Induction of type II 5'-deiodinase activity in cultured rat astroglial cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate: dependence on glucocorticoids.

The effect of an activator of protein kinase C, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), on the 5'-deiodinase (5'D) activity was studied in rat astroglial cells cultured in chemically defined medium. TPA promoted a large increase in the type II 5'D activity, which was maximal 5-10 h after addition of TPA and then declined to the basal level at 24 h. The optimal TPA concentration was 10(-7) M. TPA and 8-Br-cAMP, an other inducer of 5'D activity were antagonist. Otherwise, TPA stimulated 5'D activity only in the presence of glucocorticoids at concentrations from 10(-8) M to 10(-4) M. Glucocorticoids alone induced a slight increase in 5'D activity. These data indicate that protein kinase C contributes to the control of 5'D activity in astroglial cells and that its action is dependent on glucocorticoids.