Evidence for involvement of protein kinase C in expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by human vascular endothelial cells.

Potent activators of protein kinase C (PKC), such as phorbol dibutyrate and octylindolactam V, stimulated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a concentration-dependent manner. Expression of PKC activator-induced ICAM-1 in HUVEC was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor, H-7. Furthermore, cytokine (TNF alpha, LPS)-induced ICAM-1 expression was inhibited by the potent PKC inhibitor, H-7, and not by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) specific inhibitor, H-89. These data suggest that PKC is involved in cytokine- and inflammatory agent-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 expression in HUVEC.