Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Effect of short-term hyperglycemia on protein kinase C alpha activation in human erythrocytes
Leonid Livshits1, Ariel Srulevich, Itamar Raz
1The Diabetes Research Center, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. leonidlivshts@gmail.com
Background:
Diabetes mellitus, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, is known to have a deleterious effect on erythrocyte structure and hemodynamic characteristics, which eventually contribute to diabetes-associated vascular complications. Protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) is a major regulator of many metabolic processes and structural changes in erythrocytes, and may play a significant role in the development of hyperglycemia-mediated cellular abnormalities.
Aim:
We hypothesized that acute hyperglycemic stress may affect erythrocyte structure and metabolic properties through its effect on PKCα membrane content and activity.
Results:
Erythrocytes, from healthy individuals acutely exposed to a glucose enriched media, showed a significant decrease in the membranous fraction of PKCα and its phosphorylation (p = 0.005 and p = 0.0004, respectively). These alterations correlated with decreased affinity of PKCα to its membrane substrates (4.1R and GLUT1) and reduced RBC deformability (p = 0.017). Pre-activation of erythrocytes with PKC activator, PMA, minimized the effect of glucose on the membrane PKCα fraction and RBC deformability (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Acute glycemia-induced inhibition of PKCα membranous translocation and activation is associated with reduced erythrocyte membrane deformability.
Related Concept Videos
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
Hyperglycemia
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
