ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: The protein kinase C (PKC) family is composed of at least four conventional (α, βI, βII, and γ) and several related novel (δ, ε, η, and ζ) isoforms with different distribution and sensitivity to Ca2+ and phorbol esters. The enzyme is known to be present in cerebral endothelial cells. We have investigated the occurrence of seven isoforms (α, β, γ, δ, ε, η, and ζ) by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in rat brain, in a freshly isolated brain microvessel fraction, in primary cultures of rat brain endothelial cells, in an immortalized rat brain endothelial cell line, and in aortic endothelial cell cultures. Brain tissue contained all seven investigated isoforms. A similar expression pattern was seen in freshly purified microvessels, but the PKC-γ isoform could not be detected. Primary cultures of endothelial cells expressed PKC-α, -β, -δ, -η, and -ε isoenzymes, whereas the immortalized cell line expressed PKC-α, -δ, -ε, and -η. The rat aortic endothelium contained only PKC-α and -δ isoforms. The variety of expression patterns of PKC family members in endothelial cells of different type may reflect differences in the functional responsiveness to environmental stimuli. Because PKC has been shown to be involved in the regulation of the blood-brain barrier permeability, the presence of different isoforms may confer a sophisticated intracellular regulatory mechanism to the brain endothelial cells.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.1995.65010459.x
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