Defining the role of protein kinase C in epinephrine- and bradykinin-stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) are known to release free arachidonic acid and arachidonic acid metabolites (AA) in response to tumor-promoting phorbol esters, such as tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, and to agonists active at alpha 1-adrenergic and bradykinin B2 receptors. These experiments were conducted to define the role of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) activation in the stimulation of AA release, in the clonal isolate cell line MDCK-D1, by use of three inhibitors of protein kinase C, sphingosine, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), and staurosporine. We found that alpha 1-adrenergic- and bradykinin-stimulated [3H]AA release can be distinguished by differential dependence on protein kinase C; epinephrine-stimulated release was more dependent on protein kinase C activation than was bradykinin-stimulated release. The inhibition of bradykinin-stimulated AA release by sphingosine (20.2 +/- 6.1%) was substantially less than the inhibition observed for tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate- (67.2 +/- 5.5%) and epinephrine-stimulated release (50.2 +/- 9.2%). These findings were confirmed by results using H-7 and staurosporine. The relative independence of bradykinin-stimulated AA release of protein kinase C was also demonstrated by the inability of phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of protein kinase C to eliminate bradykinin-stimulated AA release. The inhibition of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated AA release by sphingosine, H-7, and staurosporine was not due to a change in receptor number or affinity. Analysis of the products comprising [3H]AA release indicated that treatment with sphingosine did not change the composition of the released AA (34-48% prostaglandin E2, 17-27% free arachidonic acid, and 25-51% unidentified metabolites). These results indicate that two different types of hormone receptors in the same cell type can promote AA release by mechanisms that differ in their dependence on protein kinase C. The protein kinase C-dependent mechanism may represent protein kinase C-mediated activation of phospholipase A2.     

Role of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in catecholamine secretion from bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells

The role of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in catecholamine secretion from bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells was examined using four protein kinase C inhibitors: polymyxin B, sphingosine, staurosporine, and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7). For this purpose, digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells were used. Secretion of catecholamines from these cells was stimulated by the addition of micromolar amounts of exogenous free Ca2+. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and arachidonic acid, activators of protein kinase C, enhanced the catecholamine secretion evoked by Ca2+. But phorbol-12, 13-diacetate, a phorbol ester analog that does not activate protein kinase C, had no effect on Ca2(+)-evoked secretion. Polymyxin B at a low concentration (1 microM) abolished the enhancement of secretion by TPA or arachidonic acid without affecting the secretion evoked by Ca2+. However, polymyxin B at higher concentrations (10-100 microM) greatly reduced Ca2+-evoked catecholamine secretion. Sphingosine 10 microM-1 mM), Staurosporine (100 nM-1 microM, and H-7 (100-500 microM) inhibited TPA- or arachidonic acid-enhanced secretion but not Ca2(+)-evoked secretion. In cells in which protein kinase C was down-regulated by TPA, specific binding of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate to the cells almost disappeared and the enhancement of secretion by TPA was no longer observed, whereas Ca2(+)-evoked secretion was maintained. These results strongly suggest that protein kinase C is not essential for the Ca2(+)-dependent catecholamine secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, but acts instead as a modulator.     

Involvement of protein kinases in the induction of NO synthase II in human DLD-1 cells

1. Protein phosphorylation is involved in the induction of nitric oxide synthase II (NOS II, iNOS) in several types of animal cells. Here we have investigated the possible involvement of major protein kinases in the induction of NOS II expression in human DLD-1 cells.
2. In DLD-1 cells, interferon-γ alone induced a submaximal NOS II expression; a cytokine mixture consisting of interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β produced maximal NOS II induction.
3. Activators of protein kinase A (forskolin, 8-dibutyryl-cyclic AMP), of protein kinase C (tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), and of protein kinase G (8-bromo cyclic GMP) did not induce NOS II mRNA by themselves, nor did they alter NOS II mRNA induction in response to cytokines.
4. Inhibitors of protein kinase A (compound H89), of protein kinase C (bisindolylmaleimide, chelerythrine or staurosporine), of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin), of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (compound SB 203580) and of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (compound PD 98059) also had no influence on basal or cytokine-induced NOS II mRNA expression.
5. Immunoprecipitation kinase assays showed no activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in cytokine-incubated DLD-1 cells. The c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase was activated by cytokines, but the most efficacious cytokine was tumour necrosis factor-α which did not induce NOS II by itself.
6. In contrast, the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin B42 (a specific inhibitor of interferon-γ-activated janus kinase 2) and the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin A25 both reduced CM-induced NOS II mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner.
7. These results suggest that activation of NOS II expression in DLD-1 cells is independent of the activities of protein kinases A, C and G, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, but seems to require protein tyrosine kinase activity, especially the interferon-γ-activated janus kinase 2.

     

Cross-talk among noradrenaline,adenosine and protein kinase C in the mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning in rabbits

To date, there are two pathways discussed as a mechanism of ischemic preconditioning. Activation of protein kinase C by ischemic preconditioning increases adenosine release. The increased adenosine further activates protein kinase C through adenosine A1 receptors, and activated protein kinase C induces an infarct size-reducing effect through the opening of K(ATP) channels (pathway I). Meanwhile, activation of the alpha1b-adrenoceptor through increased interstitial noradrenaline by ischemic preconditioning is also associated with the ischemic preconditioning effect. However, the exact pathway of this is unknown, although it is postulated that protein kinase C and adenosine are cross-talking. Myocardial interstitial noradrenaline levels were measured in Japanese white rabbits using a microdialysis technique. Ischemic preconditioning was elicited by a single episode of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion. The infarct size was measured in rabbits subjected to 30 min ischemia and 48 h reperfusion. An increase in interstitial noradrenaline by ischemic preconditioning was not inhibited by an adenosine A1 receptor blocker (1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine), but was inhibited by an adenosine A2 receptor blocker (3,7-dimethyl-1-(2-propynyl) xanthine) or protein kinase C inhibitors (staurosporine and polymyxin B). Interstitial noradrenaline was increased by an adenosine A2 receptor agonist (CGS21680) and the increase was inhibited by a protein kinase C inhibitor. The infarct size-reducing effect of ischemic preconditioning was inhibited by a selective alpha1b-adrenoceptor blocker (chloroethylclonidine) or a protein kinase C inhibitor, and that of tyramine, an inducer of noradrenaline, was inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor. This suggests the presence of pathway II, indicating ischemic preconditioning --> activation of protein kinase C --> adenosine release --> pre-synaptic adenosine A2 receptors --> activation of protein kinase C in sympathetic nerve --> noradrenaline --> alpha1b-adrenoceptor --> activation of protein kinase C in myocytes --> infarct size-reducing effect. In addition, the ischemic preconditioning effect on infarct size was not inhibited by 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine, but was inhibited by 3,7-dimethyl-1-(2-propynyl) xanthine or chloroethylclonidine, suggesting the greater importance of pathway II compared with pathway I. Thus, pathway II plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the infarct size-reducing effect in ischemic preconditioning.     

Effects of protein kinase C inhibitors on thromboxane production by thrombin-stimulated platelets

The purpose of these studies was to identify a possible role for protein kinase C in thromboxane production. The effects of four putative protein kinase C inhibitors were studied with platelet stimulation by thrombin (0.5-150 nM), Thrombin Quick I (1.5-500 nM) or a thrombin receptor (protease activated receptor-1) agonist peptide (TRAP) (5-120 microM). Thromboxane production was increased by the bisindolylmaleimide derivative, 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-maleimi de (GF 109203X), unchanged by the inhibitors 12-(2-cyanoethyl)-6,7, 12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo (2,3-a) pyrrolo (3, 4-c)-carbazole (G? 6976) and 5,21:12,17-dimetheno-18H-dibenzo[i, o]pyrrolo[3,4-l][1,8]diazacyclohexadecine-18,20(19H)-dione, 8-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-6,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-, monomethanesulfonate (379196), the latter of which is protein kinase C beta-selective, and decreased by 1-[6-[(3-acetyl-2,4, 6-trihydroxy-5-methylphenyl)methyl]-5,7-dihydroxy-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-8-yl]-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-one (rottlerin), an inhibitor selective for protein kinase C delta. These results indicate complex regulation of thromboxane synthesis in human platelets including a probable role for protein kinase C delta. The results taken together further suggest that GF 109203X may suppress negative feedback resulting from an unidentified kinase and that the classical protein kinase C isoforms alpha and beta do not have a significant role in regulating thromboxane production by platelets.     

Possible roles of protein kinases in neutrophil chemotactic factor production by leucocytes in allergic inflammation in rats.

1. In an air pouch-type allergic inflammation model in rats, leucocytes that had infiltrated into the pouch fluid collected 4 h after the antigen challenge produced proteinaceous chemotactic factors for neutrophils when they were incubated in the medium. 2. To clarify the mechanism of activation of the infiltrated leucocytes in producing these factors, the effects of protein kinase inhibitors on neutrophil chemotactic factor production were examined. 3. When the infiltrated leucocytes were incubated for 4 h in medium containing the non-selective protein kinase inhibitor K-252a (1-100 ng ml-1, 2.14-214 nM), the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (1-50 micrograms ml-1, 3.7-185 microM), and the more selective protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 (5-100 micrograms ml-1, 13.7-274 microM); neutrophil chemotactic activity in the conditioned medium was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, but the adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase inhibitor H-89 (1-1000 ng ml-1, 2.24-2240 nM) showed no effect. 4. Isoelectric focusing of the conditioned medium revealed that the leucocytes produced two neutrophil chemotactic factors, leucocyte-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (LDNCF) 1 and LDNCF-2. Treatment of the leucocytes with K-252a, genistein, and H-7, but not H-89, inhibited production of both LDNCF-1 and LDNCF-2. 5. These results suggest that activation of tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C, but not cAMP-dependent protein kinase, is responsible for the production of LDNCF-1 and LDNCF-2. 6. The steroidal anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide inhibited neutrophil chemotactic factor production in a concentration-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protein kinase C mediates endotoxin and zymosan-induced prostaglandin synthesis

Addition of the protein kinase C activators phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, or endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) or zymosan, to RAW264.7 murine macrophages markedly stimulated prostaglandin E2 synthesis. The protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) blocked prostaglandin E2 synthesis in response to all these agonists. The present results suggest that activation of protein kinase C is a step in the stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism by agonists in macrophages.     

Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine in rat neutrophils

The signaling pathways leading to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated rat neutrophils were examined. Immunoblot analysis with antibodies against a phosphorylated form of p38 MAPK showed that fMLP-stimulated p38 MAPK activation was dependent on a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Two phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), did not affect the p38 MAPK activation. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was concentration dependently attenuated by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, and by a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C inhibitor, 13-cyanoethyl-12-methyl-6,7,12,13-tetrahydroindolo[2,3-a]pyrrolo[3 , 4-c]carbazole-7-one (G?6976). However, the protein kinase C inhibitors with a broader spectrum, 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-y l)-maleimide (G?6983) and 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-maleimi de (GF109203X), had no inhibitory effect. fMLP-stimulated p38 MAPK phosphorylation was also reduced in cells pretreated with a phospholipase C inhibitor, 1-[6-((17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3, 5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122), or preloaded with an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator, 1, 2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). We conclude that phosphorylation of p38 MAPK by fMLP stimulation in rat neutrophils is dependent on G(i/o) protein, nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, phospholipase C/Ca(2+), and probably Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C pathways.     

Pharmacological analysis of protein kinases responsible for chemotaxis of rat peritoneal neutrophils

Several types of kinase inhibitors were used to investigate the possible signaling pathways leading to the chemotaxis of rat peritoneal neutrophils toward macrophage inflammatory protein-2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, and platelet-activating factor. The chemotaxis and shape changes induced by each of these chemoattractants were strongly inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (herbimycin A) and protein kinase C inhibitors (H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride) and calphostin C). The formation of phosphatidyl 3,4,5-triphosphate in chemoattractant-stimulated neutrophils was completely inhibited by 100 nM of wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, whereas the chemotaxis toward each of these chemoattractants was partially inhibited (50% inhibition). The mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor PD 98059 did not inhibit the neutrophil chemotaxis. These findings suggest that the activation of tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C strongly participates in neutrophil chemotaxis and that the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is partially involved, but that the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase is not involved in neutrophil chemotaxis. The cross-linking of the signaling pathways for chemotaxis toward each chemoattractant was also examined.     

Caveolae-independent activation of protein kinase A in rat neonatal myocytes

Cardiomyocytes express both beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors, and these receptors play a differential role in chronotropic and inotropic effects of the heart. Caveolae are known as an important regulator of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. In the present report, we examined whether caveolae have a role in beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated cAMP production and protein kinase A activation in neonatal myocytes. Isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production was mediated by beta(1)- and beta(2)-subtypes, which depends on the receptor number of each subtype. However, protein kinase A activation was exclusively mediated by the beta(1)-subtype. Disruption of caveolae by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment did not affect the relative contribution of subtypes to isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production. beta(1)-Subtype-mediated protein kinase A activation was also not affected by the disruption of caveolae. These results suggest that beta(1)-adrenergic receptor-mediated protein kinase A activation is compartmentalized and independent of caveolae.     

Early effect of BCNU on rat astrocytes. Inhibition of S6 kinase activation by growth factors.

In primary cultures of astrocytes, methylmethane, 2-N-methyl 9-hydroxy-ellepticinium acetate, ditercalinium, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea and 1,3 bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) blocked to various extents the activation of S6 kinase by acidic fibroblast growth factor and insulin [or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)]. The effects of the most active agent, BCNU, were time and concentration dependent. Pretreatment of cells with 50 microM BCNU for 1 hr completely prevented S6 kinase activation by growth factors for at least 2 days. The S6 kinase activity of unstimulated cells was slightly affected. S6 kinase activation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13 acetate was also strongly impaired by treating cells with BCNU whereas activation by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP was slightly reduced. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and phospholipid and Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase were unaffected. BCNU had no direct effect on IGF1 binding to cell surface receptors or on the S6 kinase activity of cell cytosols.     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase contributes to elevated basal tone in aortic smooth muscle from hypertensive rats

The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in increased basal tone -spontaneous resistance in vascular muscle strips- was clarified in aortic smooth muscle from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. The MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase inhibitor, PD098059 (2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone), significantly inhibited basal tone in a dose-dependent manner. The basal level of ERK1/2 activation was inhibited by PD098059 and was significantly greater in hypertensive rats than in sham-operated rats. In contrast, inhibition with PD098059 was not observed in sham-operated rats. GF109203X (2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide), an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), decreased both basal tone and ERK1/2 activity in the hypertensive rats. In contrast, Y27632 ((R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-Pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide) and verapamil, inhibitors of Rho kinase and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, respectively, significantly inhibited basal tone but not ERK1/2 activity. Thus, basal vascular tone is elevated by the altered activation of MAPK in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, and this is regulated by PKC, but not by Rho or intracellular Ca2+.     

Effects of protein kinase inhibitor (1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) on protein kinase C activity and adrenergic stimulation of cAMP and cGMP in rat pinealocytes

Protein kinase C is thought to be involved in the adrenergic regulation of pineal function. In this tissue, norepinephrine increases cAMP and cGMP accumulation through a synergistic dual receptor mechanism involving alpha 1- and beta-adrenergic receptors; the available evidence indicates that the alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation activates protein kinase C, and that this potentiates beta-adrenergic stimulation of pineal cAMP. The role of protein kinase C in the regulation of cGMP is unclear. In the present report, we determined whether an inhibitor of protein kinase C, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7), inhibits pineal protein kinase C and the adrenergic stimulation of pineal cAMP and cGMP. H7 (10(-4) M) reduced soluble protein kinase C activity by 40%. Treatment of intact pinealocytes with H7 for 0-240 min reduced the effects of subsequent norepinephrine (NE) stimulation of cAMP and cGMP accumulation by at least 25%. H7 also inhibited 25-30% the maximum stimulation of both cAMP and cGMP produced by concurrent treatment with isoproterenol and two agents which elevate intracellular Ca2+, ouabain and A23187. However, H7 did not reduce the effects of selective beta-adrenergic activation, indicating that H7 was probably inhibiting the effects of NE by blocking alpha 1-adrenergic potentiation of beta-adrenergic stimulation, not beta-adrenergically activated mechanisms. H7 also reduced the stimulation of cAMP accumulation produced by the combined treatment of isoproterenol and an activator of protein kinase C, 4-beta-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate, which is consistent with the view that H7 is acting by inhibiting protein kinase C activity. These observations are in agreement with the conclusion that potentiation of beta-adrenergic stimulation of cAMP by alpha 1-adrenergic agonists, protein kinase C activators, or [Ca2+]i elevating agents involves protein kinase C. In addition, these results are of special interest because they point to the possibility that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of cGMP accumulation.     

Phosphorylation of protein phosphatase-1 inhibitors, inhibitor-1 and DARPP-32, in renal medulla

Inhibitor-1 and DARPP-32 (dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr 32 kDa) are each phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, resulting in their conversion to potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1. Protein phosphatase-1 is involved in the regulation of Na(+) reabsorption from renal tubule by modulating the activity of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. In this study, we have investigated the regulation of inhibitor-1 and DARPP-32 phosphorylation in slices of renal medulla. Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by forskolin and 8-bromo-cAMP increased the level of phosphorylated inhibitor-1. Okadaic acid (1 microM), used to inhibit protein phosphatase-2A, increased the level of phosphorylated inhibitor-1, but cyclosporin A had no effect. DARPP-32, like inhibitor-1, was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and dephosphorylated only by protein phosphatase-2A. These data demonstrate that the phosphorylation of inhibitor-1 and DARPP-32 is regulated by the balance of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase-2A in renal medulla. Furthermore, the phosphorylation step is regulated by pharmacological stimuli such as activation of beta(1)-adrenoceptors and dopamine D1 receptors.     

ERK／MAPK信号传导通路在胃肠道肿瘤治疗靶向中的意义

细胞外信号调节激酶／丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（ERK／MAPK）信号传导通路在胃肠道肿瘤的发生和发展中有着重要的作用。ERK／MAPK信号传导通路有3个重要分子靶：小G蛋白Ras、Raf激酶及其MEK1／2和ERK1／2。目前主要有3种抑制ERK／MAPK信号传导通路的办法：（1）破坏靶蛋白的结构和（或）功能;（2）采用功能缺失策略;（3）破坏蛋白与蛋白之间的相互作用。这些办法可为胃肠道肿瘤的治疗提供新的思路。     

The effect of protein kinase C activation on colonic epithelial cellular integrity

We have investigated whether activation of protein kinase C has a direct cytotoxic effect on colonic mucosal epithelial cells and whether oxidant-induced damage to colonocytes is mediated by activation of cellular protein kinase C. Incubation of freshly harvested cells from rat colon with the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate, resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in the extent of cell injury. Phorbol 12-myristate acetate (0.1-10 microM) also increased cellular protein kinase C activity and this was reduced significantly by treating cells with the antagonists staurosporine or 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-indol-3-yl]3-(-indol-3-yl)maleimide (GF 109203X; 10 microM). Phorbol 12-myristate acetate treatment also resulted in increased translocation of proteins for protein kinase C isoforms alpha, delta and epsilon from cytosol to membrane particulate fractions. The antagonists reduced the extent of cell damage in response to phorbol 12-myristate acetate. Furthermore, cell injury in response to the phorbol acetate was also inhibited by the addition of the oxidant scavengers, superoxide dismutase or catalase to the cell suspension. Addition of H(2)O(2) to the incubation medium (0.1-100 microM) resulted in an increase in cellular protein kinase C activity, an increase in the expression of the alpha, beta and zeta isoforms and a reduction in cell integrity. The cellular damaging actions of H(2)O(2) were significantly reduced by the protein kinase C antagonists, staurosporine or 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-indol-3-yl]-3-(-indol-3-yl)maleimide (GF 109203X). These findings suggest that protein kinase C activation results in colonic cellular injury and this damage is mediated, at least in part, by release of reactive oxidants. Furthermore, oxidant-mediated damage to these cells also involves protein kinase C activation.