Protein Kinase C Activation Is Required for Cigarette Smoke–Enhanced C5a-Mediated Release of Interleukin-8 in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

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Abstract
Complement-derived anaphylatoxin C5a is a glycopolypeptide important in the regulation of inflammation. Previously, we have shown that C5a receptors (C5aR) are constitutively expressed on human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) grown in culture. We have also shown that the expression of C5aR is increased upon exposure of HBECs to 5% cigarette smoke extract (CSE), and that this subtoxic dose of CSE significantly enhances C5a-stimulated interleukin (IL)-8 release. To determine the intracellular signaling pathway of CSE + C5a-mediated IL-8 release, we assayed protein kinase C (PKC) activity of HBECs after exposing the cells to CSE and/or C5a. No increase in PKC activity was observed when HBECs were treated with 50 nM C5a for various times. However, PKC activity was increased by 2- to 3-fold in HBECs stimulated with 5% CSE for 1 h, as compared with cells incubated with medium only. No additional increase in PKC was observed when HBECs were treated with CSE and C5a together. When HBECs were pretreated with th...