DIETARY CHOLESTEROL-INDUCED CHANGES OF PROTEIN-KINASE-C AND THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E IN RABBIT AORTIC SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

The changes occurring in smooth muscle cells during the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed 2% cholesterol and the effect of vitam in E treatment were investigated. Ex-vivo smooth muscle cells obtained from the aorta of cholesterol-fed rabbits exhibited a 2-fold increase of protein kinase C expression and activity. The cholesterol induced changes in protein kinase C were equally present in the membrane bound and cytosolic fraction of the enzyme. The amount of a control protein cc-actin was not affected in smooth muscle cell by the high cholester ol diet treatment, indicating that protein kinase C increase was speci fic. The increase of protein kinase C expression and activity was not significantly affected by vitamin E treatment although a constant tren d was noted. The data are discussed in the light of previous smooth mu scle cell in vitro experiments.