A mechanism of vitamin E-enhanced active oxygen formation in concanavalin A-stimulated alveolar macrophage

Vitamin E had an enhancing effect on active oxygen generation in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated alveolar macrophages (AMs) of rats. An inhibitor against protein kinase C (PKC) 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) suppressed a large part of this vitamin E-related effect, but a calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) did not inhibit the increase of active oxygen formation by vitamin E treatment. These results suggest that the activation of PKC presumably relates to the enhancing effect of vitamin E on active oxygen formation in Con A-stimulated AMs.