Ischemia-Induced Translocation of Protein Kinase C-ε Mediates Cardioprotection in the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat

Abstract

The present study investigated the role of translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) during ischemia/reperfusion in cardioprotection in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Twelve weeks after injection of STZ or vehicle, male Wister-King rat hearts were isolated and perfused in the presence or absence of 50nmol/L staurosporine or 2 μmol/L chelerythrine using a Langendorff apparatus. Thirty minutes of global ischemia was followed by the same period of reperfusion. The time to onset of contracture was determined during ischemia. The recovery of left ventricular function, incidence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), and amount of released creatine kinase (CK) were determined during the reperfusion period. Translocation of the PKC-α, -β, -δ and -ε isoforms was determined by immunoblotting. Development of contracture was delayed, the recovery of left ventricular function was greater, and the incidence of VT/VF and amount of released CK were lower in diabetic than in control hearts. Ischemia caused an increase in the particulate/cytosolic fraction ratio of the PKC-ε isoform in the diabetic and control hearts. However, this translocation of PKC-ε during ischemia was transient in the control heart, but was persistent in the diabetic heart. The ischemia-induced translocation of PKC-ε was abolished by chelerythrine perfusion. These results suggest that persistent translocation of PKC-ε during ischemia plays a major role in cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats.