Activation of protein kinase C augments butyrate-induced differentiation and turnover in human colonic epithelial cells in vitro

As the colonic epithelium is physiologically exposed to butyrate and to activators of protein kinase C, we examined the effect of the protein kinase C signalling pathway on butyrate-induced expression of markers of differentiation. Activators and inhibitors of protein kinase C were used in combination with butyrate and effects on the expression of markers of differentiation examined in colon cancer cell lines. When the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (100 nM) was added for 24 h prior to the addition of 2 mM butyrate, there was a synergistic increase in alkaline phosphatase activity (154 ± 11% above that for butyrate alone, P = 0.003) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Butyrate-induced expression of carcinoembryonic antigen and interleukin-8, dome formation and cell turnover were also markedly augmented by pre-treatment with phorbol myristate acetate. A similar effect was observed with propionate or acetate (but not other differentiating agents), when phorbol myristate acetate and butyrate were added concurrently, or when other protein kinase C activators were used. Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase C activity did not alter butyrate-induced alkaline phosphatase activity, but abrogated the augmentation induced by phorbol myristate acetate. We conclude that protein kinase C does not mediate the differentiating effects of butyrate on colon cancer cells, but its activation regulates butyrate-induced cellular differentiation.