Up-regulation of surface CD34 is associated with protein kinase C-mediated hyperphosphorylation of CD34

CD34 is a transmembrane sialoglycoprotein expressed by early hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as endothelial cells. Previously we found that CD34 is rapidly and stoichiometrically phosphorylated by activated protein kinase C (PKC) (Fackler, M. J., Civin, C. I., Sutherland, D. R., Baker, M. A., and May, W. S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 11056-11061). In the present study, we find dose-dependent up-regulation of CD34 surface expression following treatment of normal human CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells, cord blood-derived KMT-2, or KG1a myeloid leukemia cells with the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Up-regulation begins within 1 min of treatment, is maximal by 30 min, is maintained for at least 3 h, and is associated with CD34 hyperphosphorylation. A specific inhibitor of PKC, 2,6-diamino-N-([1-(1-oxotridecyl)-2-piperidinyl]methyl)hexan-amide (NPC 15437), blocks both up-regulation and hyperphosphorylation of CD34. CD34 up-regulation is independent of transcription and/or translation and results from the recruitment of preformed intracellular CD34. The endocytosis rate of surface CD34 is unaltered by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Thus, activation of PKC mediates increased surface expression of the CD34 molecule possibly as a result of phosphorylation of CD34.