title: Alpha-tocopherol as a modulator of smooth muscle cell proliferation.
abstract: The effects of alpha-tocopherol and beta-tocopherol have been studied in rat and human aortic smooth muscle cells. Alpha-tocopherol, but not beta-tocopherol, inhibited smooth muscle cell proliferation and protein kinase C in a dose-dependent manner, at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 microM. Beta-tocopherol added simultaneously with alpha-tocopherol prevented both proliferation and protein kinase C inhibition. Protein kinase C inhibition was cell cycle-dependent and it was prevented by okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase inhibitor. Protein kinase C activity measured from aortas of cholesterol-fed rabbits was also inhibited by alpha-tocopherol. By using protein kinase C (PKC) isoform-specific inhibitors and immunoprecipitation reactions it was found that PKC-alpha was selectively inhibited by alpha-tocopherol. Further, an activation of protein phosphatase 2A by alpha-tocopherol was found, which caused PKC-alpha dephosphorylation and inhibition. Ultimately, this cascade of events at the level of cell signal transduction leads to the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie und Molecularbiologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boscoboinik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marilley
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ricciarelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasinato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D014810:Vitamin E; C496628:PRKCA protein, human; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2