Ethanol-inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation via protein kinase C-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase/phospholipase A2 signal pathway in renal proximal tubule cells.
BACKGROUND
Ethanol exposure leads to changes of cell proliferation in a variety of cell types. However, how ethanol affects the proliferation of renal proximal tubule cells is not known.


METHODS
To examine the effect of ethanol on cell proliferation and its related signaling pathway, [H]thymidine incorporation, release of [H]arachidonic acid (AA), and Western blotting of protein kinase C (PKC)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were performed in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells.


RESULTS
Ethanol inhibited [H]thymidine incorporation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. An inhibitory effect of ethanol on [H]thymidine incorporation was predominantly observed after 12 hr of treatment with 100 mM ethanol. Ethanol increased AA release and prostaglandin E2 production. In addition, ethanol-induced inhibition of [H]thymidine incorporation was blocked by phospholipase A2 inhibitors and was significantly blocked by PKC inhibitors. Indeed, ethanol induced a PKC translocation from the cytosolic to the membrane fraction. In addition, ethanol-induced inhibition of [H]thymidine incorporation was blocked by PD 98059 (a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor), but not by SB 203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor), and ethanol increased the phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK. Results of phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK by ethanol were consistent with those of [H]thymidine incorporation and [H]AA-release experiments.


CONCLUSIONS
Ethanol inhibited [H]thymidine incorporation via PKC, p44/42 MAPK, and phospholipase A2 signaling pathways in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells.