title: PKC-zeta is required in EGF protection of microtubules and intestinal barrier integrity against oxidant injury.
abstract: Using monolayers of human intestinal (Caco-2) cells, we showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) protects intestinal barrier integrity against oxidant injury by protecting the microtubules and that protein kinase C (PKC) is required. Because atypical PKC-zeta isoform is abundant in wild-type (WT) Caco-2 cells, we hypothesized that PKC-zeta mediates, at least in part, EGF protection. Intestinal cells (Caco-2 or HT-29) were transfected to stably over- or underexpress PKC-zeta. These clones were preincubated with low or high doses of EGF or a PKC activator [1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG)] before oxidant (0.5 mM H(2)O(2)). Relative to WT cells exposed to oxidant, only monolayers of transfected cells overexpressing PKC-zeta (2.9-fold) were protected against oxidant injury as indicated by increases in polymerized tubulin and decreases in monomeric tubulin, enhancement of architectural stability of the microtubule cytoskeleton, and increases in monolayer barrier integrity toward control levels (62% less leakiness). Overexpression-induced protection was OAG independent and even EGF independent, but EGF significantly potentiated PKC-zeta protection. Most overexpressed PKC-zeta (92%) resided in membrane and cytoskeletal fractions, indicating constitutive activation of PKC-zeta. Stably inhibiting PKC-zeta expression (95%) with antisense transfection substantially attenuated EGF protection as demonstrated by reduced tubulin assembly and increased microtubule disassembly, disruption of the microtubule cytoskeleton, and loss of monolayer barrier integrity. We conclude that 1) activation of PKC-zeta is necessary for EGF-induced protection, 2) PKC-zeta appears to be an endogenous stabilizer of the microtubule cytoskeleton and of intestinal barrier function against oxidative injury, and 3) we have identified a novel biological function (protection) among the atypical isoforms of PKC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. ali_banan@rush.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banan
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Talmage
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keshavarzian
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta
chemical_list: D004075:Diglycerides; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta