Induction of thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase and glutaredoxin activity in mouse skin by TPA, a calcium ionophore and other tumor promoters

Abstract

We have measured the levels of thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase and glutaredoxin enzyme activity in mouse skin following topical application of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator and tumor promoter. The specific activity of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase in extracts from normal epidermis increased by 40 and 50%, respectively, after single or multiple application of TPA. Multiple applications (twice per week for 2 weeks) of TPA increased glutaredoxin activity by >300%. Induction of the proteins lasted several days. Other PKC activators, like 12-O-retinoylphorbol 13-acetate, mezerein, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol and the calcium ionophore A23187, also induced all the enzyme activities. Phorbol and 4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, weak activators of PKC, selectively induced the thioredoxin system only and did not influence glutaredoxin activity. Multiple applications of TPA to tumor initiated (7,12-dimethyl[a]benzanthracene-treated) skin resulted in elevated levels of both the thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems when examined 6 days after the last phorbol ester treatment. Induction of thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase and glutaredoxin activities by TPA and calcium ionophores may play a general role in the epigenetic mechanism of tumor promotion via thiol redox control mechanisms.