The role of protein kinase C in the induction of VCAM-1 expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in interleukin-1β- (II- 1β)-, tumor necrosis factor-α- (TNF-α)-, and lipopolysaccharide-(LPS)-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was studied. PKC inhibition or downregulation diminished VCAM-1 mRNA accumulation and protein expression. Interleukin-1β, TNF-α, and LPS induce nuclear factor (NF)- kB-like binding activity, which precedes VCAM-1 transcription. PKC inhibition did not prevent NF- xB-like binding activity, indicating that this is PKC-independent, and NF- kB-like binding activity is insufficient for transcription of VCAM-1.