Activation of ecto-5′-nucleotidase by protein kinase C and its role in ischaemic tolerance in the canine heart

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Abstract
Ischaemic preconditioning (IP) protects the myocardium against irreversible ischaemic injury by activating protein kinase C (PKC). The mechanism by which PKC protects the myocardium is unknown. We have shown that PKC increases the activity of ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (ecto‐5′‐N) and thereby the production of adenosine in cardiomyocytes which may protect the myocardium against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury in vivo. The objective of this study was to elucidate the possible role of PKC‐induced activation of ecto‐5′‐N in the cardioprotection associated with IP in the canine heart. IP increased the activities of both ecto‐5′‐N and PKC, and minimized ischaemic damage (infarct size: 7.5±1.8 vs. 42.3±2.8%, PPBritish Journal of Pharmacology (1997) 120, 273–281; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0700890