Interactions of signaling pathways in ACTH (1-24)-induced cell shape changes in invertebrate immunocytes

ACTH (1-24) induces cell shape changes in the immunocytes of the bivalve mollusc, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Using computer-assisted microscopic image analysis, we have found that the G protein antagonist suramin sodium, the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 2´,5´-dideoxyadenosine, and the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine inhibit this effect. The highly specific inhibitors 11-89 (for protein kinase A) and calphostin C (for protein kinase C) only inhibited partially the morphological alterations. In contrast, the simultaneous action of 11-89 and calphostin C completely blocked these changes. The above findings indicate that ACTH (1-24) induces cell shape changes in molluscan immunocytes via adenylate cyclase/cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, as well as the activation of protein kinase C.