Is protein kinase C epsilon a good therapeutic target for atherosclerosis?

Investigation of protein kinase C as a therapeutic target for endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis

Almost £242,000 has been awarded over three years to Professor Justin Mason’s team at Imperial College London team to study the regulation of endothelial cells, which line our arteries and are important for maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system. They are specifically looking at a protein present in the endothelial cells called protein kinase C epsilon (or PKCe for short), which is thought to be involved in protecting endothelial cells from injury. The ultimate goal of the team’s work is to be able to develop new medicines for patients with heart disease that work by increasing PKCe levels – harnessing this protein’s protective effect in vessel walls. They will investigate the risk of artery damage in mice which do not have PKCe. They will also look to ‘switch on’ PKCe production with an experimental drug to see if it helps protect endothelial cells from injury. In particular, there is a hope that the medicines will benefit patients that are most at risk by preventing or slowing development of coronary heart disease.