Role of protein kinase C-mediated pathway in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm in a swine model

Akira Ito, Hiroaki Shimokawa, Ryuichi Nakaike, Tohru Fukai, Makoto Sakata, Tsuneo Takayanagi, Kensuke Egashira, Akira Takeshita

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The intracellular mechanism of coronary artery spasm is still unknown. The pathway mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) is an important intracellular process of various cellular responses, including vascular smooth muscle contraction. Thus, we examined the role of the PKC-mediated pathway in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm in our in vivo swine model. Methods and Results: Seven Gottingen miniature pigs underwent coronary balloon injury and x-ray irradiation to induce atherosclerotic lesion. After 6 to 18 months, intracoronary serotonin (3 μg/kg) or histamine (3 μg/kg) repeatedly induced coronary artery spasm at the atherosclerotic site. At the spastic site, intracoronary administration of phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) (10-9 mol/kg), a PKC-activating phorbol ester, also induced coronary artery spasm, which was completely blocked by pretreatment with intracoronary slaurosporine (10 μg/kg), a PKC inhibitor. Intracoronary administration of an inactive phorbol ester, phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (10-9 mol/kg), did not induce coronary vasoconstriction. Coronary artery spasm induced by the autacoids was significantly augmented by pretreatment with intracoronary PDBu and partially inhibited by staurosporine. Intracoronary administration of Bay K 8644 (10 μg/kg), a dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channel agonist, also induced coronary artery spasm at the spastic site, which was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with intracoronary staurosporine or nifedipine (0.1 mg/kg). Conclusions: These results suggest (1) the PKC- mediated pathway is importantly involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm, (2) activation of the PKC-mediated pathway partially accounts for serotonin- and histamine-induced coronary artery spasm, and (3) at the spastic site, calcium influx through dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channel and/or calcium sensitivity of the contractile proteins may be augmented by the PKC-mediated pathway.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2425-2431
Number of pages7
JournalCirculation
Volume90
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • atherosclerosis
  • calcium channels
  • phorbol ester
  • vasoconstriction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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