Aims/hypothesis: The present study aimed to investigate the expression levels of and the relationship between 14-3-3 zeta and protein kinase C (PKC) in the retina of early diabetes.
Methods: Changes in the expression levels of, and interaction between, 14-3-3 zeta and PKC were investigated by Northern and Western blot analyses, immunoprecipitation and double immunostaining in the retina of diabetic rats after 6 weeks of diabetes. PKC activity was examined using a PKC assay.
Results: In the diabetic retina, the molecular levels of 14-3-3 zeta were reduced, while those of PKC beta and zeta were increased. Direct interaction between 14-3-3 zeta and PKC was markedly decreased in the retina after 6 weeks of diabetes, while PKC activity was increased.
Conclusions/interpretation: These findings show that a reduction in 14-3-3 zeta can induce PKC activation, suggesting that this is a main cause of visual dysfunction in the retina during diabetes.