Involvement of protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase pathways in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced clustering of ovarian theca-interstitial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induces clustering of theca-interstitial cells (TIC) isolated from immature, hypophysectomized rats, while inhibiting luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated androstenedione in vitro. Stimulators of PKC, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG, 50 and 100 microM) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 50 nM), caused TIC clustering by 6 days in vitro. Clustering induced by these compounds resembled that induced by TNF. The protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine at 1 and 10 nM, impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering for 6 days, as did the protein kinase inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperizine dihydrochloride (H-7); conversely, the protein kinase inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride (0.1, 1.0 or 10 microM), did not attenuate TNF-directed clustering. The protein kinase inhibitors did not reverse the suppression of LH-stimulated androstenedione by TNF. Inhibitors of the EGF receptor PTK, A23 (10, 50, or 100 microM) and A46 (0.1, 1.0, 10, or 50 microM), impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering, while TNF suppression of LH-directed androstenedione was unaffected. EGF-induced TIC clustering was also impaired by A46, while A23 was less effective. Both A23 and A46 blocked EGF attenuation of LH-directed androstenedione after 4 days. When challenged with TNF (1 ng/ml) or PMA (50 nM), PKC activity increased in TIC. A23 (50 microM) and A46 (10 microM) each alone blocked the TNF-associated increase in PKC activity; however, PKC activity attributable to PMA was unaffected by A46. Together, these results suggest that TNF-induced TIC clustering involves activation of PTK which directs subsequent increases in PKC activity; however, mechanisms by which TNF inhibits LH-stimulated steroidogenesis remains elusive.