Angiotensin II Promotes Glucose-Induced Activation of Cardiac Protein Kinase C Isozymes and Phosphorylation of Troponin I

Activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) family is a potential signaling mechanism by which high ambient glucose concentration modulates the phenotype and physiological function of cells. Recently, the cardiac renin angiotensin system (RAS) has been reported to promote PKC translocation in the diabetic heart via the angiotensin (ANG) II type 1 receptor (AT-1R). To evaluate the molecular events coupled with high glucose−induced PKC translocation and to examine the role of endogenously released ANG II in myocyte PKC signaling, primary cultures of adult rat ventricular myocytes were exposed to normal (5 mmol/l) or high (25 mmol/l) glucose for 12–24 h. Western blot analysis indicated that adult rat ventricular myocytes coexpress six PKC isozymes (α, β 1, β 2, δ, e, and ζ). Translocation of five PKC isozymes (β 1 , β 2 , δ, e, and ζ) was detected in response to 25 mmol/l glucose. Inhibition of phospholipase C with tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate blocked glucose-induced translocation of PKC-β 2 , -δ, and -ζ. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase with genistein blocked glucose-induced translocation of PKC-β 1 and -δ, whereas chelation of intracellular Ca 2+ with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane N,N,N,’N′-tetraacetic acid blocked translocation of PKC-β 1 and -β 2 . Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on culture media from myocytes maintained in 25 mmol/l glucose detected a twofold increase in ANG II. Addition of an AT-1R antagonist (losartan; 100 nmol/l) to myocyte cultures blocked translocation of PKC-β 1 , -β 2 , -δ, and -e. Phosphorylation of troponin (Tn) I was increased in myocytes exposed to 25 mmol/l glucose. Losartan selectively inhibited Tn I serine phosphorylation but did not affect phosphorylation at threonine residues. We concluded that 1 ) 25 mmol/l glucose triggers the release of ANG II by myocytes, resulting in activation of the ANG II autocrine pathway; 2 ) differential translocation of myocyte PKC isozymes occurs in response to 25 mmol/l glucose and ANG II; and 3 ) AT-1R−dependent PKC isozymes (β 1 , β 2 , δ, and e) target Tn I serine residues.