title: Effects of protein kinase C modulators on Na+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase activity and phosphorylation in aortae from rats with cirrhosis.
abstract: Protein kinase C (PKC) modulates the activity and phosphorylation of the catalytic alpha-subunit of sodium-potassium-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+ ATPase) in normal arteries. Because PKC is altered in cirrhotic aortae, Na+/K+ ATPase may also be altered in these arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate alpha-subunit activity and phosphorylation in aortae from normal and cirrhotic rats, under baseline conditions and during exposure to PKC modulators. Alpha-subunit activity was assessed by measuring the amount of 32P released by hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP in freshly isolated cell membranes (in the absence of PKC modulators only) and membrane depolarization caused by ouabain-induced alpha-subunit inhibition in isolated aortae (in the absence and presence of PKC modulators). Alpha-subunit phosphorylation was assessed by incorporation of 32P into alpha-subunits. Staurosporine, a PKC inhibitor, and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBU), a PKC activator, were used. In addition, alpha-subunit expression was studied by Western blot analysis. In the absence of PKC modulators, the amount of 32P released by hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP and ouabain-induced membrane depolarization were significantly lower in cirrhotic than in normal aortae. Staurosporine suppressed ouabain-induced membrane depolarization in cirrhotic and normal arteries. Ouabain-induced membrane depolarization was similar in cirrhotic aortae exposed to PDBU and in normal arteries studied under baseline conditions. Alpha-subunit phosphorylation was significantly lower in cirrhotic than in normal aortae, in aortae under baseline conditions, and in arteries exposed to staurosporine. Phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit was similar in cirrhotic aortae exposed to PDBU and in normal arteries under baseline conditions. Western blot analysis showed that the amount of alpha-subunit did not significantly differ between cirrhotic and normal aortae. In conclusion, a decrease in baseline Na+/K+ ATPase alpha-subunit activity occurs in aortae from cirrhotic rats as a result of reduced basal PKC activity. This PKC-dependent decreased alpha-subunit activity may be caused by a reduction in PKC-induced alpha-subunit phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Hémodynamique Splanchnique et de Biologie Vasculaire, INSERM, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lahaye
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tazi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rona
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dellis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lebrec
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000201:enzymology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase