Investigation of intracellular signals mediating the anti-apoptotic action of prolactin in Nb2 lymphoma cells

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to identify intracellular mediators of prolactin inhibition of glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in Nb2 lymphoma cells. A short-term assay was implemented that quantitates fragmented DNA released from the genome by reaction with diphenylamine. Induction and inhibition of internucleosomal DNA cleavage (indicative of apoptosis) was verified by agarose gel electrophoresis of extracted cellular DNA.

Synchronized Nb2 cells (G0/G1) exhibited increased DNA fragmentation after 4-hr incubation with dexamethasone (DEX) (25-100 nM) which was inhibited by ovine prolactin (oPRL) (0.1-1 ng/ml), the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU486 (500 nM), and the nuclease inhibitor, aurintricarboxylic acid (100 microM). Signals previously implicated in prolactin induction of mitogenesis in Nb2 cells were investigated for their role in prolactin inhibition of apoptosis including: protein kinase C activation, arachidonic acid metabolism, polyamine production, tyrosine phosphorylation, and extracellular calcium.

Protein kinase C agonists, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, +/- the calcium ionophore, A23187 (200 nM), did not mimic oPRL inhibition of DEX-induced DNA fragmentation. Protein kinase C inhibitors, gossypol and quercetin, did not block prolactin action. Arachidonic acid did not mimic prolactin protection against DEX-induced DNA fragmentation. Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and indomethacin did not block prolactin action. The polyamine, spermine, inhibited DEX-induced DNA fragmentation at 1.5 to 2.5 mM. However, inhibition of polyamine synthesis with alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine or methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) did not inhibit prolactin action.

Prolactin action was not blocked by inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activation, genistein and tyrphostin-47. On the other hand, pervanadate, a potent tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, consistently inhibited DEX-induced DNA fragmentation. Prolactin action and DEX-induced apoptosis both occurred in calcium-free PBS. In summary, protein kinase C activation and eicosanoid production do not appear to mediate this prolactin action. Although spermine could block DNA fragmentation, blockade of the polyamine cascade did not inhibit prolactin action, suggesting that polyamines do not mediate this prolactin effect.

While inhibitors of tyrosine kinase activation did not block prolactin action, tyrosine phosphatase inhibition in the presence of basal tyrosine kinase activity mimicked prolactin action, suggesting tyrosine phosphorylation participation in the anti-apoptotic effect. Extra-cellular calcium was not required for prolactin or DEX action.

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