Protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes are essential components of cell signaling. In this study, we investigated the regulation of PKC-a in murine B16 amelanotic melanoma (B16a) Inhibitor studies revealed that PKC was involved in basal and 12(S)-HETE-regulated tumor cell and endothelial cell integrin expression (5), adhesion (6, 7), spreading (5), and experimental metastasis (7). However, the involvement of specific PKC isoform(s) and particularly the related mechanism(s) of action for 12(S)-HETE and 13(S)-HODE have not been explored.Previously, exploration of mechanisms of action for monoHETEs placed emphasis on investigating their fate after uptake by cells and their intracellular targets. For example, extracellular mono-HETEs are esterified into phospholipids, possibly affecting certain membrane functions (8). In vitro kinase assays revealed that 15-HETE can increase PKC activity (9), and 12-HETE can activate PKC-y (10). Finally, incorporated 12(S)-HETE has been shown to bind to an intracellular protein (11). Although receptors have been identified for some eicosanoids (12-18), studies on possible cell membrane receptor-mediated signaling processes for 12(S)-HETE and/or 13(S)-HODE are lacking. In this study, we propose that 12(S)-HETE and 13(S)-HODE interact with a cell surface receptor(s) whose activation leads to generation of second messengers and further downstream activation of PKC.Protein kinase C (PKC) consists of a family of protein-serine/ threonine kinases that play important roles in mediating cell growth, differentiation, and tumor promotion (1). Binding of extracellular stimulators (e.g., hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and neurotransmitters) to their cell surface receptors triggers the phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, generating the second messengers diacylglycerol (DAG) and D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). While DAG directly activates PKC, IP3 releases Ca2+ from intracellular stores (1). Tumor-promoting phorbol esters, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), mimic DAG and directly activate PKC.Metastasis is a multistep process involving tumor cell detachment from the primary tumor, invasion through basement membrane, and intravasation (2). Once blood borne, the tumor cell must adhere to endothelium, induce endothelial cell retraction, and again invade through basement membrane to form a successful secondary tumor. Previously, we have observed that the ability of tumor cells to accomplish many of these steps in the metastatic cascade is enhanced by 12(S)-
MATERIALS AND METHODSMaterials. Polyclonal antibodies against PKC-a, -P3I, -,BII, -ry, -8, -a, or -(were prepared as described (19). PMA, pertussis toxin, and cholera toxin were obtained from Calbiochem. Genistein was purchased from Sigma. 12(S)-[3H]HETE (215.3 Ci/mmol; 1 Ci = 37 GBq) was from NEN. Murine B16 amelanotic melanoma (B16a) cells were maintained as described (5). Subcellular Fractionation, PKC Activity Assay, and Western Blotting. Cytosol and membrane PKC wer...