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Kinase C Activation (kinase + c_activation)
Kinds of Kinase C Activation Selected AbstractsHIGH GLUCOSE-INDUCED HUMAN UMBILICAL VEIN ENDOTHELIAL CELL HYPERPERMEABILITY IS DEPENDENT ON PROTEIN KINASE C ACTIVATION AND INDEPENDENT OF THE Ca2+,NITRIC OXIDE SIGNALLING PATHWAYCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2005Lei Dang SUMMARY 1.,Endothelial barrier dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. The precise molecular mechanisms by which hyperglycaemia causes the increased permeability in endothelial cells are not yet well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether high concentrations of glucose induce endothelial permeability through the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and/or the calcium,nitric oxide (NO) signalling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). 2.,Endothelial permeability was measured by albumin diffusion across endothelial monolayers under the stimuli of high glucose (HG; 20 mmol/L), 100 nmol/L phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA) or 100 nmol/L histamine. The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was detected in HUVEC using the fluorescent probe fura-2 AM. The effects of PKC inhibitors (LY379196 and hypocrellin A) and the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG -monomethyl- l -arginine (l -NMMA) on endothelial permeability and [Ca2+]i were determined. 3.,High glucose and PMA increased endothelial permeability associated with decreased [Ca2+]i, whereas histamine triggered significant increases in endothelial permeability, accompanied by increases in [Ca2+]i in HUVEC. Hypocrellin A (HA) and LY379196 reversed both HG- and histamine-induced endothelial permeability. The NOS inhibitor l -NMMA only abolished histamine- and not HG-induced endothelial permeability. Neither LY379196, HA nor l -NMMA had any significant effects on alterations in [Ca2+]i caused by HG and histamine. 4.,These results indicate that increased endothelial permeability in HUVEC induced by HG is dependent on PKC activity and is independent of the [Ca2+]i,NO pathway. Increased endothelial permeability due to other inflammatory factors, such as histamine, may also be mediated by the PKC pathway. Thus, PKC inhibitors would be a potential therapeutic approach to endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycaemia, as well as other inflammatory factors, in diabetes. [source] Reversible protein kinase C activation in PC12 cells: effect of NGF treatmentEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2000Jean-Luc Dupont Abstract Although protein kinase C (PKC) is a key enzyme in the signal transduction process, there is little information on the mechanism leading to PKC activation in living cells. Using a new fluorescence imaging method, we studied this mechanism and correlated PKC conformational changes with intracellular Ca2+ concentration. PC12 cells were simultaneously loaded with Fura-2-AM and Fim-1, two fluorescent probes, which recognize Ca2+ and PKC, respectively. KCl and carbachol (an agonist to muscarinic receptors) applications induced dose-dependent increases of fluorescence for both probes. Both Ca2+ and PKC responses were observed within seconds following KCl or carbachol application, and were reversible upon stimulus withdrawal. PKC activation kinetics was slightly more rapid than the Ca2+ response after KCl application. After nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of the cells, the amplitude of the KCl-induced PKC responses was larger indicating an increase in the activated PKC-pool in these cells. This difference between control and NGF-treated cells was not observed following carbachol application, suggesting the involvement of different PKC pools. While the Ca2+ response uniformly occurred in the cytosol, the PKC response displayed a patch pattern with higher intensities in the peripheral zone near the plasma membrane. This heterogeneous distribution of PKC activation sites was similar to the immunocytological localization of Ca2+ -dependent and independent PKC isoforms, which suggested that at least several PKC isoforms interacted with intracellular elements. Upon repeated stimulation, the PKC response rapidly desensitized. [source] Protein kinase C activation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A and NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptorJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2001David R. Grosshans The N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is an ionotropic glutamate receptor, which plays crucial roles in synaptic plasticity and development. We have recently shown that potentiation of NMDA receptor function by protein kinase C (PKC) appears to be mediated via activation of non-receptor tyrosine kinases. The aim of this study was to test whether this effect could be mediated by direct tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A or NR2B subunits of the receptor. Following treatment of rat hippocampal CA1 mini-slices with 500 nm phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 15 min, samples were homogenized, immunoprecipitated with anti-NR2A or NR2B antibodies and the resulting pellets subjected to Western blotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody. An increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of both NR2A (76 ± 11% above control) and NR2B (41 ± 11%) was observed. This increase was blocked by pretreatment with the selective PKC inhibitor chelerythrine, with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lavendustin A or with the Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2. PMA treatment also produced an increase in the phosphorylation of serine 890 on the NR1 subunit, a known PKC site, at 5 min with phosphorylation returning to near basal levels by 10 min while tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A and NR2B was sustained for up to 15 min. These results suggest that the modulation of NMDA receptor function seen with PKC activation may be the result of tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A and/or NR2B. [source] Role of Protein Kinases in the Prolactin-Induced Intracellular Calcium Rise in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Expressing the Prolactin ReceptorJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 9 2000B. Sorin Abstract There is still only limited understanding of the early steps of prolactin signal transduction in target cells. It has been shown that prolactin actions are associated with cell protein phosphorylation, Ca2+ increases, and so on. However, the link between the activation of kinases and calcium influx or intracellular Ca2+ mobilization has not yet been clearly established. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, stably transfected with the long form of rabbit mammary gland prolactin receptor (PRL-R) cDNA were used for PRL-R signal transduction studies. Spectrofluorimetric techniques were used to measure intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cell populations with Indo1 as a calcium fluorescent probe. We demonstrate that, although protein kinase C activation (PMA or DiC8) caused a calcium influx in CHO cells, prolactin-induced PKC activation was not responsible for the early effect of prolactin on [Ca2+]i. Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) or protein kinase G did not modify [Ca2+]i and inhibition of PKA pathway did not affect the prolactin response. In the same way, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinaseinhibition had no effect on the prolactin-induced Ca2+ increase. On the other hand, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (herbimycin A, lavendustin A, and genistein) completely blocked the effect of prolactin on [Ca2+]i (influx and release). W7, a calmodulin-antagonist, and a specific inhibitor of calmodulin kinases (KN-62), only blocked prolactin-induced Ca2+ influx but had no significant effect on Ca2+ release. Using pharmacological agents, we present new data concerning the involvement of protein phosphorylations in the early effects of prolactin on ionic channels in CHO cells expressing the long form of PRL-R. Our results suggest that, at least in the very early steps of prolactin signal transduction, serine-threonine phosphorylation does not participate in the prolactin-induced calcium increase. On the other hand, tyrosine phosphorylation is a crucial, very early step, since it controls K+ channel activation, calcium influx, and intracellular calcium mobilization. Calmodulin acts later, since its inhibition only blocks the prolactin-induced Ca2+ influx. [source] A cyclic adenosine 3,,5,-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase C activation is involved in the hyperactivation of boar spermatozoa,MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 9 2006Hiroshi Harayama Abstract An intracellular cAMP-PKA signaling plays a pivotal role in the expression of fertilizing ability in mammalian spermatozoa. The aim of this study is to disclose biological function of serine/threonine protein kinases that are activated by the action of the cAMP-PKA signaling in boar spermatozoa. Ejaculated spermatozoa were incubated with cBiMPS (a cell-permeable cAMP analog) at 38.5°C up to 180 min, and then they were used for biochemical analyses of PKCs by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence and for assessment of flagellar movement. The incubation of spermatozoa with cBiMPS gradually activated PKCs in the connecting piece. The activation of sperm PKCs was accompanied with changes of their electrophoretic mobility by the PKA-mediated serine/threonine phosphorylation. In coincidence with the PKC activation, the cBiMPS-incubated spermatozoa were capable of exhibiting hyperactivation of flagellar movement. Moreover, the cBiMPS-induced hyperactivation was dramatically suppressed by the addition of either of specific PKC inhibitors (Ro-32-0432 and bisindolylmaleimide I) to the sperm suspensions. On the other hand, experiments using a calcium-deficient medium showed that the cBiMPS-induced hyperactivation of flagellar movement and activation of PKCs required the extracellular calcium. Based on the obtained data, we have concluded that a cAMP-PKA signaling can induce activation of calcium-sensitive PKCs that is leading to the hyperactivation of flagellar movement in boar spermatozoa. Moreover, the cAMP may have a unique role as the up-regulator of PKCs during the expression of fertilizing ability in boar spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 1169,1178, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Severe withdrawal syndrome in three newborns subjected to continuous opioid infusion and seizure activity dependent on brain hypoxia , ischemia.PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 10 2006A possible link Summary Background :,The aim of this investigation was to verify whether brain hypoxia represented a risk factor for the occurrence and severity of opioid abstinence syndrome. Methods :,Three newborns who manifested seizure activity as a result of hypoxia, focal brain ischemia, and hypoxia and sepsis, respectively, were compared with 17 neonates who suffered from hypoxia without developing seizure activity. Results :,The first three neonates suffered a severe withdrawal syndrome (a rating on the neonatal abstinence score >17), the others did not. Conclusions :,It is hypothesized that brain hypoxia facilitated the occurrence and severity of the withdrawal syndrome because some key neurochemical processes (such as N -methyl- d -aspartate activation, protein kinase C activation and nitric oxide production) are common to both phenomena. [source] Contraction kinetics of isolated human myometrium during menstrual cycle and pregnancyBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Mikhail Tchirikov Objective To investigate the interaction between actin and myosin in the myometrium by studying the contraction kinetics of isolated samples of human myometrium. Design Experimental and observational cross-sectional study. Setting Eppendorf University Hospital, Hamburg. Samples Myometrium samples were taken from women in the follicular phase (n= 6) or luteal phase (n= 6) of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy at term (n= 25). Methods The frequency, extent and rate of force development were determined in spontaneously active myometrial preparations. From a resting force of 2 mN, sustained tonic contractions were induced by K+ -depolarisation (124 mM), or by protein kinase C activation (19.9 ,M indolactam). The steady force was reversibly interrupted by rapid length changes (100 Hz sinus vibrations lasting 1 s, 5% of muscle length). Extent (steady plateau), as well as rate of force increase after cessation of vibrations, were derived from bi-exponential functions fitted to the time course of force recovery. Results Frequency of spontaneous contractions was higher in the follicular phase [mean (SD) 18.3 contractions/hour (1.0)] than in the luteal phase [13.4 contractions/hour (8.1)] or in pregnancy at term [8.8 contractions/hour (7.6)]. During indolactam treatment, steady force in pregnancy at term was significantly increased [8.8 mN (4.0)], compared with the follicular phase [3.7 mN (0.9)]. Force recovery was distinctly slower in pregnancy at term during indolactam treatment [time constant 99.2 s (57.9); P < 0.005] than during K+ -depolarisation [time constant 29.1 s (5.9)], whereas in the follicular phase the rate of force recovery was faster with indolactam [16.8 s (7.1)] than with K+ depolarisation [24.4 s (5.9); P < 0.005]. Conclusions The responses of human myometrium to contraction stimuli differ according to the reproductive state. Membrane depolarisation causes similar responses in all myometrial strips. In contrast, near term stimulation of protein kinase C generates a large tonic force and slow contraction kinetics, whereas early in the menstrual cycle contraction kinetics are fast. [source] ,1 -Adrenoceptor effects mediated by protein kinase C , in human cultured prostatic stromal cellsBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2003A Preston We have investigated the effects of ,1 -adrenoceptor stimulation upon contractility, Ca2+ influx, inositol phosphate production, and protein kinase C (PKC) translocation in human cultured prostatic stromal cells (HCPSC). The ,1 -adrenoceptor selective agonist phenylephrine elicited contractile responses of HCPSC, i.e. a maximal cell shortening of 45±6% of initial cell length, with an EC50 of 1.6±0.1 ,M. The ,1 -adrenoceptor selective antagonists prazosin (1 ,M) and terazosin (1 ,M) both blocked contractions to phenylephrine (10 ,M). The L-type calcium channel blocker nifedipine (10 ,M), and the PKC inhibitors Gö 6976 (1 ,M) and bisindolylmaleimide (1 ,M) also inhibited phenylephrine-induced contractions. Phenylephrine caused a concentration dependent increase in inositol phosphate production (EC50 119±67 nM). This response was blocked by terazosin (1 ,M). Phenylephrine caused the translocation of the PKC , isoform, but not the ,, ,, ,, , or , isoforms, from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction of HCPSC, with an EC50 of 5.7±0.5 ,M. In FURA-2AM (5 ,M) loaded cells, phenylephrine elicited concentration dependent increases in [Ca2+]i, with an EC50 of 3.9±0.4 ,M. The response to phenylephrine (10 ,M) was blocked by prazosin (1 ,M), bisindolymaleimide (1 ,M), and nifedipine (10 ,M). In conclusion, this study has shown that HCPSC express functional ,1 -adrenoceptors, and that the intracellular pathways responsible for contractility may be largely dependent upon protein kinase C activation and subsequent opening of L-type calcium channels. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138, 218,224. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705021 [source] CaM kinase II and protein kinase C activations mediate enhancement of long-term potentiation by nefiracetam in the rat hippocampal CA1 regionJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2008Shigeki Moriguchi Abstract Nefiracetam is a pyrrolidine-related nootropic drug exhibiting various pharmacological actions such as cognitive-enhancing effect. We previously showed that nefiracetam potentiates NMDA-induced currents in cultured rat cortical neurons. To address questions whether nefiracetam affects NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, we assessed effects of nefiracetam on NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) by electrophysiology and LTP-induced phosphorylation of synaptic proteins by immunoblotting analysis. Nefiracetam treatment at 1,1000 nM increased the slope of fEPSPs in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancement was associated with increased phosphorylation of ,-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor through activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) without affecting synapsin I phosphorylation. In addition, nefiracetam treatment increased PKC, activity in a bell-shaped dose,response curve which peaked at 10 nM, thereby increasing phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate and NMDA receptor. Nefiracetam treatment did not affect protein kinase A activity. Consistent with the bell-shaped PKC, activation, nefiracetam treatment enhanced LTP in the rat hippocampal CA1 region with the same bell-shaped dose,response curve. Furthermore, nefiracetam-induced LTP enhancement was closely associated with CaMKII and PKC, activation with concomitant increases in phosphorylation of their endogenous substrates except for synapsin I. These results suggest that nefiracetam potentiates AMPA receptor-mediated fEPSPs through CaMKII activation and enhances NMDA receptor-dependent LTP through potentiation of the post-synaptic CaMKII and protein kinase C activities. Together with potentiation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function, nefiracetam-enhanced AMPA and NMDA receptor functions likely contribute to improvement of cognitive function. [source] |