Prostacyclin production in rat aortic smooth muscle cells: role of protein kinase C, phospholipase D and cyclooxygenase-2 expression

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and phospholipase D (PLD) in angiotensin II (AngII)- and phorbol ester (PMA)-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) production in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC). METHODS: Prostacyclin production in cultured VSMC was determined by radioimmunoassay. PKC activity was examined by measuring the transfer of 32P from (gamma-32P)ATP to histone III-S. COX-2 expression was determined by Western blotting. To measure PLD activity, thin layer chromatography was used. RESULTS: AngII (50 nM) and PMA (100 nM) promoted the translocation of PKC activity from the cytosol to the membranes within 30 min, followed by a strong increase in PLD activity as well as COX-2 expression and PGI(2) production. After 48 h exposure to PMA, PKC was downregulated resulting in a complete suppression of its activity. PKC-downregulation and the PKC inhibitor CGP41251 abolished PMA- and AngII-induced PLD activation, suppressed the stimulatory effect of PMA on COX-2 expression and PGI(2) production and strongly inhibited that of AngII. Furthermore, AngII- and PMA-induced PGI(2) production depended on protein synthesis and COX-2 but not COX-1 activity. Inhibition of PLD-mediated phosphatidic acid (PA) formation by 1% 1-butanol abolished AngII-induced COX-2 expression and PGI(2) secretion, while dioctanoyl PA increased COX-2 expression and PGI(2) production in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that in VSMC, AngII promotes PGI(2) production to a large extent through a rise in COX-2 expression which is mediated by PA generated from increased PKC-dependent PLD activity.