Protein kinase C delta and epsilon mediate positive inotropy in adult ventricular myocytes

To examine cardiac contractile regulation and protein kinase C (PKC) translocation in parallel, the delta and epsilon isoforms of PKC were fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed in adult rat ventricular myocytes maintained in short term culture. PKC-delta-GFP and PKC-epsilon-GFP were predominantly cytosolic until phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) was introduced. PKC-delta-GFP redistributed preferentially to perinuclear structures that co-localized with a Golgi marker, whereas PKC-epsilon-GFP redistributed preferentially to the surface sarcolemma. Myocyte contractile function was assessed by monitoring twitch shortening with field stimulation at 0.5 Hz, 22 degrees C. In myocytes expressing PKC-delta-GFP, PDBu caused a transient negative inotropic response followed by a robust and sustained positive inotropic response that paralleled perinuclear PKC-delta accumulation. In PKC-epsilon-GFP myocytes, PDBu caused a sustained negative inotropic response that paralleled accumulation at the surface sarcolemma, but this response did not differ from myocytes expressing GFP alone. At higher expression levels, PKC-epsilon-GFP myocytes responded more like PKC-delta-GFP myocytes including perinuclear accumulation and a sustained positive inotropic response. Positive inotropic responses were markedly attenuated if PKC translocation was biased toward the surface sarcolemma by use of a more hydrophobic PKC activator, and were completely and selectively blocked by the PKC antagonist bis-indoylmaleimide. In contrast, transient and sustained negative inotropic responses were selectively blocked by the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoform antagonist Go6976. The data indicate that the novel PKC isoforms delta and epsilon have little effect on contractility when accumulating at the cell surface, but produce a strong positive inotropic response upon accumulation at the Golgi or other intracellular sites.     

Kinase inhibitors for cardiovascular disease

Over the last decade, there has been substantial progress toward understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Elucidating cellular responses to the extracellular environment and signal transduction mechanisms have provided the opportunity to explore novel molecular therapeutic approaches for the treatment of CVDs. Neurohormonal stimulation has been implicated in these diseases; blockade of the renin-angiotensin and beta-adrenergic systems are examples of therapeutic effectiveness. There are multiple cell signaling cascades, some of which are beneficial or compensatory and others deleterious. The balance between these pathways, which in large part is dictated by the cellular environment, determines the outcome as a diseased or non-diseased state. Selective targeting of signaling pathways using protein kinase inhibitors, would have a potential advantage over receptor blockers. We review potential protein kinase targets and recent evidence supporting therapeutic interventional value in CVDs.     

加味丹参饮预处理对乳鼠缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的延迟保护作用及对蛋白激酶C的影响

目的观察加味丹参饮预处理对乳鼠缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的延迟保护作用及对蛋白激酶C(PKC)的影响。方法将培养72h的乳鼠心肌细胞随机分为6组,空白组正常培养;血清对照组加50%大鼠血清培养;含药血清组加50%含加味丹参饮的药物血清培养;缺氧/复氧组予缺氧再给氧。缺氧预处理组、加味丹参饮预处理组先给予缺氧预处理和加味丹参饮预处理,24h后再予缺氧再给氧。结果加味丹参饮预处理24h后可防止缺氧/复氧心肌细胞存活率的降低,防止乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)活性的升高(P<0.01),提高蛋白激酶C活性(P<0.01)。结论加味丹参饮预处理具有延迟保护作用,其机制与激发细胞内PKC信号转导通路有关。     

Bile salt-induced apoptosis involves NADPH oxidase isoform activation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hydrophobic bile salts trigger a rapid oxidative stress response as an upstream event of CD95 activation and hepatocyte apoptosis. METHODS: The underlying mechanisms were studied by Western blot, immunocytochemistry, protein knockdown, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy in rat hepatocytes and human hepatoma cell line 7 (Huh7). RESULTS: The rapid oxidative stress formation in response to taurolithocholate-3-sulfate (TLCS) was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, apocynin, and neopterin, suggestive for the involvement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases. TLCS induced a rapid serine phosphorylation of the regulatory subunit p47phox, which was sensitive to inhibition of sphingomyelinase and protein kinase Czeta (PKCzeta). Inhibitors of p47phox phosphorylation and p47phox protein knockdown abolished the TLCS-induced oxidative stress response and blunted subsequent CD95 activation. Consequences of TLCS-induced oxidative stress were c-Jun-N-terminal kinase activation and Yes-dependent activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), followed by EGFR-catalyzed CD95 tyrosine phosphorylation, formation of the death-inducing signaling complex, and execution of apoptosis. As shown by fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments in Huh7 cells, TLCS induced a c-Jun-N-terminal kinase-dependent EGFR/CD95 association in the cytosol and trafficking of this protein complex to the plasma membrane. Inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity by AG1478 allowed for cytosolic EGFR/CD95 association, but prevented targeting of the EGFR/CD95 complex to the plasma membrane. Both processes, and TLCS-induced Yes and EGFR activation, were sensitive to inhibition of sphingomyelinase, PKCzeta, or NADPH oxidases. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that hydrophobic bile salts activate NADPH oxidase isoforms with the resulting oxidative stress response triggering activation of the CD95 system and apoptosis.     

Serotonin inhibits Na+/H+ exchange activity via 5-HT4 receptors and activation of PKC alpha in human intestinal epithelial cells

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increased serotonin levels have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diarrhea associated with celiac and inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of serotonin on Na+ /H+ exchange (NHE) activity in the human intestine have not been investigated fully. The present studies examined the acute effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on NHE activity using Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model. METHODS: Caco-2 cells were treated with 5-HT (.1 micromol/L, 1 h) and NHE activity was measured as ethyl-isopropyl-amiloride (EIPA)-sensitive 22Na uptake. The effect of 5-HT receptor-specific agonists and antagonists was examined. The role of signaling intermediates in 5-HT-mediated effects on NHE activity was elucidated using pharmacologic inhibitors and immunoblotting. RESULTS: NHE activity was inhibited significantly (approximately 50%-75%, P < .05) by .1 micromol/L 5-HT via inhibition of maximal velocity (Vmax) without any changes in apparent affinity (Km) for the substrate Na+ . NHE inhibition involved a decrease of both NHE2 and NHE3 activities. Studies using specific inhibitors and agonists showed that the effects of 5-HT were mediated by 5-HT4 receptors. 5-HT-mediated inhibition of NHE activity was dependent on phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1) via activation of src-kinases. Signaling pathways downstream of PLC gamma 1 involved increase of intracellular Ca 2+ levels and subsequent activation of protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha). The effects of 5-HT on NHE activity were not cell-line specific because T84 cells also showed NHE inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the regulation of Na+ absorption by 5-HT offers the potential for providing insights into molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in various diarrheal and inflammatory disorders.     

Regulation of protein kinase C by short term hyperglycaemia in human platelets in vivo and in vitro

Aims/hypothesis. Postprandial hyperglycaemia carries an increased risk of macrovascular disease even without Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Chronic hyperglycaemia activates protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro and in vivo but it is not known whether PKC is regulated by short-term postprandial hyperglycaemia in vivo in humans. We investigated whether PKC is regulated in vivo in hyperglycaemic and hyperinsulinaemic infusion tests and correlated the results to stimulations in vitro. Methods. Protein kinase C regulation was measured in platelets obtained from 8 healthy subjects who were infused with glucose and insulin for 2 h attaining peak concentrations of 16 mmol/l glucose and in platelets from 8 healthy young subjects, 8 older subjects without diabetes, and 10 older subjects with Type II diabetes after incubation in vitro with 16 mmol/l glucose or glucose and insulin. For precise quantification, a shortened PKC β1 standard protein was generated by bacterial expression and PKC α, β1, β2 and δ isoenzyme values were measured by immunoblot analyses. Results. Hyperglycaemic and hyperinsulinaemic in vivo tests increased the amounts of PKC α, β1 and β2 in the membrane fraction of platelets to 225 ± 87 %, 164 ± 22 % and 302 ± 135 %, respectively, when compared with the baseline values in young healthy volunteers (n = 8, p < 0.05). The expression of PKC δ did not change. In comparison to the recombinant PKC β1 standard protein, 5 ng PKC β1/μg protein was measured before the test and 2 ng/μg were translocated to the membrane fraction after the infusion. No change in the absolute amount of PKC β1 was detected. In contrast, after incubation in vitro PKC was not regulated by glucose or glucose and insulin in 8 young healthy subjects (age 26 ± 0.7 years) and in 8 older, healthy subjects (age 64,8 ± 4 years) although 100 nmol/l 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate caused maximal activation. In marked contrast, PKC β1 and PKC β2, but not PKC α or PKC δ, were increased in vitro in the membrane fraction by 292 ± 61 % and 432 ± 88 % (p < 0.05) in 10 subjects with Type II diabetes mellitus matched for age, sex and BMI. Conclusion/interpretation. We found that short-term hyperglycaemia activates PKC α, β1 and β2 in platelets of healthy persons making them potential candidates for mediating the increased cardiovascular risk of postprandial hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia did not cause short-term activation of PKC in platelets in vitro suggesting the existence of additional stimuli. Subjects with Type II diabetes showed a markedly altered reactivity of platelet PKC β in vitro indicating some diabetes-related regulation. [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 188–195] Received: 15 May 2000 and in revised form: 19 September 2000     

Central role of PKCα in isoenzyme-selective regulation of cardiac transient outward current Ito and Kv4.3 channels

The transient outward current I_to is an important determinant of the early repolarization phase. I_to and its molecular basis Kv4.3 are regulated by adrenergic pathways including protein kinase C. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms have not been analyzed yet. We here analyzed isoenzyme specific regulation of Kv4.3 and I_to by PKC. Kv4.3 channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and currents were measured with double electrode voltage clamp technique. Patch clamp experiments were performed in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. Unspecific PKC stimulation with PMA resulted in a reduction of Kv4.3 current. Similar effects could be observed after activation of conventional PKC isoforms by TMX. Both effects were reversible by pharmacological inhibition of the conventional PKC isoenzymes (Gö6976). In contrast, activation of the novel PKC isoforms (ingenol) did not significantly affect Kv4.3 current. Whereas TMX-induced PKC activation was not attenuated inhibition of PKCβ, inhibition of PKCα with HBDDE prevented inhibitory effects of both PMA and TMX. Accordingly, stimulatory effects of PMA and TMX could be mimicked by the α-isoenzyme selective PKC activator iripallidal. Further evidence for the central role of PKCα was provided with the use of siRNAs. We found that PKCα siRNA but not PKCβ siRNA abolished the TMX induced effect. In isolated rat cardiomyocytes, PMA dependent I_to reduction could be completely abolished by pharmacologic inhibition of PKCα. In summary we show that PKCα plays a central role in protein kinase C dependent regulation of Kv4.3 current and native I_to. These results add to the current understanding of isoenzyme selective ion channel regulation by protein kinases.