Modes of inhibitory action of protein kinase C in the chemotactic peptide-induced formation of inositol phosphates in differentiated human leukemic (HL-60) cells.

Using the [3H]inositol-labeled plasma membranes isolated from the differentiated human leukemic (HL-60) cells, the mode of inhibitory action of the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme protein kinase C in the chemotactic peptide, fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-induced, phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides was investigated. In this cell-free membrane system, fMLP in the presence of GTP plus Ca2+, GTP in the presence of Ca2+, or Ca2+ alone could induce the formation of inositol bis- and trisphosphate (IP2 and IP3, respectively). When the intact cells were pre-treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, the fMLP- and GTP-induced formation of IP2 and IP3 was markedly reduced but the Ca2+-induced reactions were not reduced in the isolated membranes. This result suggests that protein kinase C impairs the coupling of the GTP-binding protein to the phospholipase C. In another experiment, preincubation of the isolated membranes with pure rat brain protein kinase C inhibited the fMLP-induced formation of IP2, but did not inhibit the GTP- or Ca2+-induced reaction. Under the same conditions, protein kinase C did not inhibit the fMLP-, GTP-, or Ca2+-induced formation of IP3. This result suggests that protein kinase C impairs additionally the coupling of the fMLP receptor to the GTP-binding protein leading to the formation of IP2. The reason for the failure of protein kinase C to inhibit the fMLP-induced formation of IP3 in the cell-free membrane system is unknown, but several possible mechanisms are discussed.