title: Prolactin-stimulated mitogenesis of cultured astrocytes is mediated by a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism.
abstract: Prolactin (PRL) has been reported to activate cellular proliferation in nonreproductive tissue, such as liver, spleen, and thymus. Recently, we have extended the possible role of PRL as a mammalian mitogen by demonstrating a mitogenic effect of PRL in cultured astrocytes. Although the cellular mechanisms by which PRL regulates cell growth are not fully understood, protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated as one of the transmembrane signaling systems involved in the regulation of PRL-induced cell proliferation in Nb2 lymphoma cells and liver. In the present studies, we examined the possible role of PKC in PRL-induced proliferation of cultured astrocytes. Incubation of cultured astrocytes with 1 nM PRL resulted in a rapid translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane, with maximal PKC activity in the membrane occurring 30 min after exposure to PRL. Translocation of PKC activity occurred over a physiological range of PRL, with maximal PKC activation occurring at 1 nM. At concentrations greater than 10 nM PRL, there was a decrease in the amount of PKC activity associated with the membrane fraction compared with that of cells stimulated with 1 nM PRL. Incubation of astrocytes with PRL in the presence of the PKC inhibitors staurosporine, 1-(-5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, or polymyxin B blocked the PRL-induced increase in cell number with IC50 values of approximately 2 nM, 10 microM, and 6 microM, respectively. PKC is the only known cellular receptor for 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), which stimulates the translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: DeVito
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avakian
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Okulicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D011388:Prolactin; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate