Biochemical characterization of the effects of FK506 on signal transduction in exocytotic function of rat pancreatic acini.

We examined the effects of FK506 on amylase secretion and intracellular pathway in stimulus secretion coupling in isolated pancreatic acini. Amylase release from isolated acini in response to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) was suppressed by exposing acini to FK506. The suppressing effect of FK506 on amylase release from acini was dependent on the concentration of FK506 and the time of exposure to FK506. Amylase releases in response to 8-bromo-cAMP and vasoactive intestinal peptide and phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) were not suppressed when acini were exposed to FK506, suggesting that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway and protein kinase C pathway were not affected by FK506. However, amylase release in response to calcium ionophore (4-bromo-A23187) was suppressed by FK506, whereas the increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration caused by 4-bromo-A23187 was not affected by FK506. These results suggest that FK506 suppressed secretagogue-stimulated amylase release in acini by altering Ca(++)-mediated intracellular pathways. Further, the property of CCK-8 binding site, CCK-8 stimulated inositol phosphates formation, rises in cytosolic free calcium concentration, and calcium efflux from acini were not suppressed by exposing acini to FK506. These findings indicate that FK506 suppresses amylase release by affecting postreceptor intracellular pathways that are mediated by Ca++ in stimulus secretion coupling.