Tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate receptors in normal human transitional epithelial cells

As a prelude to study the promotion with TPA of in vitro transformationof human urothelial cells (HUC) in culture, we characterizedtumor promoter TPA receptors in primary cultures of HUC. [³H]TPAbound specifically to intact living HUC; maximum specific bindingwas attained in 30 min at 37°C. [³H]TPA bound to HUC ina saturable and competitive manner. Scatchard analysis of specificbinding to intact cells displayed a single slope correspondingto an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.56 nM; atsaturation TPA-binding capacity was 2.37 pmol/10⁶ HUC (1.43x 10⁶ sites per cell). [³H]TPA bound specifically and with highaffinity to the particulate fractions of HUC; binding was bothsaturable and reversible. Saturation of the specific bindingof [3H]TPA occurred at 1 nM at 4°C. Scatchard analysis ofspecific binding to the particulate fraction displayed a singleslope corresponding to a Kd of 1.08 nM; at saturation TPA-bindingcapacity was 2.05 pmol/mg protein (750 000 molecules per HUC).[³H]TPA binding was inhibited by the biologically active phorbolester, phorbol didecanoate, whereas inactive phorbol did notcompete for TPA binding. Binding was not affected by sodiumsaccharin, epidermal growth factor, retinoic acid or dexamethasone.[³H]TPA bound specifically to the HUC cytosolic fraction butonly in the presence of calcium and phosphatidylserine. Calcium-activatedand phospholipid-sensitive protein kinase activity was detectedin HUC fractions. These results indicate the presence of high-affinityspecific receptors for TPA in HUC.     

Inhibition of protein kinase C by the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate antagonist glycyrrhetic acid

Glycyrrhetic acid is an anti-inflammatory agent isolated from licorice root that inhibits 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-mediated tumor promotion in mouse skin. Although it has been established that glycyrrhetic acid inhibits a number of events induced by the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA in cultured cells, its mechanisms of action has remained obscure. In this report, we demonstrate that glycyrrhetic acid inhibits the Ca2+-and phospholipid-dependent phosphotransferase activity of protein kinase C (PKC), the phorbol ester tumor promoter receptor. Therefore, inhibition of PKC may play a role in the anti-promoting activity of glycyrrhetic acid.     

Tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate is not a prostaglandin E-type agonist.

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), proposed to fit a prostaglandin type receptor, does not compete with [3H] prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) for the established PGE1 receptor of fat cells.     

Inhibition of biological actions of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate by inhibitors of protein kinase C

Evidence has been accumulated that the phorbol ester receptor in intact cells is protein kinase C. However, it is not certain whether the various actions of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on cultured cells are all mediated by the activation of protein kinase C. Therefore, we examined the effects of inhibitors of protein kinase C, palmitoylcarnitine (PC) and phloretin (PH), on several actions of TPA on cells. PC at the concentration of 30 micrograms/ml completely prevented the inhibitory actions of TPA on differentiation of Friend leukemic cells (FLC) induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) and on metabolic cooperation of V79 cells. PC, however, did not prevent the TPA-induced promotion of the transformation of BALB/3T3 cells, even at the concentration of 40 micrograms/ml. On the other hand, PH at the concentration of 30 micrograms/ml did not inhibit the actions of TPA to inhibit differentiation of FLC and metabolic cooperation of V79 cells, but completely inhibited the transformation of BALB/3T3 cells and its promotion by TPA. These results indicate that protein kinase C possibly mediates some of the actions of TPA, such as the inhibition of differentiation and metabolic cooperation, but not that of the promotion of in vitro transformation.     

Inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol: distinct effects on protein kinase C activity

We have investigated the effects of phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and permeant diacylglycerol 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DiC8) on MCF-7 cell proliferation and protein kinase C activity. DiC8 mimics the effects of TPA on both cell morphology and proliferation, with an ED50 value of 11 micrograms/ml for cell growth inhibition. As with TPA and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, DiC8 enhances the degree of phosphorylation of an endogenous Mr 28,000 protein in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect is measurable upon 5 min of cell treatment with each protein kinase C activator and reaches a maximum at 30 min. The ED50s observed are 5 ng/ml and 20 micrograms/ml, respectively, for phorbol esters and DiC8. The Mr 28,000 protein is found in the cytosolic fraction and is phosphorylated on serine residues by both TPA and DiC8. Further characterization of the phosphorylated proteins using a highly resolutive two-dimensional electrophoresis demonstrates that the two-protein kinase C activators lead to slightly distinct protein phosphorylation patterns with an extra set of proteins phosphorylated under TPA but not DiC8 stimulation. Contrary to TPA, DiC8 induces only a partial and transient translocation of protein kinase C activity from the cytosolic to the particulate compartment. Moreover, no down-regulation of protein kinase C is observed after prolonged treatment of MCF-7 cells with DiC8, while only 10% of the initial protein kinase C level remains present in cells treated with TPA for 48 h. However, this remainder enzymatic activity is sufficient to induce the phosphorylation of the Mr 28,000 protein at its maximal level. In conclusion, our results reinforce the hypothesis of a negative modulatory role of protein kinase C in MCF-7 cell proliferation but suggest that the two activators TPA and DiC8 could induce distinct molecular events with regard to the enzyme recruitment and activity as well as to its further processing.     

Interaction of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate with cells in mixed-lymphocyte culture.

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibits DNA synthesis in bovine lymph node lymphocytes in mixed-lymphocyte cultures. Using a radioautographic study, we determined that TPA also blocked morphological changes in these cultures. Pretreatment of cultures of isologous lymphocytes with 10(-7) M TPA for three days prior to mixing was sufficient to block their subsequent response in mixed culture. Thus, TPA did not need to be present during the initial cell-to-cell interactions of the mixed lymphocyte response. The inhibition was not due to the death of the responding cell population because the effect was reversible. In one-way mixed-lymphocyte cultures, TPA pretreatment of either responding or stimulating cells could block DNA synthesis. The responding cells were more sensitive to TPA than were the stimulating cells. The inhibitory effect of the stimulators increased with an increase in the stimulating-to-responding cell ratio. In one-way cultures, it was also seen that lymphocytes from different animals varied both in their sensitivity to TPA and in their response to TPA-treated cells from other animals. The data taken together are consistent with the idea that TPA acts by changing cell surface recognition structures and/or indirectly, through activation of a subpopulation of cells to block the proliferative response. TPA may prove to be a valuable tool in studying cell-cell interactions and lymphocyte differentiation in vitro.     

Quercetin inhibits the action of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a tumor promoter

Quercetin, a mutagenic but noncarcinogenic flavonoid, inhibited the increased incorporation of inorganic phosphate into phospholipids of human embryo fibroblasts induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter. Quercetin also inhibited TPA-induced increases of sugar transport and RNA synthesis in chick embryo fibroblasts, and TPA-induced aggregation of human platelets. These results suggest that quercetin may have antitumor promoter activity, which provides a possible reason why quercetin does not develop malignant tumors despite its mutagenicity.     

Insulinotropic effect of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in rat pancreatic islets

In isolated rat pancreatic islets, the tumor-promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), when used in the 2.10(-9) to 2.10(-7) M range, was found to stimulate insulin release both in the absence and presence of glucose. The non-tumor-promoting agent 4-methylphorbol-12,13-didecanoate failed to stimulate insulin release. The insulinotropic capacity of TPA was enhanced by glucose in a dose-related fashion. In the absence of glucose, the TPA-stimulated release of insulin was a slowly induced and not rapidly reversible phenomenon. It was inhibited by antimycin A, by epinephrine, at low temperatures, and in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or the presence of cytochalasin B, was unaffected by the organic calcium antagonist D600 or indomethacin, and was potentiated by theophylline. No obvious effect of TPA upon 86Rb or 32P efflux and 45Ca net uptake could be detected in the isolated islets. However, TPA caused a progressive increase in both 45Ca fractional outflow rate and cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate content in the islets. It is proposed that the insulinotropic action of TPA may be due, in part at least, to interference with the transport of calcium by native ionophores.     

Comparison of the effect of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on cutaneous morphology, inflammation and tumor promotion in CD-1 mice

Since sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol mimics 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(FPA) by inducing ornithine decarboxylase activity and stimulatingDNA synthesis in mouse epidermis [Smart,R.C., Huang,M.-T. andConney,A.H. Carcinogenesis, 7, 1865(1986)], we have investigatedmorphological changes induced by TPA and sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerolin the epidermis and we have also examined sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerolas a possible complete tumor promoter. It wasdetermined thattopical application of 2.5 or 10 µmol of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerolinduced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity to aboutthe same extent as the application of 1 or 2 nmol of TPA respectively.Therefore, these doses of TPA and sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerolwere used in most of our studies. Single or multiple application(2 x /week for 4 weeks) of 1, 2 or 5 nmol of TPA to the skinof CD-1 mice produced a dose-dependent increase in the numberof epidermal non-cornified cell layers, epidermal thickness,leukocyte infiltration and intracellular edema. In contrast,neither single nor multiple application (2 x /week for 4 weeks)of 2.5 or 10 µmol sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol produced anyof these responses. However, when 5 µmol sn-1,2-didecanoyl-glycerol was applied topically twice a day (10 µmol/day)for 5 days there was a significant increase in the number ofepidermal non-cornified cell layers and epidermal thickness.The effects of TPA and sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol were comparedusing the mouse ear inflammation model. Application of TPA causededema, but sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol had little or no effect.sn-1,2-Didecanoylglycerol was then evaluated as a complete tumorpromoter utilizing the mouse skin two-stage model. CD-1 micewere initiated with 200 nmol 7,12-dimethythenz[a]anthraceneand then treated wIth 1 nmol TPA or 2.5 µmol sn-1,2-didecanoylglyceroltwice a week for 28 weeks. A28 weeks, 28% of the mice treatedwith TPA had developed tumors, while none of the mice treatedwith 2.5 µmol sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol developed tumors.The data indicate that topical application of 2.5 µmolsn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol induced ornithine decarboxylase activityto the same extent as a tumor-promoting dose of 1 nmol TPA,but it did not cause morphologial changes in the epidermis whenapplied once or when applied twice a week for 4 weeks and didnot function as a complete tumor promoter when applied twicea week for 28 weeks. Since more frequent applications of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol(5 µmol twice a day     

Growth of human melanocyte cultures supported by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate is mediated through protein kinase C activation.

To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-dependent growth of human melanocytes, we analyzed the effects of phorbol ester treatment on both PKC expression and growth control in these cells. We found that established cultures of normal melanocytes contain the PKC alpha, PKC beta, and PKC epsilon isoforms. The abilities of various phorbol ester compounds to stimulate DNA synthesis in these cultured melanocytes correlated with their known potencies for activation of PKC and tumor promotion. Dose-response studies revealed that the most effective TPA concentration for stimulation of DNA synthesis and growth of melanocytes (10 ng/ml TPA) also supported a relatively high level of PKC enzyme activity, increased membrane association of the PKC alpha and PKC epsilon isoforms, and led to a high level of phosphorylation of a major PKC substrate, the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein. Melanocytes incubated for 48 h with TPA at a higher concentration (100 ng/ml TPA) exhibited suboptimal TPA-stimulated DNA synthesis (28% of maximal) and decreased phosphorylation of the MARCKS substrate protein (50% of maximal). Furthermore, treatment of melanocytes with 100 ng/ml TPA for 48 h resulted in a marked decrease in total PKC enzyme activity and the loss of expression of the PKC alpha and PKC epsilon isoforms in both the cytosol and membrane-bound fractions, when examined by immunoblot analysis. These results, taken together, suggest that continuous activation of PKC by TPA, rather than the loss of PKC due to TPA-induced down-regulation, is responsible for the growth-stimulatory effects of phorbol esters on normal human melanocytes. Additionally, the conditioned medium from TPA-treated human melanocytes stimulated DNA synthesis in quiescent melanocytes and human melanoma cells, thus suggesting that activation of the PKC signaling pathway in melanocytes leads to the production of an autocrine growth factor. These findings may be relevant to the autonomous growth of malignant melanomas.     

Comparison of effects of bryostatins 1 and 2 and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on protein kinase C activity in A549 human lung carcinoma cells

Activators of protein kinase C (PKC), such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and bryostatins 1 and 2, inhibit the growth of A549 cells. At high concentrations the bryostatins do not affect cell growth. Here the hypothesis has been tested that modulation of A549 cell growth is the consequence of agent-induced changes in location or extent of cellular PKC activity. PKC activity was measured after semi-purification with nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the cytosol and the particulate fraction of A549 cells. When cells were exposed to TPA or mezerein, PKC activity underwent rapid and concentration-dependent translocation from the cytosol to the membrane. TPA at 0.1 microM or mezerein at 1 microM caused almost complete translocation within 30 min. Incubation with bryostatins 1 or 2 also led to enzyme translocation, which was, however, much weaker than that observed with the tumor promoters. Neither 4 alpha-phorboldidecanoate nor the synthetic diacylglycerols 1,2-sn-dioctanoylglycerol or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol mimicked TPA in this way. Exposure of cells to TPA or the bryostatins for longer than 30 min caused the gradual disappearance of total cellular PKC activity. PKC downregulation was concentration dependent and complete after 24 h. A549 cells which had acquired temporary resistance toward the growth-arresting potential of TPA were completely devoid of any measurable PKC activity. The bryostatins were potent inhibitors of the binding of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate to its receptors in intact cells, and the inhibition was dependent on bryostatin concentration. The results support the contention that PKC is involved in the mediation of growth inhibition caused by TPA or the bryostatins. However, the relationship between growth arrest and PKC translocation or downregulation seems to be a complex one.     

Cremophor EL inhibits 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced protein phosphorylation in human myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells.

Cremophor EL, a polyloxyethylene castor oil derivative used clinically as a parenteral vehicle, inhibits protein kinase c activity in vitro. The tumor promoting agent TPA (12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) activated protein kinase C and induced phosphorylation of cellular proteins of human myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. Polypeptides of 56 KDa, 44 KDa, 37 KDa, 35 KDa and 31 KDa were particularly phosphorylated in response to TPA activation. However, the phosphorylations of these polypeptides, especially that of 37 KDa, were greatly reduced by treatment of the TPA-activated ML-1 cells with Cremophor EL. Cremophor EL also inhibited the growth of ML-1 cells. On the other hand, the TPA-induced cell differentiation in ML-1, which is considered a separate event from protein kinase C activation, was not affected by Cremophor EL. These studies suggest biological implications for the observed in vitro activity of Cremophor EL. The studies may also provide a mechanism for the Cremophor EL-associated cytotoxicities observed when it is used clinically as a parenteral vehicle.     

Differential down-regulation of epidermal protein kinase C by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and diacylglycerol: association with epidermal hyperplasia and tumor promotion

A single topical application of 2 nmol 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to CD-1 mouse skin resulted in a rapid decrease in cytosolic, particulate, and total epidermal protein kinase C (PKC) activity at 6 h, which remained decreased by 70% at 96 h. This dose of TPA produced epidermal hyperplasia as determined by an increase in the number of nucleated epidermal cell layers. A single application of 10 mumol sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol, a model sn-1,2-diacylglycerol and complete tumor promoter, induced ornithine decarboxylase to an extent similar to that of 2 nmol TPA. However, sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol produced an 80% increase in particulate PKC activity that was accompanied by a 45% decrease in cytosolic PKC activity, resulting in no net change in total PKC activity. Unlike TPA, this dose of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol did not produce a hyperplastic response. Additional dosing regimens were examined to determine whether the down-regulation of particulate PKC activity was associated with hyperplasia and tumor promotion. A tumor-promoting dosing regimen consisting of multiple applications of 5 or 10 mumol sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol twice daily for 1 week resulted in more than a 60% decrease in cytosolic and particulate PKC activity and a marked epidermal hyperplasia. Twice-weekly application of 10 mumol sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol, a nonpromoting dosing rate, for 1 week decreased cytosolic PKC activity but increased particulate PKC activity and did not produce hyperplasia. Dosing regimens utilizing multiple applications of TPA decreased both particulate and cytosolic PKC activity and were also hyperplastic. PKC activity was also measured in epidermal papillomas from mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]- anthracene and promoted with either sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol or TPA. Cytosolic- and particulate-associated PKC activity in these papillomas was decreased by at least 70% and 40%, respectively, when compared with epidermis and whole skin. After 2 months without promoter treatment, both cytosolic and particulate PKC activity remained decreased in the papillomas, whereas epidermal PKC activity returned to control values by 2 to 3 weeks following cessation of several weeks of TPA treatment. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the down-regulation of epidermal PKC is associated with and may be a permissive event for epidermal hyperplasia and tumor promotion.     

Association of protein tyrosine phosphorylation with B cell differentiation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)

We have assessed whether tyrosine protein kinase (TPK) is involved in B cell differentiation. In vitro phosphorylation of an endogenous substrate in B cell leukemias showed that leukemic B cells at different stages of differentiation had specific endogenous substrates in tyrosine phosphorylation as well as distinct TPK activity. To clarify the relationship between TPK and the process of B cell differentiation, we studied protein tyrosine phosphorylation in two kinds of leukemic B cells, which showed distinct responses to TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) in B cell differentiation. TPA-treated leukemic B cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) differentiated into cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (clg)+ plasmacytoid cells, while TPA-treated leukemic B cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) did not differentiate into clg+ cells, but showed a peculiar morphological change, spreading. Untreated B-CLL cells and HCL cells showed similar TPK activities and tyrosine protein phosphorylation. When treated with TPA, enhanced phosphorylation was seen in B-CLL cells, while a clear reduction in phosphorylation was found in HCL cells. However, using 4-hydroxycinnamide derivatives which reduce TPK activity, we found that only the reduction of TPK activity did not lead HCL cells to spreading. These data suggest that protein tyrosine phosphorylation and/or dephosphorylation might be involved in B cell differentiation, but only the change of TPK activity in HCL cells is not sufficient to induce effects.     

Tumor progression of murine epidermal cells after treatment in vitro with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or retinoic acid

Tumor-promoting or antipromoting agents potentially may act directly on initiated squamous epithelial cells or indirectly through effects on normal keratinocytes or immune cells. The purpose of this study was to examine direct effects by comparing in vitro and in vivo treatment of initiated cell populations with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or retinoic acid. Keratinocytes were initiated by treatment in vitro with 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene. Replicate cultures of a cloned initiated cell line were exposed to TPA or retinoic acid with acetone as control. After an equivalent number of population doublings, cultured cell sheets were transplanted as skin grafts to athymic nude mice. Replicate grafts from each in vitro treatment group were then treated with TPA or retinoic acid for 8 months. Promotion was quantified by tumor incidence (graft sites with tumor per total sites) and by tumor growth rate. The findings were as follows: (a) TPA increased tumor incidence whether it was applied in vitro or in vivo; (b) TPA in vitro favored more progressive tumors than TPA in vivo; (c) stages of malignant progression from cloned keratinocytes treated in vitro were histologically identical to those following treatment of skin in vivo, including papilloma, dysplastic invasive papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, and metastasis to lymph node and lung; (d) retinoic acid treatment in vivo reduced tumor incidence and tumor growth rate in initiated cells previously exposed to TPA but not in cells previously exposed to retinoic acid. The results indicated the following: (a) direct effects of TPA on initiated keratinocyte populations were a significant component of tumor promotion; (b) factors in vivo modified the TPA response toward less progressive growth; and (c) the effect of retinoic acid was modulated by prior treatment history.     

Depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhances platinum drug sensitivity in human ovarian carcinoma cells

Down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhances the sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells to various types of platinum compounds such as cisplatin (DDP), carboplatin and (-)-(R)-2-aminomethylpyrrolidine (1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)-platinum(II) monohydrate (DWA) by a factor of two- to threefold. TPA enhanced the sensitivity of the DDP-resistant 2008/C13*5.25 subline to each of these three drugs to the same extent as for the 2008 cells. The extent of PKC down-regulation and drug sensitization depended on the duration of TPA exposure; maximum effect was achieved with a 48 h pretreatment. Sensitization was TPA concentration-dependent and was maximal at 0.05 microM TPA. 2008 cells expressed only the PKCalpha and PKCzeta isoforms. Western blot analysis revealed that whereas the expression of PKCalpha was reduced by TPA the level of PKCzeta was not affected. These results suggest that PKCalpha is the isotype responsive to TPA in these cells and that platinum drug sensitivity can be modulated by this isoform alone. In parallel to its effect on PKCalpha, TPA decreased cellular glutathione content by 30 +/- 3 (standard deviation (s.d.) % in 2008 cells and by 41 +/- 3 (s.d.) % in 2008/C13*5.25 cells. TPA also increased accumulation of DDP and DWA by 70%, although this effect was limited to the 2008/C13*5.25 cells. TPA rendered 2008 and 2008/C13*5.25 cells resistant to cadmium chloride by a factor of 3.7 and 3.6-fold respectively, suggesting a significant increase in cellular metallothionein content. Although the mechanism of TPA induced sensitization is not yet fully understood, this study points to a central role for PKCalpha in modulating platinum drug sensitivity.     

Stimulation of macrophage activity by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

Treatment of resident murine peritoneal macrophages with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) rapidly converted the cells to tumour cytostatic and cytolytic effector cells, as determined by growth inhibition or lysis of T-lymphoma cells (Eb, EL4) in vitro. The effective TPA concentrations were 10(-8) to 10(-7)M. Macrophages became cytotoxic as early as one to two hours after exposure to TPA, and tumour cytotoxicity persisted up to 48 hours. TPA did not interfere with the action of the lymphokine macrophage activating factor (MAF) but acted in synergy with it. Generation of antitumour-active macrophages by TPA was accompanied by other metabolic and functional changes, such as an enhancement of the hexose monophosphate shunt, glucosamine incorporation, RNA and protein synthesis, release of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane and prostacyclin, as well as pinocytosis. These data show that TPA may be a valuable model substance to complement studies of MAF; furthermore, use of TPA may help to clarify the role of activated macrophages during tumour promotion and tumour defense.     

Enhanced synthesis of a specific protein by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in cultured chick embryo muscle cells

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induces in cultured postmitotic myotubes specific alterations of synthesized proteins as revealed by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after pulse labeling with [35S]methionine. Synthesis of myosin heavy chain is remarkably inhibited after exposure to 1.6 X 10(-7) M TPA for periods of 9 hr or longer. During shorter periods of TPA treatment (2 hr), an enhanced synthesis of a Mr 31,000 polypeptide is observed, which is associated with the particulate fraction of cultured myotubes. "Pulse chase" experiments show that this polypeptide is not a degradation product induced by TPA. The stimulation of Mr 31,000 polypeptide requires simultaneous RNA synthesis, since actinomycin D completely and selectively abolishes [35S]methionine incorporation into this polypeptide. The stimulation of Mr 31,000 polypeptide is a transient biosynthetic event not detectable after prolonged incubation (24 hr) of myotubes with the tumor promoter. However, TPA-containing medium preincubated with cultures for up to 24 hr induces stimulation of Mr 31,000 polypeptide when administered to untreated cultures. The early stimulatory effect on Mr 31,000 polypeptide synthesis and the late inhibitory effects on contractile protein synthesis are also observed when postmitotic, unfused myoblasts, rather than myotubes, are treated with TPA.     

The in vitro effect of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on Sertoli cell morphology.

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of the well-known tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the morphology of cultured Sertoli cells from immature rats. The cells were cultured for 5 days and the TPA was added at the end of the culture period for 8 h at a concentration of 10-7 M. Viability tests showed that controls as well as TPA-treated cells remained viable during the culture period and no deleterious effects were observed as a result. Application of computerized morphometry at both light and electron microscopic levels revealed that TPA caused important changes in cell morphology in vitro. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that compared to the controls, Sertoli cells treated with TPA exhibited fewer astrocytic-type cytoplasmic extensions and a smaller size. Our results support the conclusion that the tumor promoter TPA, when applied to immature Sertoli cells in vitro, causes significant morphological alterations.     

In vitro induction of human skin ornithine decarboxylase by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

A method was developed for the in vitro induction by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in human skin punch biopsy samples. Addition of TPA to 1 ml serum-free minimum essential medium containing a single 3-mm human skin punch biopsy sample obtained from a surgical specimen resulted in an induction of ODC activity with a peak activity at 5 hours after TPA addition. In vitro induction of human epidermal ODC activity was dependent on the TPA concentration in the medium; about a twofold increase in ODC activity was observed 6 hours after the addition of 0.1 microM TPA, and about a fivefold increase in ODC activity was observed with 1 microM TPA. TPA also caused about a fivefold to sixfold increase in ODC activity in 3-mm skin punch biopsy samples from healthy volunteers. Human skin punch biopsy samples remained responsive to TPA induction of ODC activity even when stored in serum-free medium at 4 degrees C for 24 hours. A similar degree of induction of ODC activity by TPA was observed whether whole unfractionated human epidermis or a soluble epidermal extract was used for ODC assays. Increased ODC activity was the result of the increase in enzymatically active ODC protein, quantitated by a [3H]difluoromethylornithine-binding assay. Thus human skin, like mouse skin, is responsive to TPA for ODC induction.