Antofine-induced connexin43 gap junction disassembly in rat astrocytes involves protein kinase Cβ

Antofine, a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid derived from Cryptocaryachinensis and Ficusseptica in the Asclepiadaceae milkweed family, is cytotoxic for various cancer cell lines. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment of rat primary astrocytes with antofine induced dose-dependent inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC), as assessed by scrape-loading 6-carboxyfluorescein dye transfer. Levels of Cx43 protein were also decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner following antofine treatment. Double-labeling immunofluorescence microscopy showed that antofine (10 ng/ml) induced endocytosis of surface gap junctions into the cytoplasm, where Cx43 was co-localized with the early endosome marker EEA1. Inhibition of lysosomes or proteasomes by co-treatment with antofine and their respective specific inhibitors, NH4Cl or MG132, partially inhibited the antofine-induced decrease in Cx43 protein levels, but did not inhibit the antofine-induced inhibition of GJIC. After 30 min of treatment, antofine induced a rapid increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and activation of protein kinase C (PKC)α/βII, which was maintained for at least 6 h. Co-treatment of astrocytes with antofine and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM prevented downregulation of Cx43 and inhibition of GJIC. Moreover, co-treatment with antofine and a specific PKCβ inhibitor prevented endocytosis of gap junctions, downregulation of Cx43, and inhibition of GJIC. Taken together, these findings indicate that antofine induces Cx43 gap junction disassembly by the PKCβ signaling pathway. Inhibition of GJIC by antofine may undermine the neuroprotective effect of astrocytes in CNS.

► Antofine is a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid derived from the family Asclepiadaceae. ► We investigate the effect of antofine on Cx43 gap junctions in rat primary astrocytes. ► Antofine inhibits GJIC and induces endocytosis of gap junctions by PKC signaling. ► Antofine downregulates Cx43 by lysosomal and proteasomal protein degradation. ► Inhibition of GJIC by antofine may undermine the neuroprotective effect of astrocytes.