Lysophosphatidylcholine promotes P-selectin expression in platelets and endothelial cells. Possible involvement of protein kinase C activation and its inhibition by nitric oxide donors.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), an atherogenic lysophospholipid contained in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), has been shown to stimulate protein kinase C (PKC). Since PKC activators are suggested to elicit rapid P-selectin expression in platelets and endothelial cells, we examined whether LysoPc promotes P-selectin expression in platelets and P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells via a mechanism involving PKC activation. LysoPc, but not phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is a major phospholipid component in native LDL, significantly upregulated P-selectin on cat platelets by flow cytometric analysis. This P-selectin upregulation by LysoPC was significantly attenuated by two PKC inhibitors, 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) and N,N,N-trimethylsphingosine, and by two NO donors, CAS1609 and sodium nitroprusside. Submicellar concentrations of LysoPc significantly activated PKC in platelets, and this was inhibited by either UCN-01 or CAS1609. LysoPC, but not PC, significantly increased adherence of autologous cat polymorphonuclear leukocytes to coronary vascular endothelium, which was also markedly attenuated by UCN-01 and by CAS1609. LysoPC induced P-selectin expression on the surface of cat coronary vascular endothelium as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. These results suggest that LysoPC, an atherogenic lysophospholipid contained in oxidized LDL, rapidly induces P-selectin expression in both platelets and endothelial cells at least partially via PKC activation. Furthermore, NO-generating agents may inhibit P-selectin upregulation by LysoPC. Since P-selectin may play an important role in initiating atherosclerosis, our data provide further insight into the mechanism of early stages of atherogenesis and of NO-mediated inhibition of atherosclerosis.