Insulin like growth factor-I, protein kinase-C, calcium and cyclic AMP: partners in the regulation of chondrocyte mitogenesis and metabolism.

The possible role of protein kinase-C (PKC), calcium and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in mediating the metabolic and mitogenic effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on chondrocytes was investigated using a PKC activator (phorbol ester 12,13-dibutyrate, PDBU), a PKC inhibitor (compound H7), a calcium channel blocker, (verapamil) and a cAMP analogue (dibutyryl cAMP). IGF-I and PDBU stimulated sulphate and thymidine incorporation by chondrocytes. Both of these effects were inhibited by compound H7. Verapamil inhibited IGF-I- and PDBU-stimulated sulphate incorporation, but contrastingly stimulated basal and enhanced IGF-I and PDBU stimulation of thymidine incorporation. Dibutyryl cAMP increased basal and IGF-I-stimulated sulphate incorporation but inhibited but inhibited both basal and IGF-I stimulation of thymidine incorporation. These results suggest a harmonic overlap between the activities of PKC and cAMP-dependent PKA enzyme systems, and calcium balance in the mitogenic and metabolic process of the chondrocyte.