ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We designed a study to detect downstream phosphorylation targets of PKCß in MCP-1-induced human monocytes. METHODS: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed for monocytes treated with MCP-1 in the presence or absence of PKCß antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (AS-ODN) or a PKCß inhibitor peptide, followed by phospho- and total protein staining. Proteins that stained less intensely with the phospho-stain, when normalized to the total protein stain, in the presence of PKCß AS-ODN or the PKCß inhibitor peptide, were sequenced. RESULTS: Of the proteins identified, vimentin was consistently identified using both experimental approaches. Upon (32)P-labeling and vimentin immunoprecipitation, increased phosphorylation of vimentin was observed in MCP-1 treated monocytes as compared to the untreated monocytes. Both PKCß AS-ODN and the PKCß inhibitor reduced MCP-1-induced vimentin phosphorylation. The IP of monocytes with anti-vimentin antibody and immunoblotting with a PKCß antibody revealed that increased PKCß becomes associated with vimentin upon MCP-1 activation. Upon MCP-1 treatment, monocytes were shown to secrete vimentin and secretion depended on PKCß expression and activity. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that vimentin, a major intermediate filament protein, is a phosphorylation target of PKCß in MCP-1-treated monocytes and that PKCß phosphorylation is essential for vimentin secretion. Our recently published studies have implicated vimentin as a potent stimulator of the innate immune receptor Dectin-1 as reported by Thiagarajan et al. (Cardiovasc Res 99:494-504, 2013). Taken together our findings suggest that inhibition of PKCß regulates vimentin secretion and, thereby, its interaction with Dectin-1 and downstream stimulation of superoxide anion production. Thus, PKCß phosphorylation of vimentin likely plays an important role in propagating inflammatory responses.
