Role of protein kinase C in NADPH oxidase derived O2−-mediated regulation of KV–LVOCC axis under U46619 induced increase in [Ca2+]i in pulmonary smooth muscle cells

Treatment of bovine pulmonary smooth muscle cells with the TxA2 mimetic, U46619 stimulated [Ca2+]i, which was inhibited upon pretreatment with apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor). Pretreatment with cromakalim (KV channel opener) or nifedepine (L-VOCC inhibitor) inhibited U46619 induced increase in [Ca2+]i, indicating a role of KV–LVOCC axis in this scenario. Neither cromakalim nor nifedepine inhibited U46619 induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, suggesting that the NADPH oxidase activation is proximal to the KV–LVOCC axis in the cells. Pretreatment with calphostin C (PKC inhibitor) markedly reduced U46619 induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity and [Ca2+]i in the cells. Calphostin C pretreatment also markedly reduced p47phox phosphorylation and translocation to the membrane and association with p22phox, a component of Cyt.b558 of NADPH oxidase in the membrane. Overall, PKC plays an important role in NADPH oxidase derived O2−-mediated regulation of KV–LVOCC axis leading to an increase in [Ca2+]i by U46619 in the cells.