It was previously found that pertussis toxin (PTX) pretreatment inhibits the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1 (p44(mapk)) and ERK2 (p42(mapk)) in hepatocytes in response to either agonists that bind to heptahelical receptors or epidermal growth factor (EGF), suggesting a role of G(i) proteins in stimulatory mechanisms for ERK1/2. The present work shows that ERK1/2 is activated in a PTX-sensitive way not only by vasopressin, angiotensin II, prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha), alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation, and EGF but also by agents whose actions bypass receptors and stimulate protein kinase C (PKC) and/or elevate intracellular Ca(2+), such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), exogenous phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC, from Bacillus cereus), thapsigargin, and the Ca(2+) ionophore A23187. Under the same conditions, PTX did not affect agonist stimulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) (IP(3) generation), and did not reduce the activation by these agents of phospholipase D (PLD). The results suggest that in hepatocytes a PTX-sensitive mechanism, presumably involving G(i) proteins, exerts a stimulatory effect on ERK at a level distal to receptor coupling, acting either as an integral part of the signaling pathway(s) or by a permissive, synergistic regulation.

Exposure of cultured hepatocytes to glucagon leads to a partial refractoriness of the adenylate cyclase both to glucagon (homologous desensitization) and to isoproterenol (heterologous desensitization). In contrast, isoproterenol produces a very strong homologous desensitization but almost no heterologous desensitization. The present study compared the pattern of the homologous and heterologous components of glucagon-induced desensitization in these cells, particularly during the first 4 hours, and examined the role of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the mechanism of refractoriness development. The decrease in glucagon-sensitive and isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities were closely parallel with respect to the extent, the time course and the dose required. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Bromo-cAMP) also reduced the hormone-responsive adenylate cyclase activity, but this effect developed more slowly than the desensitization after glucagon treatment. No consistent relationship was found between cAMP levels and induction of hormone refractoriness when the cells were exposed to glucagon, isoproterenol, cholera toxin or forskolin. Furthermore, addition of 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (IBMX) which strongly amplified the cAMP response, did not potentiate the glucagon-induced desensitization of either glucagon-sensitive or isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. Taken together, the results suggest that homologous and heterologous desensitization of the adenylate cyclase developing after glucagon exposure occur by similar (agonist-non-specific) mechanisms which do not involve cAMP.

Summary.-The formation of cyclic AMP was studied in normal liver, subcutaneous hepatomas derived from MH1C1 cells, and premalignant liver and primary hepatomas induced by the carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and 4-dimethylamino-azobenzene (DAB). While only very slight effects of prostaglandins (PG) were seen in slices of normal liver, all the hepatomas responded strongly to PGE1 and PGE2. The hepatomas also had increased PGE,-sensitive adenylate-cyclase activity. PGFia and PGF2as did not increase the cAMP level significantly either in the liver or in the hepatomas. During AAF carcinogenesis the response to PGE1 increased slightly during the carcinogen feeding, and was greatly elevated only in the fully developed hepatomas. This is in contrast to the increase in adrenalin response seen during carcinogenesis, which starts much earlier, and reaches a peak value within 8-10 weeks. It is concluded that various hepatomas have elevated responsiveness to PGE1 and PGE2 as well as to adrenalin, but the course of change in the tissues' ability to respond to these agents during carcinogenesis is very different.

In hepatocytes, glucocorticoids control the expression of several genes and exert significant, but complex, regulation of the proliferation. To shed more light on the growth responses to glucocorticoids in these cells, we treated adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture with dexamethasone, in various combinations with other hormones (insulin, glucagon, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1)), and examined the relationship between the effects on the DNA synthesis and the mRNA level of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, a gene typically expressed in differentiated hepatocytes. Insulin exhibited the previously observed suppressing effect on the glucocorticoid-induced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA level, and also reversed growth-inhibitory effects of the glucocorticoid. Dexamethasone and glucagon (via cAMP) acted strongly synergistically both in enhancing the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression and inhibiting the growth, the inhibitory effect of glucagon on DNA synthesis being totally dependent on dexamethasone. The effects of dexamethasone plus glucagon on both the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA abundance and the DNA synthesis were partially counteracted by insulin. Dexamethasone is permissive for a promoting effect of TGF beta 1 on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression, and was found to increase the maximal inhibitory effect of (but reduced the sensitivity to) TGF beta 1 on the DNA synthesis. The results indicate that there is an inverse glucocorticoid-induced regulation of the DNA synthesis and the expression of a liver-typical gene.

Background/Aims: Liver regeneration factor 1 (LRF-1/ATF3) is an early response gene which is rapidly induced upon partial hepatectomy in rats, and by growth factors and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists in cultured rat hepatocytes. The aim of the present study was to examine the mechanisms involved in induction of LRF-1/ATF3 by the GPCR agonist vasopressin. Methods: Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were treated with vasopressin, TPA, and the Ca²⁺-elevating agents thapsigargin and A23187. LRF-1/ATF3 mRNA and protein were measured by Northern blot analysis or RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Signalling pathways were examined by immunoblots and kinase assays. Results: While elevation of intracellular calcium induced LRF-1/ATF3 expression, treatment with TPA did not. Inhibition of phospholipase C, protein kinase C, or pretreatment with calcium chelators did not affect vasopressin-induced expression of LRF-1/ATF3. Inhibition of each of the MAP kinases ERK1/2, JNK or p38 did not affect vasopressin-induced LRF-1/ATF3 expression. Combined inhibition of JNK and p38, and of ERK1/2 and either JNK or p38 suppressed vasopressin-induced expression of LRF-1/ATF3. Conclusion: Vasopressin induces LRF-1/ATF3 expression by mechanisms that differ from those activated by Ca²⁺-elevating agents. The results suggest that partly redundant, complex MAP kinase networks are involved in induction of LRF-1/ATF3 by vasopressin in hepatocytes.