title: Induction of c-fos in pituitary cells by thyrotrophin-releasing hormone and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate depends upon Ca2+ influx.
abstract: The role of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in the induction of the immediate early gene c-fos by TRH or by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was studied in the clonal pituitary cell line GH4C1. It was found that c-fos mRNA levels were rapidly and transiently increased by TRH at physiological concentrations (1-100 nM). The effect of TRH was dependent on a rise in [Ca2+]i, and TRH stimulation of Ca2+ influx was essential for c-fos induction. Cell depolarization with K+, which produces a [Ca2+]i rise by soliciting Ca2+ influx via voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, was insufficient to induce c-fos. Blockade or downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) strongly attenuated TRH stimulation of c-fos expression. Direct stimulation of PKC by PMA raised c-fos mRNA levels, but only under conditions permitting Ca2+ influx. We conclude that TRH induces c-fos mRNA by a mechanism dependent on PKC activation and on Ca2+ influx. The essential role of Ca2+ influx for PMA stimulation of c-fos mRNA suggests a novel pathway linking PKC stimulation to early gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Fondation pour Recherches Médicales, Department of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prentki
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schlegel
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000235:genetics*; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019311:Staurosporine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004492:Edetic Acid; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002118:Calcium