Regulation of H2O2-induced necrosis by PKC and AMP-activated kinase signaling in primary cultured hepatocytes

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that, in certain cases, necrosis, like apoptosis, may be programmed, involving the activation and inhibition of many signaling pathways. In this study, we examined whether necrosis induced by H2O2is regulated by signaling pathways in primary hepatocytes. A detailed time course revealed that H2O2treated to hepatocytes is consumed within minutes, but hepatocytes undergo necrosis several hours later. Thus, H2O2treatment induces a “lag phase” where signaling changes occur, including PKC activation, Akt (PKB) downregulation, activation of JNK, and downregulation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK). Investigation of various inhibitors demonstrated that PKC inhibitors were effective in reducing necrosis caused by H2O2(∼80%). PKC inhibitor treatment decreased PKC activity but, surprisingly, also upregulated Akt and AMPK, suggesting that various PKC isoforms negatively regulate Akt and AMPK. Akt did not appear to play a significant role in H2O2-induced necrosis, since PKC inhibitor treatment protected hepatocytes from H2O2even when Akt was inhibited. On the other hand, compound C, a selective AMPK inhibitor, abrogated the protective effect of PKC inhibitors against necrosis induced by H2O2. Furthermore, AMPK activators protected against H2O2-induced necrosis, suggesting that much of the protective effect of PKC inhibition was mediated through the upregulation of AMPK. Work with PKC inhibitors suggested that atypical PKC downregulates AMPK in response to H2O2. Knockdown of PKC-α using antisense oligonucleotides also slightly protected (∼22%) against H2O2. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the modulation of signaling pathways involving PKC and AMPK can alter H2O2-induced necrosis, suggesting that a signaling “program” is important in mediating H2O2-induced necrosis in primary hepatocytes.