DOWN-REGULATION OF PROTEIN-KINASE-C ATTENUATES THE OXIDANT HYDROGEN PEROXIDE-MEDIATED ACTIVATION OF PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) IN PULMONARY VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

Exposure of rabbit pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells to H2O2 dose -dependently stimulates the cell membrane associated protein kinase C (PKC) activity, phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity, phospholipase A( 2) (PLA(2)) activity, and arachidonic acid (AA0) release. Pretreatment of the cells with staurosporine (an inhibitor of PKC) prevents AA rel ease and PLA(2) activity caused by H2O2. Treatment of the cells with 4 beta-PMA (an active phorbol ester), or 4 alpha-PMA (an inactive phorb ol ester) does not affect basal AA release. In contrast, 4 beta-PMA si gnificantly stimulates the cell membrane associated PKC activity. Trea tment of the cells with 4 beta-PMA for a short time (up-regulation of PKC) augments PLA(2) activity and AA release caused by a sub-optimal d ose of H2O2 (0.4 mM). Under this condition, staurosporine prevents the stimulatory effects of 4 beta-PMA on membrane PLA(2) activity, and AA release. In contrast to the up-regulation, pretreatment with 4 beta-P MA for a longer time (down-regulation of PKC) does not appreciably aug ment PLA(2) activity and AA release caused by 0.4 mM H2O2. Treatment o f the cells with an intracellular Ca2+ antagonist TBM-8 prevents H2O2 induced membrane PLA(2) activity and AA release without affecting memb rane PKC activity. Treatment of the cells with TMB-8 before addition o f 4 beta-PMA (up-regulation of PKC) followed by incubation with 0.4 mM H2O2 does not augment PLA(2) activity and AA release, although membra ne PKC activity increases under this condition.