Ontogenesis of protein kinase C βII and its anchoring protein RACK1 in the maturation of alveolar macrophage functional responses

Abstract

Alveolar macrophages are the resident airway cells primarily responsible for the protection of the lungs against inhaled toxins and other biologically active materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the maturation with age of alveolar macrophage functional responses. We characterised the ontogenesis of PKC βII and its anchoring protein RACK1 in correlation with PKC-dependent immune functions, such as TNF-α, hydrogen peroxide production and lysozyme release in resident alveolar macrophages obtained from rats 2, 4 and 12 weeks old. Our results show an age-associated increase in the expression of PKC βII and RACK1, which correlated with a maturation of alveolar macrophage functional responses.