title: Molecular basis of alpha-tocopherol inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boscoboinik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chatelain
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bartoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzi
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012516:Osteosarcoma; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000378:metabolism; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D014810:Vitamin E; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D001839:Bombesin