Protein kinase C isoenzyme expression in retinal cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in both the physiological and pathophysiological processes in the retina and plays an important role in signal transduction. The aim of this study was to determine the PKC isoenzyme profile in three retinal cell types in culture, namely RPE cells, pericytes and retinal microvascular endothelial cells. Confluent cultures were lysed and isoenzyme expression detected by Western blotting. PKC isoenzymes alpha, beta(2) and delta were observed for all three cell types while beta(1) was specific for RPE cells. This study has characterised the PKC isoenzyme profile in three retinal cell types and suggests that defining the cell-specific isoenzyme pattern is an important step in understanding their precise physiological role and regulation in the retina.