Effect of modulation of protein kinase C on the cAMP-dependent chloride conductance in T84 cells

The regulation of chloride conductance was investigated in the T84 human colon carcinoma cell line by the quenching of the fluorescent probe 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)quinolinium. The permeable cAMP analog 8-Br-cAMP (100 microM) and the calcium ionophore ionomycin (1 microM) activate a chloride conductance. A prolonged (4 h) preincubation of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (100 nM) or with the diacylglycerol analog 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (100 microM): (i) down-modulates to almost zero the protein kinase C activity in the membranes; (ii) inhibits the activation of the chloride conductance mediated by 8-Br-cAMP but not by calcium; (iii) reduces the mRNA without changing the expression of the protein product of the cystic fibrosis gene. The data suggest that PKC is essential for the activation of the cAMP-dependent chloride conductance in T84 cells.