α(1A)-adrenergic receptor differentially regulates STAT3 phosphorylation through PKCϵ and PKCδ in myocytes

J Recept Signal Transduct Res. 2012 Apr;32(2):76-86. doi: 10.3109/10799893.2011.647353. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated α₁-adrenergic receptors (ARs) increase STAT3 activation in transfected and non-cardiac primary cell lines. However, the mechanism used by α₁-ARs resulting in STAT3 activation is unknown. While other G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can couple to STAT3, these mechanisms demonstrate coupling through SRC, TYK, Rac, or complex formation with Gq and used only transfected cell lines. Using normal and transgenic mice containing constitutively active mutations (CAM) of the α(1A)-AR subtype, neonatal mouse myocytes and whole hearts were analyzed for the mechanism to couple to STAT3 activation. α₁-ARs stimulated time-dependent increases in p-SRC, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3 in normal neonatal myocytes. Using various kinase inhibitors and siRNA, we determined that the α(1A)-AR coupled to STAT3 through distinct and unique pathways in neonatal myocytes. We found that PKCϵ inhibition decreased p-ERK and p-Ser STAT3 levels without affecting p-Tyr STAT3. In contrast, we found that PKCδ inhibition affected p-SRC and p-JAK2 resulting in decreased p-Tyr and p-Ser STAT3 levels. We suggest a novel α(1A)-AR mediated PKCϵ/ERK pathway that regulates the phosphorylation status of STAT3 at Ser-727 while PKCδ couples to SRC/JAK2 to affect Tyr-705 phosphorylation. Furthermore, this pathway has not been previously described in a GPCR system that couples to STAT3. Given cell survival and protective cardiac effects induced by PKC, STAT3 and ERK signaling, our results could explain the neuroprotective and cardiac protective pathways that are enhanced with α(1A)-AR agonism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Immunoblotting
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase C-delta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase C-delta / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C-delta / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / metabolism*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Prkcd protein, mouse
  • Prkce protein, mouse
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • src-Family Kinases
  • Protein Kinase C-delta
  • Protein Kinase C-epsilon