Activation of conventional protein kinase C (PKC) is critical in the generation of human neutrophil extracellular traps

J Inflamm (Lond). 2013 Mar 21;10(1):12. doi: 10.1186/1476-9255-10-12.

Abstract

Background: Activation of NADPH oxidase is required for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Protein kinase C (PKC) is an upstream mediator of NADPH oxidase activation and thus likely to have a role in NET formation.

Methods: Pharmacological inhibitors were used to block PKC activity in neutrophils harvested from healthy donor blood.

Results: Pan PKC inhibition with Ro-31-8220 (p<0.001), conventional PKC inhibition with Go 6976 (p<0.001) and specific PKCβ inhibition with LY333531 (p<0.01) blocked NET formation in response to PMA. Inhibition of novel and atypical PKC had no effect. LY333531 blocked NET induction by the diacylglycerol analogue OAG (conventional PKC activator) (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Conventional PKCs have a prominent role in NET formation. Furthermore PKCβ is the major isoform implicated in NET formation.