Dietary cholesterol-induced changes of protein kinase C and the effect of vitamin E in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells.
The changes occuring in smooth muscle cells during the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed 2% cholesterol and the effect of vitamin E treatment were investigated. Ex-vivo smooth muscle cells obtained from the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits exhibited a 2-fold increase of protein kinase C expression and activity. The cholesterol induced changes in protein kinase C were equally present in the membrane bound and cytosolic fraction of the enzyme. The amount of a control protein alpha-actin was not affected in smooth muscle cell by the high cholesterol diet treatment, indicating that protein kinase C increase was specific. The increase of protein kinase C expression and activity was not significantly affected by vitamin E treatment although a constant trend was noted. The data are discussed in the light of previous smooth muscle cell in vitro experiments.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Sirikçi
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Ozer
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Azzi
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D014810:Vitamin E; D011493:Protein Kinase C