Bile salt-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes involves activation of protein kinase C

Toxic bile salts induce hepatocyte apoptosis, a model relevant to liver injury during cholestasis. However, the signaling mechanisms culminating in bile salt-induced apoptosis remain unclear. Because protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by bile salts in hepatocytes and causes apoptosis in other cells, we tested the hypothesis that bile salt-induced hepatocyte apoptosis is mediated by PKC. The PKC inhibitors chelerythrine and Gö-6976 reduced, whereas a PKC agonist, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), increased glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Membrane-associated total PKC activity was increased in GCDC-treated hepatocytes. Quantitative immunoblot analysis demonstrated membrane translocation of PKC-alpha, PKC-delta, and PKC-epsilon to hepatocyte membranes after administration of GCDC. Direct activation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta by GCDC was also demonstrated using recombinant, baculovirus-expressed PKC isoforms in a medium of defined lipid composition. Chelerythrine and Gö-6976 reduced, whereas PMA enhanced, cathepsin B activity during treatment of hepatocytes with GCDC, demonstrating coupling of PKC activity to the protease effector mechanisms of apoptosis. In conclusion, our data suggest for the first time that PKC-dependent signaling pathways play a critical role in bile salt-induced hepatocyte apoptosis.