Tumor grade-dependent alterations in the protein kinase C isoform pattern in urinary bladder carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzyme family play central role in the tumorigenesis of several tissues. In this study our goal was to determine the possible alterations in the protein kinase C (PKC) isoform pattern in relation with the different tumor grade in human urinary bladder carcinomas.


METHODS
Western blot analysis, followed by quantitative densitometry, was performed to define the expression of PKC isoforms in the epithelial tissue of human urinary bladder carcinomas with various tumor grades and in control samples.


RESULTS
The human urinary bladder epithelium expressed five PKC isoforms (PKC alpha, beta, delta, zeta), the levels of which differentially altered as a function of tumor grade. Namely, whereas the expressions of PKC beta and delta decreased with increasing grade of the carcinomas, the levels of PKC alpha, and zeta showed opposite patterns of changes.


CONCLUSIONS
These grade-dependent alterations in the PKC isoform pattern strongly argue for the central yet antagonistic roles of certain members of the PKC system in malignant transformation of human urinary bladder epithelium.
Varga
Attila
A
Department of Urology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Czifra
Gabriella
G
Tállai
Béla
B
Németh
Tamás
T
Kovács
Ilona
I
Kovács
László
L
Bíró
Tamás
T
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D007527:Isoenzymes; D011493:Protein Kinase C