title: Regulation of arginine transport and metabolism by protein kinase Calpha in endothelial cells: stimulation of CAT2 transporters and arginase activity.
abstract: Endothelial metabolism of arginine plays a key role in vascular homeostasis. While it is documented that the availability of extracellular arginine is critical for nitric oxide synthesis by eNOS, little is known about the relationships existing between arginine transport and the activity of arginase, the enzyme responsible for the production of ornithine and urea. The present study aims to characterize the role of PKC in the regulation of arginine transport and metabolism by human umbilical vein (HUVEC) and aortic (HAEC) endothelial cells. The results obtained demonstrate that the activation of PKCalpha by phorbol esters or thymeleatoxin causes a transient increase of arginine transport through system y(+), referable to the induction of SLC7A2 mRNAs and to the increased expression of CAT2 transporters. PKCalpha-dependent stimulation of arginine transport requires the activation of MEK/ERK1/2 cascade, which leads to the stimulation of AP-1 and to the consequent induction of CAT2 expression. In parallel, PKCalpha activation also increases arginase expression and activity and promotes eNOS phosphorylation, resulting in decreased NO production. It is concluded that the activation of PKCalpha stimulates arginine entry in human endothelial cells and shifts the metabolism of the cationic amino acid from NO synthesis to arginase-dependent production of ornithine and urea. This metabolic deviation may contribute to the endothelial dysfunction associated with conditions of PKC overactivity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Visigalli
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barilli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parolari
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Bianca Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rotoli
authors.forename: Ovidio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bussolati
authors.forename: Gian C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gazzola
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dall'Asta
mesh_terms: D027182:Amino Acid Transport System y+ / Q000378:metabolism; D026923:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D027182:Amino Acid Transport System y+; D026923:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010703:Phorbol Esters; C414177:SLC7A2 protein, human; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; C080287:thymeleatoxin; D001120:Arginine; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D001119:Arginase