[The changes of protein kinase C activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes in asthmatic patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes of protein kinase C (PKC) activities in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and the relationship between PKC activities and level of the air flow limitation in asthmatic patients.


METHODS
PKC from cytosolic and membrane fractions of PBL was isolated and purified, then its activities were determined.


RESULTS
(1) The total PKC activities in PBL in asthmatic subjects (n = 18) were significantly increased as compared to those in normal subjects (n = 6, P < 0.01). More over, the membrane PKC activities and their percentages in the total PKC activities were higher in asthmatics than in normals (P < 0.05). In vitro it suggested that methacholine(n = 5) or histamine (n = 5) could significantly increase translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane (P < 0.05) and, by doing so, activate the PKC in PBL. (2) The total PKC activities were significantly correlated with FEV1% (r = -0.73, P < 0.001, n = 18), PEF(r = -0.62, P < 0.01, n = 18) and V50 (r = -0.63, P < 0.01, n = 18). (3) The total PKC activities in PBL were significantly correlated with the levels of sIL-2R in serum in the asthmatics (r = 0.58, P < 0.05, n = 18).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) The total activities and the level of translocation of PKC were significantly increased in PBL in asthmatics as compared to normals. This abnormal activation state of PKC in PBL may be related with the increased levels of inflammatory mediators. (2) Highly significant correlations existed between the total PKC activities and the level of air flow limitation in asthmatics. (3) PKC signal pathway may be implicated in the activation of T-lymphocytes in asthma. It is suggested that the role of PKC signal pathway may be important in the pathogenisis of asthma.
Liu
X
X
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, 430030.
Xu
Y
Y
Zhang
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood
D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D006632:Histamine; D011493:Protein Kinase C