cAMP stimulates protein kinase C activity in cultured renal LLC-PK1 cells.

Exposure of intact LLC-PK1 cells to the phorbol ester 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increases basal, arginine vasopressin-stimulated, and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in LLC-PK1 membranes. This observation suggests that protein kinase C can increase adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in LLC-PK1 cells. To determine whether cAMP regulates protein kinase C activity in LLC-PK1 cells, intact cells were exposed to either forskolin or to soluble cAMP analogues. Acute (5 and 30 min) exposure to either forskolin or cAMP analogues increases protein kinase C activity as observed by two different methods for measuring protein kinase C. Acute exposure to PMA translocates protein kinase C from a soluble to a particulate cell fraction, whereas acute exposure to cAMP increases both soluble and particulate forms of protein kinase C. Longer exposure (18 h) to PMA results in a loss of protein kinase C activity, whereas 18-h exposure to cAMP results in a further increase in protein kinase C activity. The effect of cAMP but not of PMA to stimulate protein kinase C activity can be attenuated by the pro-R diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphorothioate, suggesting a protein kinase A-mediated effect. These results suggest the presence of a monodirectional mode of signal transduction system interaction in LLC-PK1 cells in which protein kinase C and protein kinase A can potentiate each other.