Protein kinase C regulates activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and induction of proto-oncogene c-fos by endothelin-1.

Endothelins (ETs) are potent regulatory peptides that cause numerous phenotypic changes in glomerular mesangial cells including differential regulation of gene expression and mitogenesis. Although the second messengers produced by activated ET receptors are well characterized, little is known about pathways of nuclear signaling. In this report, we evaluate the role of a well-characterized effector linked to ET receptor activation, protein kinase C, in the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42-44mapk) and the induction of protooncogene c-fos. Stimulation of protein kinase C by phorbol ester was sufficient to increase p42-44mapk activity and induce c-fos. When ET-1 was added to mesangial cells depleted of protein kinase C, the increase in p42-44mapk was attenuated and the induction of c-fos was abolished. Taken together with previous data, these experiments suggest that protein kinase C, p42-44mapk, and c-fos constitute a pathway by which ET-1 regulates expression of mesangial cell genes. These effectors might have relevance to the role of ET-1 in cell growth and vascular remodeling.