Phorbol ester tumor promoter regulation of natural antitumor antibody binding depends on protein kinase C and an intact microfilament system.

Abstract

Phorbol ester tumor promoter treatment produced a biphasic effect on the binding of polyclonal whole-serum natural antibody (NAb) by L5178Y-F9 murine lymphoma cells. In vitro tumor growth in 100 ng/ml 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) produced a rapid decrease followed by a reversible and unstable increase in NAb binding detected at 4 degrees C. The latter was associated with a functional decrease in NAb binding at 37 degrees C and increases in the tumorigenic and metastatic potentials in vivo. Colchicine, cytochalasin B and sodium azide inhibited the NAb binding of TPA-treated cells, while only colchicine reduced the binding of controls, suggesting the dependence of the TPA-induced increase in NAb binding on microfilament organization and active energy production. The non-tumor-promoting, non-PKC-activating TPA analogue 4-O-Me-TPA failed to alter NAb binding, arguing against nonspecific effects of TPA. The non-tumor-promoting, PKC-activating diacylglycerol, OAG, reproduced the initial decrease in NAb binding but was unable to mimic the subsequent TPA-induced increase. The PKC inhibitor H-7, but not HA1004, could block the TPA-induced increase in NAb binding. Together the data argue that PKC activation is required for both TPA-induced changes in NAb binding but that it is not sufficient to generate the energy- and microfilament-system-dependent, unstable high-NAb-binding phenotype associated with increased tumor progression.