Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors and PKC activation synergistically stimulate TNF-alpha production in RBL-2H3 cells.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

To investigate the effect of Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors on the production of TNF-alpha in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells.

MATERIAL

Two Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors, thapsigargin (TG) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and three hydroquinone-antioxidants, 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTBHQ), 2,5-di-(tert/amyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTAHQ), 2-(tertbutyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (MTBHQ) were used.

TREATMENT

Cells were treated with TG, CPA, DTBHQ, DTAHQ and MTBHQ for 3 h in the presence of 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and released TNF-alpha from the cells was measured (n > or = 4).

RESULTS

All Ca2--ATPase inhibitors (TG, CPA, DTBHQ and DTAHQ) induced TNF-alpha release in a dose-dependent manner. TNF-alpha release was inhibited by treatment with protein kinase C inhibitors (staurosporine, Ro31-8220, calophostin C) (p < or = 0.05). In contrast, MTBHQ, which does not induce increases in [Ca2+]i, did not induce the release of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha release induced by DTBHQ and CPA was inhibited by treatment with actinomycin-D, the immunosuppressant FK506 and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (p < or = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest 1) that [Ca2+]i increase and subsequent activation of protein kinase C is necessary for the release of TNF-alpha, and they work synergistically, 2) that the TNF-alpha release induced by Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors can be regulated at the transcriptional level.