Participation of diacylglycerol kinase in mitogenic signal transduction induced by platelet-derived growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells.

In rat vascular smooth muscle cells, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), stimulated phosphatidic acid synthesis by activating both of the two alternative pathways, diacyglycerol kinase (DGK) and phospholipase D (PLD). Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibited PLD activation but not DGK activation, the latter was inhibited selectively by R 59022. PDGF-induced DNA synthesis was partially inhibited by genistein or R 59022, but these inhibitors had no effect on phorbol ester-induced DNA synthesis. Further, the specific effects of these inhibitors on PDGF-induced DNA synthesis were additive.