The role of protein kinase C isozymes in TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity to a rat intestinal epithelial cell line

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Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α can induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in a number of cell types and has been implicated in the regulation of many inflammatory processes. It has been suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) is one of the intracellular mediators of the actions of TNF-α. In the present study, the role of PKC isoforms in TNF-α-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis in intestinal cells was investigated using the rat epithelial cell line, IEC-18. Cells were incubated with TNF-α in the presence or absence of the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D (AMD). The extent of cell damage was enhanced when AMD was added to incubation medium, suggesting that new protein synthesis plays a role in the cytotoxic action of TNF. TNF-α also induced the translocation of PKC-α, -δ, and -ε from cytosol to the membrane fraction of the intestinal cells. Furthermore, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of TNF were reduced by pretreating the cells with the PKC-ε translocation inhibitor, PKC-εV1–2. In contrast, although cells incubated with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also displayed an increase in cell injury, the extent of cytotoxicity and apoptosis was not enhanced by AMD. Furthermore, PMA-induced cell damage was reduced by rottlerin, a PKC-δ inhibitor. Caspase-3, an enzyme implicated in the mediation of apoptosis, was activated in cells in response to either TNF-α or PMA stimulation, and its effects on this activity were reduced by selective inhibition of PKC-ε and -δ, respectively. Furthermore, inhibition of caspase-3 activity reduced apoptosis. These data suggest that activation of selective PKC isoforms mediate the effects of TNF-α on intestinal epithelial cell injury.

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