Calphostin C induces AP1 synthesis and AP1-dependent c-jun transactivationin normal human chondrocytes independent of protein kinase C-alpha inhibition: Possible role for c-jun N-terminal kinase

Activator protein-1 (AP1) regulates the promoter activity of a large number of genes associated with developmental, proliferative, inflammatory, and h omeostatic processes in human connective tissue cells. Some of these genes (e.g., cyclooxygenase-2) are regulated by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibi tor, calphostin C (CalC). We examined whether CalC could indeed induce AP1 and AP1 gene transactivation (c-jun) in human chondrocytes. Exploratory stu dies confirmed the anti-PKC effects of CalC, as equal molar concentrations of CalC blocked the PMA-induced translocation of PKC-alpha from the cytosol ic to the membrane fraction. CalC induction of AP1, as judged by gel-shift analysis, using a consensus API oligonucleotide, was biphasic with an initi al increase (maximum 4 h), followed by a decline, reaching its nadir after 16 h, and finally a major upregulation phase at 24 h. Maximum induction of AP-1 was reached at a concentration of 250 nmol/L of CalC. CalC did not blo ck PMA-induced API synthesis. Gel-shift analysis in the presence of specifi c antibodies to c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-fos,and CREB/ATF showed that the AP1 c omplexes were probably c-Jun/c-Jun, c-Fos/c-Jun, c-Fos/JunB, or c-Jun/JunB dimers. Northern blot analysis confirmed that c-jun, junB, and c-Fos were t he principal proto-oncogenes induced by CalC. Td confirm that c-jun inducti on occurs at the transcriptional level and to examine the role of the AP1 s ite present in the c-jun promoter in the induction of c-jun by CalC, we per formed transient transfections of c-jun promoter-CAT constructs harboring e ither wild-type (WT) AP1 regulatory element sites or mutant AP1 sites. CalC (250 nmol/L) induced a marked increase in CAT activity (i.e., promoter act ivation) with WT AP1 c-jun promoter-CAT plasmids but the response was compl etely abrogated when using constructs where the AP1 site was mutated. PMA p roduced similar results; but the induction of the WT AP1 c-jun promoter-CAT plasmid was smaller. CalC (250 nmol/L) inhibited MAPK (p42/44) activity wh ile stimulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity in a time-frame coincident with the activation of AP1. We conclude that CalC induces signaling pathwa ys that activate AP1 and transactivate genes harboring AP1 enhancer sites i ndependent of PKC-alpha. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.