Membrane and nuclear protein kinase C activation in the early stages of diethylnitrosamine-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

The activity and expression of Ca(2+)-dependent cPKC alpha and beta isoenzymes in the particulate, soluble (cytosolic) and nuclear fractions of rat liver and the expression of Ca(2+)-independent nPKC delta and aPKC zeta were examined during the early stages (30 and 60 min, 24 and 96 h and 7 and 60 days post-hepatectomy) of the Solt-Farber 'resistant hepatocyte' model of diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in Fischer 344 rats and related to the presence of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)-positive hyperplastic cell foci and persistent nodules in rat liver. Total PKC activity was unmodified by the carcinogenic treatment. In contrast, the PKC activity in the particulate, as well as nuclear fractions increased with time, reaching a maximum 60 days post-hepatectomy, with a decrease in the cytosolic activity. In carcinogen-treated animals maximal expression of cPKC alpha and beta isoenzymes was present 7 days post-hepatectomy, while no changes in nPKC delta and aPKC zeta immunoreactivity were detected. In the nucleus, no cPKC alpha isoform expression was observed, the cPKC beta expression being maximal at 60 days. Seven and 60 days post-hepatectomy GGT-positive hyperplastic cell foci and persistent nodules were present in rat liver respectively. Taken together, the results of this study suggest a role for nuclear cPKC beta and for cPKC alpha in promoting the selective growth of carcinogen-initiated hepatocytes in rat liver. No evidence for a role of Ca(2+)-independent nPKC delta and aPKC zeta isoenzymes in the early stages of DENA-induced liver carcinogenesis could be demonstrated.