Requirement for Protein Kinase C in Reactive Oxygen Species–Induced Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

We conclude that in VSMCs, PKC converts the ROS-induced signals from necrotic cell death to the activation of an apoptotic cell death program. These data imply a novel and important role of PKC for the pathogenesis of such vascular diseases as atherosclerosis, restenosis, and hypertension.