Protein kinase Cɛ contributes to regulation of the sarcolemmal Na+-K+ pump

Abstract

A reduction in angiotensin II (ANG II) in vivo by treatment of rabbits with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, increases Na+-K+ pump current ( I p) of cardiac myocytes. This increase is abolished by exposure of myocytes to ANG II in vitro. Because ANG II induces translocation of the ɛ-isoform of protein kinase C (PKCɛ), we examined whether this isozyme regulates the pump. We treated rabbits with captopril, isolated myocytes, and measured I p of myocytes voltage clamped with wide-tipped patch pipettes. I p of myocytes from captopril-treated rabbits was larger than I p of myocytes from controls. ANG II superfusion of myocytes from captopril-treated rabbits decreased I p to levels similar to controls. Inclusion of PKCɛ-specific blocking peptide in pipette solutions used to perfuse the intracellular compartment abolished the effect of ANG II. Inclusion of ψɛRACK, a PKCɛ-specific activating peptide, in pipette solutions had an effect on I p that was similar to that of ANG II. There was no additive effect of ANG II and ψɛRACK. We conclude that PKCɛ regulates the sarcolemmal Na+-K+ pump.