Elevated L-PGDS activity contributes to PMA-induced apoptosis concomitant with downregulation of PI3-K

Recently we demonstrated the induction of apoptosis by the addition of recombinant lipocalin-type prostaglandin D(2) synthase (L-PGDS) to the culture medium of LLC-PK(1) cells. Because protein kinase C (PKC) has been shown to be involved in the apoptotic process of various cell types, we examined the potential role of L-PGDS in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced apoptosis. We report here the enzymatic activation and phosphorylation of L-PGDS in response to phorbol ester in cell culture and the direct phosphorylation of recombinant L-PGDS by PKC in vitro. Treatment of cells with PMA or L-PGDS decreased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) activity and concomitantly inhibited protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) phosphorylation, which led to the hypophosphorylation and activation of Bad. In addition, hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein was also observed in response to L-PGDS-induced apoptosis. Cellular depletion of L-PGDS levels by using an antisense RNA strategy prevented PI3-K inactivation by phorbol ester and inhibited caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. We conclude that phorbol ester-induced apoptosis is mediated by L-PGDS phosphorylation and activation by PKC and is accompanied by inhibition of the PI3-K/PKB anti-apoptotic signaling pathways.