Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.11.13 (protein kinase C)
 49,245 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The molecular events responsible for the inhibition of cell proliferation by alpha-tocopherol have been investigated. Smooth muscle cells in vitro have been shown to be specifically inhibited by alpha-tocopherol with a concomitant inhibition of protein kinase C activity. beta-Tocopherol was inactive, despite its similar radical scavenging activity. The point of inhibition of alpha-tocopherol relative to the cell cycle was localized in the late G1 phase. A second effect of alpha-tocopherol observed with smooth muscle cells was the stimulation of protein kinase C biosynthesis in both the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. The implications of these findings for the onset of arteriosclerosis are discussed.
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PMID:Molecular basis of alpha-tocopherol inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro. 145 May 84

We studied the effects of calcium, cyclic nucleotides, and protein kinase C on albumin transfer, electrical resistance, and cytoskeletal actin filaments in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The endothelial monolayer grown on collagen-treated filters markedly restricted the transfer of albumin relative to its transfer across the filter alone. Both Ca++ ionophore A23187 and ethyleneglycol tetraacetic acid disrupted the integrity of the endothelial monolayer, thereby increasing endothelial albumin transfer and decreasing electrical resistance in a concentration-dependent manner. Neither W-7, a calmodulin antagonist, nor TMB-8, an intracellular Ca++ antagonist, influenced endothelial permeability. In contrast, increases in intracellular cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and/or cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 8-bromo cyclic GMP, dibutyryl cyclic GMP, or sodium nitroprusside significantly elevated endothelial electrical resistance and inhibited albumin transfer; similar effects resulted from activation of protein kinase C by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol. These substances ruffled the dense peripheral bands of F-actin without compromising the integrity of endothelial monolayer. These results suggest that calcium, cyclic nucleotides, and protein kinase C play important roles in the regulation of endothelial permeability and the maintenance of endothelial integrity.
Arteriosclerosis
PMID:Roles of calcium, cyclic nucleotides, and protein kinase C in regulation of endothelial permeability. 218 40

The proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Previous studies have indicated that the glycosaminoglycan heparin specifically inhibited the growth of vascular SMCs in vivo and in culture, although the precise mechanism(s) of action have not been elucidated. In this study, we have examined the ability of specific mitogens (PDGF, EGF, heparin-binding growth factors, phorbol esters, and insulin) to stimulate SMC proliferation. Our results indicate that SMCs derived from different species and vascular sources respond differently to these growth factors. We next examined the ability of heparin to inhibit the proliferative responses to these mitogens. In calf aortic SMCs, heparin inhibits a protein kinase C-dependent pathway for mitogenesis. Detailed cell cycle analysis revealed several new features of the effects of heparin on SMCs. For example, heparin has two effects on the Go----S transition: it delays entry into S phase and also reduces the number of cells entering the cycle from Go. Using two separate experimental approaches, we found that heparin must be present during the last 4 h before S phase, suggesting a mid-to-late G1 heparin block. In addition, our data indicate that heparin-treated SMCs, while initially blocked in mid-to-late G1, slowly move back into a quiescent growth state in the continued presence of heparin. These results suggest that heparin may have multiple targets for its antiproliferative effect.
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PMID:Heparin selectively inhibits a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism of cell cycle progression in calf aortic smooth muscle cells. 259 20

In human platelets, phorbol esters, such as phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), induce morphological changes, including pseudopod formation and the swelling and fusion of intracellular granule membranes with those of the surface-connected canalicular system, effects which have been attributed to activation of protein kinase C. However, a novel intracellular histamine antagonist, N,N-diethyl-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]-ethanamine. HCl (DPPE), previously has been shown to block PMA-induced aggregation independently of protein kinase C interaction, an effect reversible in permeabilized platelets by the addition of histamine. We now demonstrate that DPPE inhibits, in a concentration-dependent manner, the effects of PMA on human platelet ultrastructure. In permeabilized platelets, histamine reverses this inhibition, although it alone induces minimal effects on morphology. The results support a role for this amine to promote the labilization of platelet granules and pseudopod formation induced by PMA, presumably by acting in concert with additional PMA-activated pathways.
Arteriosclerosis
PMID:A role for intracellular histamine in ultrastructural changes induced in platelets by phorbol esters. 278 81

To elucidate the role of the phosphoinositide signal transduction system in endothelial endothelial prostacyclin production, endothelial cells from human umbilical veins previously labelled with 3H-inositol were incubated with thrombin or histamine. Water-soluble inositol phosphates were separated on anion exchange columns. Both agonists evoked transient bursts of inositol phosphate production with inositol trisphosphate peaking at 15 seconds in histamine-stimulated cells and at 60 seconds in thrombin-stimulated cells. The inositol phosphate production was closely linked to prostacyclin production. After stimulation, there was concurrent desensitization to prostacyclin production and formation of inositol phosphates. Arachidonic acid and the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 did not affect inositol phosphate production in concentrations sufficient to increase prostacyclin production 20-fold, and they did not affect desensitization to a subsequent thrombin stimulation. The phorbol ester 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, a stimulator of protein kinase C, inhibited thrombin-induced generation of inositol phosphates, enhanced A23187-mediated prostacyclin production, and had complex effects on thrombin-mediated prostacyclin production, but had no effect on its production from extrinsic arachidonic acid. The current data suggest that production of inositol phosphates is a link in receptor stimulation of endothelial cells to produce prostacyclin and that associated activation of protein kinase C affects both the generation of second messengers and the release of arachidonic acid.
Arteriosclerosis
PMID:Role of phosphoinositides in the regulation of endothelial prostacyclin production. 283 64

Platelets are discoidal cytoplasmic particles that respond to a variety of stimuli by developing filopodia and rounding up (shape change), developing the ability to bind fibrinogen from the medium, and, with strong stimuli such as thrombin and PAF-acether, secreting the contents of several types of granules. Arachidonic acid is cleaved from phospholipids by phospholipase A2 and converted by the platelets to endoperoxides, and then to thromboxane A2. The bound dimeric fibrinogen molecules probably cause aggregation by forming bridges between platelets. Aggregation is reinforced by secreted fibrinogen and thrombospondin, which binds the platelets, and by thromboxane A2 and endoperoxides, as well as secreted ADP, which cause additional receptor-mediated activation. The responses to these stimuli are initiated when the agonists bind to specific receptors on the plasma membrane. Subsequent steps resemble those in other types of responsive cells: breakdown of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate into diacylglycerol, a stimulator of protein kinase C, and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, recently shown to be a potent calcium ionophore. The response of shape change results from increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ which permits phosphorylation of one of the light chains of myosin by a calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase, with resulting enhanced actin-myosin interaction. Secretion is associated with phosphorylation of a 40,000 to 47,000 dalton protein by the diacylglycerol-activated protein kinase C. These recent findings have increased our understanding of the mechanisms of platelet activation, but much remains to be learned. How do agonist-receptor complexes influence PIP2 breakdown? Is this indeed the first step in activation? What mediates adhesion of platelets to the injured blood vessel wall? Does transduction of this stimulus occur by the same mechanism as transduction of commonly used soluble stimuli? What is the role of the phosphorylated 40-47 K protein in secretion? What change in GP IIb-IIIa promotes their ability to bind fibrinogen? What is the role of calcium-activated protease? Of the phosphorylation of actin-binding protein? Progress is being made rapidly, and these questions may be answered within a few years.
Arteriosclerosis
PMID:Platelet activation. 298 27

Aging of the vascular wall, arteriosclerosis and focal lipidic plaques, atheromatosis, often occur together but may occur separately as lipidic lesions in young children or vascular aging in some animal species resistant to lipid-rich diet as the rat. Most theories of athero-arteriosclerosis claim an endothelial lesion for its initiation, without proposing a detailed mechanism. The elastin-laminin receptor present also on endothelial cells, mediates NO.-dependent vasorelaxation. It could be shown that chronic exposure to higher concentrations of the agonist, elastin peptides, present in human blood at microgram/ml concentrations, and also during aging, the receptor gets "uncoupled" from its transmission pathway (G-protein, PLC, PKC) but continues releasing free radicals as superoxyde. NO. and O2-. give peroxynitrite, a toxic anion, needing GSH for its neutralisation. GSH production decreases with age. This process decreases available NO. for vasorelaxation and could then contribute to age-dependent blood pressure increase and produce the endothelial lesions leading to the development of athero-arteriosclerosis.
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PMID:Aging of the vascular wall and atherogenesis: role of the elastin-laminin receptor. 878 48

Flow cytometry has become a widely used technique for the quantitative analysis of antigens at the single cell level. In the past, several protocols have been published for the detection of cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens in various cell lines, especially blood cells or cells growing in fluid culture. The applicability of these protocols to cells growing in a monolayer, such as smooth muscle cells (SMC) is often restricted, although flow cytometry is of great interest in the fields of arteriosclerosis and cancer research. We here describe a simple and reproducible method for the flow cytometric analysis of intracellular antigens such as cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) in rat aortic SMC. The sensitivity of the method was analyzed under growth and growth-inhibitory conditions using lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering compound with antiproliferative capacity. Various antigens (Ras-protein, protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha), Ki-67/MIB-1) in rat and bovine SMC were detectable using this methodology which should have a wide range of applications.
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PMID:A simple method for the flow cytometric analysis of intracellular antigens in whole smooth muscle cells: quantification of cyclin-dependent kinase 2. 910 9

Proliferation of coronary smooth muscle cells (cSMCs) contributes to the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a powerful mitogen for cSMCs. In this study, we investigated the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC), and the transcription factor c-myc in bFGF-stimulated mitogenesis, as well as the functional relationship between these factors. cSMC stimulation with bFGF resulted in phosphorylation of p42 MAPK, as well as the phosphorylation and increased expression of c-myc. The MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 blocked bFGF-stimulated MAPK phosphorylation and resulted in both a decrease of c-myc expression and inhibition of bFGF-stimulated DNA synthesis in cSMCs. bFGF also increased PKC activity in cSMCs in a time-dependent manner. The inhibition of PKC by chelerythrine or its downregulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) inhibited bFGF-induced DNA synthesis and blocked the phosphorylation of MAPK and c-myc expression in response to bFGF. This indicates an involvement of phorbol ester-sensitive PKC isoforms in MAPK activation and mitogenic signaling by bFGF. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of the phorbol ester-sensitive isoforms PKC alpha, epsilon, and gamma as well as the PKC isoforms iota, lambda, micro, and zeta in cSMCs. In this study, we show that the MAPK cascade is required for bFGF-induced proliferation and that phorbol ester-sensitive PKC isoforms contribute to the bFGF-induced cSMC mitogenesis in cSMCs.
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PMID:Protein kinase C mediates basic fibroblast growth factor-induced proliferation through mitogen-activated protein kinase in coronary smooth muscle cells. 1039 77

Coronary artery spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of ischemic heart diseases, especially in the Japanese population. Because coronary artery spasm can be induced by a variety of stimuli with different mechanisms of action, the occurrence of the spasm appears to be due to the local hyperreactivity of the coronary artery rather than to an enhanced stimulation with a single mechanism of action. Several lines of evidence indicate that coronary artery spasm is caused primarily by smooth muscle hypercontraction whereas the contribution of endothelial dysfunction may be minimal. In order to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the spasm, porcine models of the spasm were developed. In the first model with balloon injury and high-cholesterol feeding, a close topological correlation between the early atherosclerotic lesions and the spastic sites was noted, whereas in the second model with an inflammatory cytokine the potential importance of coronary inflammatory changes, especially at the adventitia, was noted. Subsequent studies in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho-kinase are substantially involved in the intracellular mechanism of the spasm, resulting in increases in the mono- and diphosphorylations of myosin light chain (MLC). Furthermore, molecular biological analyses demonstrated that Rho-kinase is upregulated at the spastic site (at all levels, including mRNA, protein, and activity), resulting in the inhibition of MLC phosphatase through the phosphorylation of its myosin binding subunit and thereby causing the increase in MLC phosphorylations. Preliminary results also suggest that the long-term inhibition of Rho-kinase is effective in inhibiting the development of arteriosclerotic vascular lesions in several porcine models. Thus, Rho-kinase could be regarded as a novel therapeutic target for coronary arteriosclerosis in general and coronary artery spasm in particular.
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PMID:Cellular and molecular mechanisms of coronary artery spasm: lessons from animal models. 1065 Nov 99


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