Differential regulation of protein kinase C isoforms in human uterine leiomyoma

The protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzyme expression pattern in human uterine le iomyoma was compared with that obtained in homologous myometrium distal fro m the tumor, The six PKC isoforms (PCK alpha, PKC beta1, PKC beta2, PKC del ta, PKC epsilon and PKC zeta) evidenced in the myometrium were found to be similarly expressed in leiomyoma, Quantitative immunoblotting revealed that all PKC isoforms were preferentially localized in the particulate fraction , To gain insight into the possible functional consequences of PKC expressi on patterns, subcellular redistribution in response to the mitogenic peptid e endothelin-1 (ET-1) was studied, After stimulation with ET-1, differentia l redistribution occurred in leiomyoma and myometrium, suggesting a selecti ve role of PKC isoforms in the myometrial growth process, Copyright (C) 200 1 S. Karger AG, Basel.