Biophysical properties and metabolic regulation of a TASK-like potassium channel in rat carotid body type 1 cells

Cloning of the human TASK-2 (KCNK5) promoter and its regulation by chronic hypoxia

The tandem P domain potassium channel family includes five members of the acid-sensing subfamily, TASK. TASK channels are active at resting potential and are inhibited by extracellular protons, suggesting they function as acid sensors and control excitability/ion homeostasis. Indeed, TASK-2 (KCNK5) has been shown to control excitability, volume regulation, bicarbonate handling, and apoptosis in a variety of tissues. With such diverse functions being ascribed to TASK-2, it is important to understand long-term as well as short-term regulation of this important channel. Thus, we have cloned the TASK-2 promoter, demonstrated that its transcriptional activity is dependent upon pO(2), shown that deletion of overlapping consensus binding sites for NF-kappaB/Elk-1 ablates this O(2) sensitivity, and proved that Elk-1 binds preferentially to this site. Furthermore, the consequences of chronic hypoxia on natively expressed TASK-2 are decreased steady-state mRNA and cell depolarization showing that TASK-2 contributes to the excitability of this important lung cell type.

Hemeoxygenase-2 as an O2 sensor in K+ channel-dependent chemotransduction

The physiological response of the carotid body is critically dependent upon oxygen-sensing by potassium channels expressed in glomus cells. One such channel is the large conductance, voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium channel, BK(Ca). Although it is well known that a decrease in oxygen evokes glomus cell depolarization, voltage-gated calcium entry, and transmitter release, the molecular identity of the upstream oxygen sensor has been the subject of some controversy for decades. Recently, we have demonstrated that hemeoxygenase-2 associates tightly with recombinant BK(Ca) and that activity of this enzyme confers oxygen sensitivity to the BK(Ca) channel complex. Similar observations were also made in native channels recorded from carotid body glomus cells, suggesting that hemoxygenase-2 functions as an oxygen sensor of native and recombinant BK(Ca) channels.

Doxapram stimulates the carotid body via a different mechanism than hypoxic chemotransduction

To determine if doxapram stimulates the carotid body through the same mechanism as hypoxia, we compared the effects of doxapram and hypoxia on isolated-perfused carotid bodies in rabbits. Doxapram stimulated the carotid body in a dose-dependent manner. In Ca(2+)-free solution, neither doxapram nor hypoxia stimulated the carotid body. Although, doxapram had an additive effect on the carotid body chemosensory response to hypercapnia, a synergistic effect was not observed. Also, we investigated the various K(+) channel activators on the response to doxapram and hypoxia: pinacidil and levcromakalim as ATP-sensitive K(+) channel activators; NS-1619 as a Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channel activator; and halothane as a TASK-like background K(+) channel activator. The hypoxic response was partially reduced by halothane only, while pinacidil, levcromakalim and NS-1619 had no effect. Interestingly, the effect of doxapram was partially inhibited by NS-1619. Neither pinacidil nor levcromakalim affected the stimulatory effect of doxapram. We conclude that doxapram stimulates the carotid body via a different mechanism than hypoxic chemotransduction.

System-specific O2 sensitivity of the tandem pore domain K+ channel TASK-1

Hypoxic inhibition of TASK-1, a tandem pore domain background K+ channel, provides a critical link between reduced O2 levels and physiological responses in various cell types. Here, we examined the expression and O2 sensitivity of TASK-1 in immortalized adrenomedullary chromaffin (MAH) cells. In physiological (asymmetrical) K+ solutions, 3 μM anandamide or 300 μM Zn2+ inhibited a strongly pH-sensitive current. Under symmetrical K+ conditions, the anandamide- and Zn2+-sensitive K+ currents were voltage independent. These data demonstrate the functional expression of TASK-1, and cellular expression of this channel was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. At concentrations that selectively inhibit TASK-1, anandamide and Zn2+ were without effect on the magnitude of the O2-sensitive current or the hypoxic depolarization. Thus TASK-1 does not contribute to O2 sensing in MAH cells, demonstrating the failure of a known O2-sensitive K+ channel to respond to hypoxia in an O2-sensing cell. These data demonstrate that, ultimately, the sensitivity of a particular K+ channel to hypoxia is determined by the cell, and we propose that this is achieved by coupling distinct hypoxia signaling systems to individual channels. Importantly, these data also reiterate the indirect O2 sensitivity of TASK-1, which appears to require the presence of an intracellular mediator.

The effect of mitochondrial inhibitors on membrane currents in isolated neonatal rat carotid body type I cells

Inhibitors of mitochondrial energy metabolism have long been known to be potent stimulants of the carotid body, yet their mechanism of action remains obscure. We have therefore investigated the effects of rotenone, myxothiazol, antimycin A, cyanide (CN(-)) and oligomycin on isolated carotid body type I cells. All five compounds caused a rapid rise in intracellular Ca(2+), which was inhibited on removal of extracellular Ca(2+). Under current clamp conditions rotenone and CN(-) caused a rapid membrane depolarization and elevation of [Ca(2+)](i). Voltage clamping cells to -70 mV substantially attenuated this rise in [Ca(2+)](i). Rotenone, cyanide, myxothiazol and oligomycin significantly inhibited resting background K(+) currents. Thus rotenone, myxothiazol, cyanide and oligomycin mimic the effects of hypoxia in that they all inhibit background K(+) current leading to membrane depolarization and voltage-gated calcium entry. Hypoxia, however, failed to have any additional effect upon membrane currents in the presence of CN(-) or rotenone or the mitochondrial uncoupler p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP). Thus not only do mitochondrial inhibitors mimic the effects of hypoxia, but they also abolish oxygen sensitivity. These observations suggest that there is a close link between oxygen sensing and mitochondrial function in type I cells. Mechanisms that could account for this link and the actions of mitochondrial inhibitors are discussed.