title: Inhibitors of ser/thr phosphatases 1 and 2A induce apoptosis in pituitary GH3 cells.
abstract: Two structurally different inhibitors of ser/thr phosphatases 1 and 2A, okadaic acid and calyculin A, time- and concentration-dependently stimulated and inhibited cell-specific function (hormone gene expression) in pituitary GH3 cells. The negative effect was associated with the appearance of apoptotic cell death. Nanomolar concentrations of both agents produced the characteristic morphological alterations and a DNA fragmentation ladder. Calyculin A treatment resulted in comparable changes with 10fold lower concentrations than okadaic acid. Observations with derivatives of okadaic acid with no or lower phosphatase inhibitory potency supported the conclusion that apoptosis induction is related to inhibition of ser/thr phosphatases, presumably types 1 and 2A. Membrane damage as measured by lactate dehydrogenase liberation into medium was significantly lower in apoptotic vs. necrotic cells. DNA fragmentation could be reduced by the addition of zinc but not by removal of extracellular calcium with EGTA. Apoptotic changes were reduced by the concomitant activation of protein kinase A by a membrane permeable cAMP analogue. Incubation of cells for 4 months in successively increased concentrations of okadaic acid resulted in a population that proliferated at the initially lethal concentration of 30 nM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tergau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quentin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Opitz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Zezschwitz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marwitz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steinfelder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008387:Marine Toxins; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008387:Marine Toxins; D010080:Oxazoles; D019319:Okadaic Acid; C059041:calyculin A; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases