Apolipoprotein A-I stimulates human placental lactogen release by activation of MAP kinase

Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) stimulates human placental lactogen (hPL) release via protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathways. Since PKC has been shown to activate the MAP kinase cascade in other cell types, we examined the effect of two inhibitors of the MAP kinase cascade on apo A-I-induced hPL secretion and the effect of apo A-I on MAP kinase activity in human trophoblast cells. Apigenin (10 microM) and PD98059 (100 microM) inhibited apo A-I-induced hPL release by 94 and 73%, respectively. Moreover, apo A-I activated MAP kinase in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Activation of PKC by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated MAP kinase activity, and down-regulation of PKC completely prevented apo A-I-stimulation of MAP kinase activity. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that activation of MAP kinase is involved in the intracellular mechanism of apo A-I-induced hPL release.