect mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors in a concentration-dependent manner, while the positive inotropy mediated by beta-adrenoceptors was not affected by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate up to 3 x 10(-7) M. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate at 10(-6) M decreased the beta-mediated effect, but the extent of inhibition was less than that of alpha 1-mediated effect produced by 10(-8) M phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Thus, the inhibition induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate was 100-fold more selective for alpha 1- than for beta-mediated inotropy. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate at 10(-7) M increased the basal force of contraction in some preparations, but decreased it at 3 x 10(-7) M and higher in a concentration-dependent manner. In membrane fractions derived from the rabbit ventricular muscle, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate did not affect the specific binding of [3H]prazosin. A nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue GTP gamma S shifted the epinephrine-induced displacement curve of [3H]prazosin to the right, but phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate did not affect the curve. Accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate induced by alpha 1 stimulation was inhibited by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. These findings indicate that phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate may induce the selective uncoupling of the myocardial alpha 1-receptor stimulation to activation of phospholipase C, and inhibit selectively the alpha 1-mediated positive inotropy.

Animals↗

Concentration-dependent effects of protein kinase C-activating and -nonactivating phorbol esters on myocardial contractility, coronary resistance, energy metabolism, prostacyclin synthesis, and ultrastructure in isolated rat hearts. Effects of amiloride.

An extensive investigation of the cardiac actions of phorbol esters and the potential role of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger in those actions was carried out using isolated rat hearts. Sixty minutes of perfusion with 10(-9) M phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 10(-8) M phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) produced marked cardiac dysfunction associated with depressed contractility, coronary constriction, and elevated resting tension, the latter being particularly evident with PMA. These effects were also associated with disturbances in tissue levels of energy metabolites manifested primarily by a reduction in ATP and an elevation in lactate. Furthermore, both phorbols produced a sustained stimulation of the release of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha), the hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2). Amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger, significantly attenuated the loss in contractility and elevation in coronary pressure as well as the stimulated release of 6-keto PGF1 alpha but was without effect on elevations in resting tension or on changes in energy metabolites. Increasing concentrations of PMA or PDBu 10-fold resulted in a much more rapid and severe (greater than 80% loss in contractile function after 30 minutes) effect that was nonetheless qualitatively identical to that seen with the lower concentrations of phorbol. However, the effects were not prevented by amiloride. Surprisingly, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (alpha-PDD, 10(-6) M), which does not activate protein kinase C, was found to be a potent inhibitor of cardiac function (greater than 80% loss in contractility and 50% increase in resting tension) after 30 minutes of perfusion, although these effects were not associated with changes in levels of energy metabolites or with elevations in coronary pressure. Similarly, none of the actions of this compound were attenuated by amiloride. In contrast to the sustained effects of other phorbols on 6-keto PGF1 alpha release, the effect of alpha-PDD was transient (less than 10 minutes). In all hearts studied, the marked depression in contractile function caused by all phorbol esters occurred in the absence of any ultrastructural changes. 4 alpha-Phorbol (10(-6) M), which does not activate protein kinase C, was without effect on any parameter studied. Our results demonstrate very complex effects of phorbol esters on numerous parameters of cardiac function, including an amiloride-sensitive component that occurs at low concentrations. The latter observation suggests the involvement of Na(+)-H+ exchange activation, possibly occurring as a consequence of protein kinase C stimulation, in mediation of the effects of phorbol esters at low concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amiloride↗

Human T-cell activation: comparative studies on the role of different phorbol esters.

We confirm here previous studies that have shown synergy between anti-CD3 and phorbol esters in the induction of T-cell proliferation. However, for this study we have used tonsillar rather than peripheral blood T cells, and have compared the role of different phorbol esters rather than different anti-CD3 antibodies in the activation process. Three phorbol esters (phorbol myristate acetate, -dibenzoate and -didecanoate) showed a synergistic relationship. However, the concentration of the dibenzoate and the didecanoate forms required was higher than the concentration of myristate acetate. A second group of phorbol esters (alpha-phorbol didecanoate, a beta phorbol with no side chain, and a monomyristate) did not activate T cells. This difference in activation efficiency between the phorbol derivatives correlates with the pattern of neutrophil activation that has been described previously using the same compounds. In contrast to both the neutrophil and the proliferation studies, if the T cells were preincubated with the different phorbol esters and then subsequently cultured with anti-CD3, the pattern of response was different. Only phorbol myristate acetate induced a proliferative response; all the other compounds were inactive. Taken in conjunction with the known structural differences between the different phorbol derivatives, these results suggest that the relative lipophilic properties of the different molecules which activate T cells may be an important determinant in the induction of a response. Thus changes in the relative lipophilic properties of an antigen could be one way to alter its relative immunogenicity.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Effects of phorbol esters in carp (Cyprinus carpio L).

Carp (Cyprinus carpio L) were fed diets containing phorbol esters at concentrations of 0, 3.75, 7.5, 15, 31, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 micrograms/g feed. Phorbol esters were from Jatropha curcas nuts. Jatropha curcas toxicity has been reported in humans, rodents and livestock, and phorbol esters have been identified as the main toxic agent. The adverse effects observed in carp at phorbol esters concentrations of 31 micrograms/g or higher were lower average metabolic growth rate, fecal mucus production and rejection of feed. Average metabolic growth rates (g/kg 0.8/d) in a 7-d experimental period during which diets containing phorbol esters were fed to carp (values with different letters being significantly different) were 15.4a, 14.4a, 12.5ab, 12.4ab, 10.9b, 3.4c, 0.2c, -3.8d, -4.9d and -5.6d, respectively, at the above mentioned concentrations. The values for the recovery phase of 9-d during which phorbol esters were not included in the diet were 16.0a, 15.6a, 14.9a, 15.6a, 5.3b, 1.6b, 4.6bc, 6.3bc, 7.8c and 8.2c, respectively. The adverse effects of phorbol esters were reversible since withdrawal of the esters from the diets led to gain in body mass. None of the fish died at any of the concentrations studied. Incorporation of vitamin C, an antioxidant, at levels of 0.4 and 2% in the feed did not prevent occurrence of the adverse effects of the phorbol esters. The threshold level at which phorbol esters appeared to cause adverse effects in carp was 15 micrograms/g feed or 15 ppm in the diet. Carp were highly sensitive to phorbol esters, thus making them a useful species for bioassay of these compounds. This bioassay together with other analytic procedures could be of immense use in the development of detoxification processes for agro-industrial products containing phorbol esters, such as jatropha meal or jatropha oil, and as a quality control method to monitor successive stages in industrial detoxification processes.

Animal Feed↗

Vinculin phosphorylation in response to calcium and phorbol esters in intact cells.

Vinculin phosphorylation in both chick embryo fibroblasts and Swiss 3T3 cells was increased by either calcium or biologically active phorbol esters. Increased phosphorylation of vinculin was noted as early as 10 min following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment and was maximal at about 1 h. Maximal increases in phosphorylation were noted at approximately 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (80 nM), a less potent phorbol ester, resulted in smaller increases in vinculin phosphorylation than phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate at equimolar concentrations. Phorbol, dibutyryl cAMP, and dibutyryl cGMP had no significant effect on phosphorylation. No correlation was found between vinculin phosphorylation and the morphological changes induced by phorbol esters. Tryptic peptide analysis of vinculin revealed multisite phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of only three of the peptides was significantly increased following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed increases at both serine and threonine residues. The low level of phosphotyrosine present in control cells was not significantly increased by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. These findings combined with studies of vinculin phosphorylation by purified protein kinase C (Werth, D. K., Niedel, J. E., and Pastan I. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 11423-11426) suggest the hypothesis that protein kinase C may be involved in regulation of phosphorylation of vinculin, a cytoskeletal protein.

Animals↗

Effect of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate on solute transport and production of cAMP in isolated frog skin.

In the present study we have examined the action of the phorbol diester tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, on the transepithelial transport of sodium, chloride and water and the production of cAMP in the isolated frog skin epithelium (Rana esculenta). Addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the mucosal solution resulted initially in an increase in the short-circuit current, which was followed by a progressive decrease. If the short-circuit current was first activated by addition of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasotocin, then the addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate resulted only in a pronounced inhibition. The changes in the short-circuit current were the result of changes in the active influx of Na+. The effect of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on the intracellular potential measured under short-circuited conditions (Vscc) was time-dependent. Just after addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the mucosal solution, Vscc depolarized; this was followed by a slight hyperpolarization, after which Vscc continued to decline. The inhibition of the Na+ transport by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate was associated with a decline in the response to the antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasotocin), but the ability of arginine vasotocin to increase the cellular level of cAMP and to stimulate the osmotic water flow was not affected by the presence of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. In skin halves in which the short-circuit current was stimulated with arginine vasotocin, addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the short-circuit current, but only minor changes in Vscc were observed. The results presented suggest that the addition of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate to the isolated frog skin first increases and then decreases the arginine vasotocin-sensitive sodium permeability of the apical membrane. This might be due to a stimulating effect of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on both the activation and deactivation (turnover) of the sodium channels.

Animals↗

Short-term and long-term-effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and different inhibitors on the ability of bone marrow cells to form colonies in vitro.

The process of signal transduction responsible for the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate mediated increase in the colony-forming potential of murine (CBA) bone marrow cells was studied using known modulators of the mitogenic signal. Pretreatment of cells for 60 minutes with staurosporine (1 mumol/l), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, completely prevented colony formation in the control group of cells and significantly reduced the number of colonies formed in the phorbol ester-treated group. Brief exposure (60 min) of cells to the phospholipase A2 inhibitors, mepacrine (500 mumol/l) and heparin (1 g/l), reduced the number of colonies formed in the control group and completely abolished the increase in the number of colonies formed after treatment of the cells with phorbol ester. When inhibitors of protein kinase C or phospholipase A2 were present during the entire period of the colony forming assay (7 days), no colonies could be scored in either the control or phorbol ester-treated groups of bone marrow cells. Long-term treatment or temporary exposure (60 min) of cells to indomethacin (50 mumol/l), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, or nordihydroguaiaretic acid (50 mumol/l), an inhibitor of lipoxygenase, had no effect on colony formation in both groups. Pretreatment of cells for 45 min with calcium ionophore A23187 (10 mumol/l) failed to increase the number of colonies, compared with the control group. Moreover, simultaneous treatment of cells for 45 min with phorbol ester (500 nmol/l) and A23187 (10 mumol) did not produce any further increase in the number of colonies, compared with the phorbol ester-treated group, suggesting that elevation of intracellular calcium is unimportant in the phorbol ester-mediated response. Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (50 mumol/l) in the presence or absence of phorbol ester, failed to stimulate colony formation, indicating that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases are not involved in the signalling process. Temporary exposure (75 min) of bone marrow cells to okadaic acid (1 mumol/l), a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine phosphatases, or to tyrphostine AG-115 (20 mumol/l), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, did not effect colony growth in the control or phorbol ester-treated group. The results indicate that phospholipase A2 activation is involved in the phorbol ester-mediated increase in colony formation, since, of the different agents applied, only staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, and mepacrine and heparin, putative inhibitors of phospholipase A2, were capable of abolishing phorbol ester-mediated effects.

Animals↗

Transient modulation and internalization of T4 antigen induced by phorbol esters.

Phorbol esters are known to alter the expression of surface antigens and receptors on a variety of mammalian cell types. On T lymphoblastoid cell lines and peripheral blood T cells, phorbol esters have been shown to selectively reduce the expression of the T4 antigen. To more fully characterize this process, we have examined the metabolic requirements for this phorbol ester effect, and have evaluated the relationship between phorbol ester-induced T4 loss and the expression of receptors for phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) on purified peripheral blood T4 cells. We observed that the loss of T4 on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) occurred at PDB concentrations at which 10 to 15% of phorbol ester binding sites were occupied. The loss of T4 was inhibited at 4 degrees C, and by azide, methylamine, and sodium fluoride, but not by inhibitors of DNA synthesis. When cells were exposed to phorbol esters for greater than 2 days, the T4 antigen was again expressed on the cell surface despite the continued presence of phorbol esters. Cells which had recovered T4 were resistant to the effects of freshly added PDB on this antigen, and this resistance correlated with a 55% reduction in phorbol ester binding sites. Studies on fixed PBL T4 cells and MOLT-4 cells by immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the decreased expression of T4 from the cell surface correlated with a bright clustering of T4 within the cytoplasm, indicating that PDB had induced an internalization of this antigen. These observations demonstrate that the binding of phorbol esters to specific receptors on lymphocytes initiates metabolically dependent events which result in the internalization of the T4 antigen. These findings may be relevant to mechanisms by which T4 functions as a signal-transducing molecule in vivo.

Adult↗

Analysis of membrane and cytosolic phorbol ester receptors.

Specific phorbol ester receptors are found in the particulate fraction of cells. In addition, cytosol contains a phorbol ester apo-receptor, which requires phospholipids for reconstitution. The apo-receptor corresponds to protein kinase C, and the quantitatively major membrane receptor appears to be a protein kinase C-phospholipid complex. The ability to reconstitute the phorbol ester apo-receptor into different lipid domains now makes it possible to begin elucidation of the role of the lipid domain in phorbol ester action. Studies reviewed here indicate that diglycerides competitively inhibit phorbol ester binding, consistent with their being the postulated endogenous phorbol ester analogues. Highly lipophilic phorbol esters inhibit effectively only if they are incorporated into the lipid phase, indicating that it is the membrane-dissolved form of the ligand which is recognized. The binding affinity of 3H-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate for holo-receptor depends markedly (greater than 20-fold range) on the phospholipid environment, and heterogeneous phorbol ester binding (i.e., curved Scatchard plots) can be generated by use of heterogeneous lipid environments in the reconstitution. The possible existence of other phorbol ester receptors in addition to protein kinase C-phospholipid complexes remains to be resolved.

Animals↗

Antagonist of phorbol ester receptor-mediated chemotaxis in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Biologically active phorbol ester derivatives displace [3H]phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate from thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages in a time-, temperature-, and concentration-dependent manner. Scatchard analysis revealed an apparent Kd of 54.1 nM and 8.0 X 10(5) sites/cell, indicating that these macrophages possess saturable, high-affinity phorbol ester-binding sites. These derivatives also act as chemoattractants for the macrophage at equivalent concentrations. A notable exception to this pattern is phorbol-12,13-diacetate. Phorbol-12,13-diacetate inhibits specific binding of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (concentration required for a 50% inhibition of the maximum specific binding of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, 2.6 microM) and chemotaxis to phorbol-12-myristate, 13-acetate (concentration required for a 50% inhibition of the maximum chemotactic response, 0.39 microM) while exhibiting no activity as a chemoattractant at concentrations up to 10(-5) M. The data indicate that phorbol-12,13-diacetate may be an antagonist for receptor-mediated chemotaxis to phorbol-12-myristate, 13-acetate in the macrophage.

Animals↗

Interaction of phorbol esters with lipid bilayers : thermotropic changes in fluorescence polarization, phase transition and calcium ionophoresis.

The influence of phorbol esters upon the thermotropic behaviour of multilamellar liposomes formed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) was investigated, as a model for possible interferences of the phorbol esters with the phospholipid domain of biological membranes. Both biologically active (TPA, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, PDD, phorbol-12,13-didecanoate) and inactive (4 alpha-PDD, 4 alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate) phorbol esters lowered the temperature required to cause a fall in fluorescence polarization of a fluorescent probe inserted in the lipid matrix of the DMPC or DPPC liposomes and facilitated the process of calcium exchange-diffusion in DPPC liposomes containing the ionophore A23187. Both of these effects could be due to a decrease in viscosity of the liposomal matrix. However, differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the thermotropic changes evoked by each of these phorbol esters were not identical. In most cases, the phorbol esters decreased both the main phase transition temperature and enthalpy of melting. However, when TPA was incorporated in DMPC liposomes, i.e. when a myristoyl chain was present in both the phorbol ester and phospholipid, no change in the enthalpy of melting could be detected, whereas the main phase transition temperature decreased in proportion to the TPA content of the liposomes. These findings emphasize the view that phorbol esters indeed interact with phospholipids and that the characteristics of such an interaction may tightly depend on the precise chemical structure of both the phorbol ester and phospholipid under consideration.

Calcimycin↗