PDGF-induced mitogenic signaling is not mediated through protein kinase C and c-fos pathway in VSM cells

This study examines the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell proliferation and initial signaling events. A 24-h pretreatment of VSM cells with 200 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) completely abolished immunologically reactive PKC activity. Depletion of PKC activity from VSM cells did not attenuate PDGF-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation compared with control cells. Similarly, acute activation of PKC by treatment with 200 nM PMA for 10 min had no effect on PDGF-mediated [3H]thymidine incorporation. Both PMA and PDGF increased c-fos induction to the same magnitude; however, treatment with PMA did not induce DNA synthesis in these cells. In PKC-depleted cells PDGF-mediated c-fos induction was reduced by 50-60%, while DNA synthesis in response to PDGF stimulation was not reduced. PKC depletion did not alter PDGF-stimulated increase in cytosolic calcium levels, 125I-PDGF binding, or receptor autophosphorylation. On the basis of these results, we conclude that PKC activation and c-fos induction do not play a significant role in PDGF-mediated mitogenesis in VSM cells.