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Protein kinase C and endothelial dysfunction in select vascular diseases
1Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University Health, Providence, RI, United States.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|September 10, 2025
Summary
Protein Kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in vascular endothelial cells, influencing processes like inflammation and permeability. Dysfunctional PKC activity contributes to major vascular diseases, offering potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
Background:
- Protein kinases regulate vital cellular processes, including apoptosis, metabolism, and proliferation.
- Vascular endothelial cells are critical for regulating vascular tone, perfusion, and inflammation.
- Protein Kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in angiogenesis, endothelial permeability, and activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of PKC in vascular endothelial cells.
- To examine abnormal PKC activity in endothelial dysfunction related to diabetes, hypoxia/ischemia-reperfusion injury, and hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on PKC structure, function, and its role in endothelial cells.
- Discussion of PKC's involvement in endothelial cell cycle, oxidative stress, inflammation, and barrier integrity.
Main Results:
- Abnormal PKC activity is a driver of endothelial dysfunction in key vascular pathologies.
- PKC influences endothelial cell cycle, oxidative stress, inflammation, and barrier integrity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding endothelial cell-PKC pathophysiology is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Targeting PKC may mitigate morbidity and mortality associated with vascular diseases like diabetes, hypoxia/ischemia-reperfusion injury, and hypertension.
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