Block by 4-aminopyridine of a Kv1.2 delayed rectifier K+ current expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Identification of adult spinal Shox2 neuronal subpopulations based on unbiased computational clustering of electrophysiological properties

Spinal cord neurons integrate sensory and descending information to produce motor output. The expression of transcription factors has been used to dissect out the neuronal components of circuits underlying behaviors. However, most of the canonical populations of interneurons are heterogeneous and require additional criteria to determine functional subpopulations. Neurons expressing the transcription factor Shox2 can be subclassified based on the co-expression of the transcription factor Chx10 and each subpopulation is proposed to have a distinct connectivity and different role in locomotion. Adult Shox2 neurons have recently been shown to be diverse based on their firing properties. Here, in order to subclassify adult mouse Shox2 neurons, we performed multiple analyses of data collected from whole-cell patch clamp recordings of visually-identified Shox2 neurons from lumbar spinal slices. A smaller set of Chx10 neurons was included in the analyses for validation. We performed k-means and hierarchical unbiased clustering approaches, considering electrophysiological variables. Unlike the categorizations by firing type, the clusters displayed electrophysiological properties that could differentiate between clusters of Shox2 neurons. The presence of clusters consisting exclusively of Shox2 neurons in both clustering techniques suggests that it is possible to distinguish Shox2+Chx10- neurons from Shox2+Chx10+ neurons by electrophysiological properties alone. Computational clusters were further validated by immunohistochemistry with accuracy in a small subset of neurons. Thus, unbiased cluster analysis using electrophysiological properties is a tool that can enhance current interneuronal subclassifications and can complement groupings based on transcription factor and molecular expression.

4-Aminopyridine is a promising treatment option for patients with gain-of-function KCNA2-encephalopathy

[Figure: see text].

Development of Action Potential Waveform in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

CA1 pyramidal neurons undergo intense morphological and electrophysiological changes from the second to third postnatal weeks in rats throughout a critical period associated with the emergence of exploratory behavior. Using whole cell current-clamp recordings in vitro and neurochemical methods, we studied the development of the somatic action potential (AP) waveform and some of the underlying channels in this critical period. At the third postnatal week, APs showed a more hyperpolarized threshold, higher duration and amplitude. Subthreshold depolarization broadened APs and depolarized their peak overshoots more pronouncedly in immature neurons (2 weeks old). These features were mimicked by pharmacologically blocking the fast-inactivating A-type potassium current (I_A) and matched well with the higher concentrations of K_v4.2 and K_v4.3 and the lower concentrations of BK and K_v1.2 channels detected by Western blotting. Repetitive stimulation with high frequency trains (50 Hz) reproduced AP broadening associated to inactivation of the A-type current in immature cells. Moreover, repetitive firing showed changes in AP amplitude consistent with the inactivation of both sodium and potassium subthreshold currents, which resulted in higher AP amplitudes in the more immature neurons. We propose that maturation of AP waveform and excitability in this critical developmental period could be related to the onset of exploratory behaviors.

D-type potassium channels normalize action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons of the mouse hippocampus

Specific memory processes and neurological disorders can be ascribed to different dorsoventral regions of the hippocampus. Recently, differences in the anatomical and physiological properties between dorsal and ventral hippocampal CA1 neurons were described for both the rat and mouse hippocampus and have greatly contributed to our understanding of these processes. While differences in the subthreshold properties were similar between rat and mouse neurons, differences in action potential output between dorsal and ventral neurons were strikingly less divergent in mouse compared with rat CA1 neurons. Here, we investigate the mechanism underlying the lack of difference in action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 pyramidal neurons in mouse hippocampus. Consistent with rat, we found that ventral CA1 neurons had a more depolarized resting membrane potential and higher input resistance than dorsal CA1 neurons in the mouse hippocampus. Despite these differences, action potential output in response to current injection was not significantly different. We found that ventral neurons have a more depolarized action potential threshold compared with dorsal neurons and that threshold in ventral neurons was more sensitive to block of KV1 channels compared with dorsal neurons. Outside-out voltage-clamp recordings found that slowly inactivating K+ currents were larger in ventral CA1 neurons. These results suggest that, despite differences in subthreshold properties between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons, action potential output is normalized by the differential functional expression of D-type K+ channels. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Understanding differences in neurons within a brain region is integral in the reliable interpretation of comparative studies. Our findings identify a novel mechanism by which D-type potassium channels normalize action potential firing between dorsal and ventral CA1 neurons of mouse hippocampus despite differences in subthreshold intrinsic properties. Action potential threshold in ventral neurons is influenced by a greater functional expression of D-type potassium channels resulting in a depolarized action potential threshold compared with dorsal hippocampus.

Kv1.2 Channels Promote Nonlinear Spiking Motoneurons for Powering Up Locomotion

Spinal motoneurons are endowed with nonlinear spiking behaviors manifested by a spike acceleration whose functional significance remains uncertain. Here, we show in rodent lumbar motoneurons that these nonlinear spiking properties do not rely only on activation of dendritic nifedipine-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels, as assumed for decades, but also on the slow inactivation of a nifedipine-sensitive K+ current mediated by Kv1.2 channels that are highly expressed in axon initial segments. Specifically, the pharmacological and computational inhibition of Kv1.2 channels occluded the spike acceleration of rhythmically active motoneurons and the correlated slow buildup of rhythmic motor output recorded at the onset of locomotor-like activity. This study demonstrates that slow inactivation of Kv1.2 channels provides a potent gain control mechanism in mammalian spinal motoneurons and has a behavioral role in enhancing locomotor drive during the transition from immobility to steady-state locomotion.

Long Noncoding RNA Kcna2 Antisense RNA Contributes to Ventricular Arrhythmias via Silencing Kcna2 in Rats With Congestive Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common cardiovascular disease that is often accompanied by ventricular arrhythmias. The decrease of the slow component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (I_Ks) in CHF leads to action potential (AP) prolongation, and the I_Ks is an important contributor to the development of ventricular arrhythmias. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ventricular arrhythmias are still unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Kcna2 and Kcna2 antisense RNA (Kcna2 AS) transcript expression was measured in rat cardiac tissues using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. There was a 43% reduction in Kcna2 mRNA in the left ventricular myocardium of rats with CHF. Kcna2 knockdown in the heart decreased the I_Ks and prolonged APs in cardiomyocytes, consistent with the changes observed in heart failure. Conversely, Kcna2 overexpression in the heart significantly attenuated the CHF-induced decreases in the I_Ks, AP prolongation, and ventricular arrhythmias. Kcna2 AS was upregulated ≈1.7-fold in rats with CHF and with phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Kcna2 AS inhibition increased the CHF-induced downregulation of Kcna2. Consequently, Kcna2 AS mitigated the decrease in the I_Ks and the prolongation of APs in vivo and in vitro and reduced ventricular arrhythmias, as detected using electrocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

Ventricular Kcna2 AS expression increases in rats with CHF and contributes to reduced I_Ks, prolonged APs, and the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias by silencing Kcna2. Thus, Kcna2 AS may be a new target for the prevention and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CHF.

Functional identification of islet cell types by electrophysiological fingerprinting

The α-, β- and δ-cells of the pancreatic islet exhibit different electrophysiological features. We used a large dataset of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from cells in intact mouse islets (N = 288 recordings) to investigate whether it is possible to reliably identify cell type (α, β or δ) based on their electrophysiological characteristics. We quantified 15 electrophysiological variables in each recorded cell. Individually, none of the variables could reliably distinguish the cell types. We therefore constructed a logistic regression model that included all quantified variables, to determine whether they could together identify cell type. The model identified cell type with 94% accuracy. This model was applied to a dataset of cells recorded from hyperglycaemic βV59M mice; it correctly identified cell type in all cells and was able to distinguish cells that co-expressed insulin and glucagon. Based on this revised functional identification, we were able to improve conductance-based models of the electrical activity in α-cells and generate a model of δ-cell electrical activity. These new models could faithfully emulate α- and δ-cell electrical activity recorded experimentally.

Exposure to Gulf War Illness chemicals induces functional muscarinic receptor maladaptations in muscle nociceptors

Chronic pain is a component of the multisymptom disease known as Gulf War Illness (GWI). There is evidence that pain symptoms could have been a consequence of prolonged and/or excessive exposure to anticholinesterases and other GW chemicals. We previously reported that rats exposed, for 8 weeks, to a mixture of anticholinesterases (pyridostigmine bromide, chlorpyrifos) and a Nav (voltage activated Na(+) channel) deactivation-inhibiting pyrethroid, permethrin, exhibited a behavior pattern that was consistent with a delayed myalgia. This myalgia-like behavior was accompanied by persistent changes to Kv (voltage activated K(+)) channel physiology in muscle nociceptors (Kv7, KDR). In the present study, we examined how exposure to the above agents altered the reactivity of Kv channels to a muscarinic receptor (mAChR) agonist (oxotremorine-M). Comparisons between muscle nociceptors harvested from vehicle and GW chemical-exposed rats revealed that mAChR suppression of Kv7 activity was enhanced in exposed rats. Yet in these same muscle nociceptors, a Stromatoxin-insensitive component of the KDR (voltage activated delayed rectifier K(+) channel) exhibited decreased sensitivity to activation of mAChR. We have previously shown that a unique mAChR-induced depolarization and burst discharge (MDBD) was exaggerated in muscle nociceptors of rats exposed to GW chemicals. We now provide evidence that both muscle and vascular nociceptors of naïve rats exhibit MDBD. Examination of the molecular basis of the MDBD in naïve animals revealed that while the mAChR depolarization was independent of Kv7, the action potential burst was modulated by Kv7 status. mAChR depolarizations were shown to be dependent, in part, on TRPA1. We argue that dysfunction of the MDBD could be a functional convergence point for maladapted ion channels and receptors consequent to exposure to GW chemicals.

Cell-Type Specific Channelopathies in the Prefrontal Cortex of the fmr1-/y Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by transcriptional silencing of the fmr1 gene resulting in the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) expression. FXS patients display several behavioral phenotypes associated with prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction. Voltage-gated ion channels, some of which are regulated by FMRP, heavily influence PFC neuron function. Although there is evidence for brain region-specific alterations to the function a single type of ion channel in FXS, it is unclear whether subtypes of principal neurons within a brain region are affected uniformly. We tested for alterations to ion channels critical in regulating neural excitability in two subtypes of prefrontal L5 pyramidal neurons. Using somatic and dendritic patch-clamp recordings, we provide evidence that the functional expression of h-channels (I_h) is down-regulated, whereas A-type K⁺ channel function is up-regulated in pyramidal tract-projecting (PT) neurons in the fmr1-/y mouse PFC. This is the opposite pattern of results from published findings from hippocampus where I_h is up-regulated and A-type K⁺ channel function is down-regulated. Additionally, we find that somatic Kv1-mediated current is down-regulated, resulting in increased excitability of fmr1-/y PT neurons. Importantly, these h- and K⁺ channel differences do not extend to neighboring intratelencephalic-projecting neurons. Thus, the absence of FMRP has divergent effects on the function of individual types of ion channels not only between brain regions, but also variable effects across cell types within the same brain region. Given the importance of ion channels in regulating neural circuits, these results suggest cell-type-specific phenotypes for the disease.

Kv1 channels control spike threshold dynamics and spike timing in cortical pyramidal neurones

Previous studies showed that cortical pyramidal neurones (PNs) have a dynamic spike threshold that functions as a high-pass filter, enhancing spike timing in response to high-frequency input. While it is commonly assumed that Na(+) channel inactivation is the primary mechanism of threshold accommodation, the possible role of K(+) channel activation in fast threshold changes has not been well characterized. The present study tested the hypothesis that low-voltage activated Kv1 channels affect threshold dynamics in layer 2-3 PNs, using α-dendrotoxin (DTX) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) to block these conductances. We found that Kv1 blockade reduced the dynamic changes of spike threshold in response to a variety of stimuli, including stimulus-evoked synaptic input, current steps and ramps of varied duration, and noise. Analysis of the responses to noise showed that Kv1 channels increased the coherence of spike output with high-frequency components of the stimulus. A simple model demonstrates that a dynamic spike threshold can account for this effect. Our results show that the Kv1 conductance is a major mechanism that contributes to the dynamic spike threshold and precise spike timing of cortical PNs.

Fast and slow voltage sensor rearrangements during activation gating in Kv1.2 channels detected using tetramethylrhodamine fluorescence

The Kv1.2 channel, with its high resolution crystal structure, provides an ideal model for investigating conformational changes associated with channel gating, and fluorescent probes attached at the extracellular end of S4 are a powerful way to gain a more complete understanding of the voltage-dependent activity of these dynamic proteins. Tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide (TMRM) attached at A291C reports two distinct rearrangements of the voltage sensor domains, and a comparative fluorescence scan of the S4 and S3-S4 linker residues in Shaker and Kv1.2 shows important differences in their emission at other homologous residues. Kv1.2 shows a rapid decrease in A291C emission with a time constant of 1.5 +/- 0.1 ms at 60 mV (n = 11) that correlates with gating currents and reports on translocation of the S4 and S3-S4 linker. However, unlike any Kv channel studied to date, this fast component is dwarfed by a larger, slower quenching of TMRM emission during depolarizations between -120 and -50 mV (tau = 21.4 +/- 2.1 ms at 60 mV, V(1/2) of -73.9 +/- 1.4 mV) that is not seen in either Shaker or Kv1.5 and that comprises >60% of the total signal at all activating potentials. The slow fluorescence relaxes after repolarization in a voltage-dependent manner that matches the time course of Kv1.2 ionic current deactivation. Fluorophores placed directly in S1 and S2 at I187 and T219 recapitulate the time course and voltage dependence of slow quenching. The slow component is lost when the extracellular S1-S2 linker of Kv1.2 is replaced with that of Kv1.5 or Shaker, suggesting that it arises from a continuous internal rearrangement within the voltage sensor, initiated at negative potentials but prevalent throughout the activation process, and which must be reversed for the channel to close.

Absence epilepsy in apathetic, a spontaneous mutant mouse lacking the h channel subunit, HCN2

Analysis of naturally occurring mutations that cause seizures in rodents has advanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying epilepsy. Abnormalities of I(h) and h channel expression have been found in many animal models of absence epilepsy. We characterized a novel spontaneous mutant mouse, apathetic (ap/ap), and identified the ap mutation as a 4 base pair insertion within the coding region of Hcn2, the gene encoding the h channel subunit 2 (HCN2). We demonstrated that Hcn2(ap) mRNA is reduced by 90% compared to wild type, and the predicted truncated HCN2(ap) protein is absent from the brain tissue of mice carrying the ap allele. ap/ap mice exhibited ataxia, generalized spike-wave absence seizures, and rare generalized tonic-clonic seizures. ap/+ mice had a normal gait, occasional absence seizures and an increased severity of chemoconvulsant-induced seizures. These findings help elucidate basic mechanisms of absence epilepsy and suggest HCN2 may be a target for therapeutic intervention.

Effects of dopaminergic modulation on the integrative properties of the ventral striatal medium spiny neuron

Dopaminergic modulation produces a variety of functional changes in the principal cell of the striatum, the medium spiny neuron (MSN). Using a 189-compartment computational model of a ventral striatal MSN, we simulated whole cell D1- and D2-receptor-mediated modulation of both intrinsic (sodium, calcium, and potassium) and synaptic currents (AMPA and NMDA). Dopamine (DA) modulations in the model were based on a review of published experiments in both ventral and dorsal striatum. To objectively assess the net effects of DA modulation, we combined reported individual channel modulations into either D1- or D2-receptor modulation conditions and studied them separately. Contrary to previous suggestions, we found that D1 modulation had no effect on MSN nonlinearity and could not induce bistability. In agreement with previous suggestions, we found that dopaminergic modulation leads to changes in input filtering and neuronal excitability. Importantly, the changes in neuronal excitability agree with the classical model of basal ganglia function. We also found that DA modulation can alter the integration time window of the MSN. Interestingly, the effects of DA modulation of synaptic properties opposed the effects of DA modulation of intrinsic properties, with the synaptic modulations generally dominating the net effect. We interpret this lack of synergy to suggest that the regulation of whole cell integrative properties is not the primary functional purpose of DA. We suggest that D1 modulation might instead primarily regulate calcium influx to dendritic spines through NMDA and L-type calcium channels, by both direct and indirect mechanisms.

Intrinsic excitability of cholinergic neurons in the rat parabigeminal nucleus

Cholinergic neurons in the parabigeminal nucleus of the rat midbrain were studied in an acute slice preparation. Spontaneous, regular action potentials were observed both with cell-attached patch recordings as well as with whole cell current-clamp recordings. The spontaneous activity of parabigeminal nucleus (PBN) neurons was not due to synaptic input as it persisted in the presence of the pan-ionotropic excitatory neurotransmitter receptor blocker, kynurenic acid, and the cholinergic blockers dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHbetaE) and atropine. This result suggests the existence of intrinsic currents that enable spontaneous activity. In voltage-clamp recordings, I(H) and I(A) currents were observed in most PBN neurons. I(A) had voltage-dependent features that would permit it to contribute to spontaneous firing. In contrast, I(H) was significantly activated at membrane potentials lower than the trough of the spike afterhyperpolarization, suggesting that I(H) does not contribute to spontaneous firing of PBN neurons. Consistent with this interpretation, application of 25 microM ZD-7288, which blocked I(H), did not affect the rate of spontaneous firing in PBN neurons. Counterparts to I(A) and I(H) were observed in current-clamp recordings: I(A) was reflected as a slow voltage ramp observed between action potentials and on release from hyperpolarization, and I(H) was reflected as a depolarizing sag often accompanied by rebound spikes in response to hyperpolarizing current injections. In response to depolarizing current injections, PBN neurons fired at high frequencies, with relatively little accommodation. Ultimately, the spontaneous activity in PBN neurons could be used to modulate cholinergic drive in the superior colliculus in either positive or negative directions.

Potassium channel blockers in multiple sclerosis: Neuronal Kv channels and effects of symptomatic treatment

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by demyelination, with a relative sparing of axons. In MS patients, many neurologic signs and symptoms have been attributed to the underlying conduction deficits. The idea that neurologic function might be improved if conduction could be restored in CNS demyelinated axons led to the testing of potassium (K(+)) channel blockers as a symptomatic treatment. To date, only 2 broad-spectrum K(+) channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), have been tested in MS patients. Although both 4-AP and 3,4-DAP produce clear neurologic benefits, their use has been limited by toxicity. Here we review the current status of basic science and clinical research related to the therapeutic targeting of voltage-gated K(+) channels (K(v)) in MS. By bringing together 3 distinct but interrelated disciplines, we aim to provide perspective on a vast body of work highlighting the lengthy and ongoing process entailed in translating fundamental K(v) channel knowledge into new clinical treatments for patients with MS and other demyelinating diseases. Covered are (1) K(v) channel nomenclature, structure, function, and pharmacology; (2) classic and current experimental morphology and neurophysiology studies of demyelination and conduction deficits; and (3) a comprehensive overview of clinical trials utilizing 4-AP and 3,4-DAP in MS patients.

Status of the intracellular gate in the activated-not-open state of shaker K+ channels

Voltage-dependent K⁺ channels like Shaker use an intracellular gate to control ion flow through the pore. When the membrane voltage becomes more positive, these channels traverse a series of closed conformations before the final opening transition. Does the intracellular gate undergo conformational changes before channel opening? To answer this question we introduced cysteines into the intracellular end of the pore and studied their chemical modification in conditions favoring each of three distinct states, the open state, the resting closed state, and the activated-not-open state (the closed state adjacent to the open state). We used two independent ways to isolate the channels in the activated-not-open state. First, we used mutations in S4 (ILT; Smith-Maxwell, C.J., J.L. Ledwell, and R.W. Aldrich. 1998. J. Gen. Physiol. 111:421–439; Ledwell, J.L., and R.W. Aldrich. 1999. J. Gen. Physiol. 113:389–414) that separate the final opening step from earlier charge-movement steps. Second, we used the open channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which has been proposed to promote closure of the intracellular gate and thus specifically to stabilize the activated-not-open state of the channels. Supporting this proposed mechanism, we found that 4-AP enters channels only after opening, remaining trapped in closed channels, and that in the open state it competes with tetraethylammonium for binding. Using these tools, we found that in the activated-not-open state, a cysteine located at a position considered to form part of the gate (Shaker 478) showed higher reactivity than in either the open or the resting closed states. Additionally, we have found that in this activated state the intracellular gate continued to prevent access to the pore by molecules as small as Cd²⁺ ions. Our results suggest that the intracellular opening to the pore undergoes some rearrangements in the transition from the resting closed state to the activated-not-open state, but throughout this process the intracellular gate remains an effective barrier to the movement of potassium ions through the pore.

A structural interpretation of voltage-gated potassium channel inactivation

After channel activation, and in some cases with sub-threshold depolarizing stimuli, Kv channels undergo a time-dependent loss of conductivity by a family of mechanisms termed inactivation. To date, all identified inactivation mechanisms underlying loss of conduction in Kv channels appear to be distinct from deactivation, i.e. closure of the voltage-operated activation gate by changes in transmembrane voltage. Instead, Kv channel inactivation entails entry of channels into a stable, non-conducting state, and thereby functionally reduces the availability of channels for opening. That is, if a channel has inactivated, some time must expire after repolarization of the membrane voltage to allow the channel to recover and become available to open again. Dramatic differences between Kv channel types in the time course of inactivation and recovery underlie various roles in regulating cellular excitability and repolarization of action potentials. Therefore, the range of inactivation mechanisms exhibited by different Kv channels provides important physiological means by which the duration of action potentials in many excitable tissues can be regulated at different frequencies and potentials. In this review, we provide a detailed discussion of recent work characterizing structural and functional aspects of Kv channel gating, and attempt to reconcile these recent results with classical experimental work carried out throughout the 1990s that identified and characterized the basic mechanisms and properties of Kv channel inactivation. We identify and discuss numerous gaps in our understanding of inactivation, and review them in the light of new structural insights into channel gating.

Kv1.2-containing K+ channels regulate subthreshold excitability of striatal medium spiny neurons

A slowly inactivating, low-threshold K(+) current has been implicated in the regulation of state transitions and repetitive activity in striatal medium spiny neurons. However, the molecular identity of the channels underlying this current and their biophysical properties remain to be clearly determined. Because previous work had suggested this current arose from Kv1 family channels, high-affinity toxins for this family were tested for their ability to block whole cell K(+) currents activated by depolarization of acutely isolated neurons. alpha-Dendrotoxin, which blocks channels containing Kv1.1, Kv1.2, or Kv1.6 subunits, decreased currents evoked by depolarization. Three other Kv1 family toxins that lack a high affinity for Kv1.2 subunits, r-agitoxin-2, dendrotoxin-K, and r-margatoxin, failed to significantly reduce currents, implicating channels with Kv1.2 subunits. RT-PCR results confirmed the expression of Kv1.2 mRNA in identified medium spiny neurons. Currents attributable to Kv1.2 channels activated rapidly, inactivated slowly, and recovered from inactivation slowly. In the subthreshold range (ca. -60 mV), these currents accounted for as much as 50% of the depolarization-activated K(+) current. Moreover, their rapid activation and relatively slow deactivation suggested that they contribute to spike afterpotentials regulating repetitive discharge. This inference was confirmed in current-clamp recordings from medium spiny neurons in the slice preparation where Kv1.2 blockade reduced first-spike latency and increased discharge frequency evoked from hyperpolarized membrane potentials resembling the "down-state" found in vivo. These studies establish a clear functional role for somato-dendritic Kv1.2 channels in the regulation of state transitions and repetitive discharge in striatal medium spiny neurons.

K(V)2.1 channels mediate hypoxic inhibition of I(KV) in native pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of the rat

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether, in native pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC), K(V)2.1 delayed-rectifying K(+) channels are central to the process of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

METHODS

In this study, we tested for the presence of K(V)2.1 channel transcripts in rat small pulmonary arteries using RT-PCR, and for the protein itself using immunolocalisation. The contribution of K(V)2.1 channels to whole-cell K(V) currents (I(KV)) and their role in hypoxic inhibition of I(KV) in native PASMC was investigated utilising patch-clamp recordings.

RESULTS

K(V)2.1 mRNA expression and AbK(V)2.1 (anti-K(V)2.1 antibody) protein immunoreactivity were both present in small pulmonary arteries. Dialysis of PASMC with AbK(V)2.1 significantly attenuated I(KV) by 67% at +50 mV. Hypoxia ( approximately 20-30 mmHg) inhibited I(KV) by approximately 70% at +50 mV. Ablation of currents associated with K(V)2.1 using AbK(V)2.1 caused a marked reduction in the amplitude of I(KV). Hypoxia in the presence of the antibody did not affect the magnitude of I(KV).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that K(V)2.1 channel subunits exist within small pulmonary arteries and conduct a significant part of I(KV) within native PASMC. Furthermore, application of AbK(V)2.1 abolishes hypoxic inhibition of I(KV) in native PASMC suggesting that K(V)2.1 channels play a pivotal role in mediating hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Inactivation and pharmacological properties of sqKv1A homotetramers in Xenopus oocytes cannot account for behavior of the squid "delayed rectifier" K(+) conductance

Considerable published evidence suggests that alpha-subunits of the cloned channel sqKv1A compose the "delayed rectifier" in the squid giant axon system, but discrepancies regarding inactivation properties of cloned versus native channels exist. In this paper we define the mechanism of inactivation for sqKv1A channels in Xenopus oocytes to investigate these and other discrepancies. Inactivation of sqKv1A in Xenopus oocytes was found to be unaffected by genetic truncation of the N-terminus, but highly sensitive to certain amino acid substitutions around the external mouth of the pore. External TEA and K(+) ions slowed inactivation of sqKv1A channels in oocytes, and chloramine T (Chl-T) accelerated inactivation. These features are all consistent with a C-type inactivation mechanism as defined for Shaker B channels. Treatment of native channels in giant fiber lobe neurons with TEA or high K(+) does not slow inactivation, nor does Chl-T accelerate it. Pharmacological differences between the two channel types were also found for 4-aminopyridine (4AP). SqKv1A's affinity for 4AP was poor at rest and increased after activation, whereas 4AP block occurred much more readily at rest with native channels than when they were activated. These results suggest that important structural differences between sqKv1A homotetramers and native squid channels are likely to exist around the external and internal mouths of the pore.

Inhibition of slow Ca(2+)-activated K(+) current by 4-aminopyridine in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones

1. The effect of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) seen after high frequency dendritic or somatic firing was investigated in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones (PC). Intracellular recordings were obtained from the distal apical dendrites and somata and suprathreshold depolarizing current pulses were used to evoke a sAHP. The sAHP was blocked by low concentrations of carbacholine (Cch) but insensitive to high concentrations of apamin. 2. In the presence of extracellular 4-AP, the first dendritic sAHP evoked was reduced compared to a maximal sAHP evoked in the absence of 4-AP. The reduction was evident at submillimolar concentration and increased to about 80% with 4 mM 4-AP. 3. The stability of the 4-AP-induced block was affected by the type of anion used in the electrode solution. With K(+) acetate (KAc) or K(+) methylsulphate (KMeSO(4)) containing electrodes, the block was progressively removed during the initial 300 - 400 s of recordings. With KCl containing electrodes, the block remained stable and was 10% larger than that obtained with acetate. Detailed investigations showed that intracellular acetate promotes the removal of the 4-AP-induced block in an activity-dependent manner. 4. Intracellularly applied 4-AP also induced an acetate-sensitive block of the dendritic sAHP. 5. 4-AP also blocked the somatic sAHP and the stability of the block showed the same sensitivity towards anions as the dendritic sAHP. 6. Thus 4-AP appears to block the slow Ca(2+)-activated K(+) current underlying the sAHP in a complex manner which is sensitive to certain types of anions.

Heteromultimeric Kv1.2-Kv1.5 channels underlie 4-aminopyridine-sensitive delayed rectifier K(+) current of rabbit vascular myocytes

The molecular identity of vascular delayed rectifier K(+) channels (K(DR)) is poorly characterized. Inhibition by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) of K(DR) of rabbit portal vein (RPV) myocytes was studied by patch clamp and compared with that of channels composed of Kv1.5 and/or Kv1.2 subunits cloned from the RPV and expressed in mammalian cells. 4-AP block of K(DR) was pulse-frequency dependent, required channel activation, and was associated with a positive shift in voltage dependence of activation. 4-AP caused a voltage-dependent reduction in mean open time of K(DR). Relief of 4-AP block of whole cell currents during washout required channel activation and was unaffected by voltage. Homotetrameric Kv1.5 channels did not exhibit the shift in voltage dependence of activation exhibited by the native channels. In contrast, Kv1.2 channels displayed a shift in voltage dependence of activation, and this characteristic was also evident during 4-AP treatment when Kv1.2 was coexpressed with Kv1.5 or coupled to Kv1.5 in a tandem construct to produce heterotetrameric [Kv1.5/Kv1.2](2) channels. K(DR) currents were not sensitive to charybdotoxin, which blocks homotetrameric Kv1.2 channels. The findings of this study (1) indicate that vascular K(DR) are inhibited by 4-AP via an open-state block mechanism and trapping of the drug within the pore on channel closure and (2) provide novel evidence based on a comparison of functional characteristics that indicate the dominant form of vascular K(DR) channel complex in RPV involves the heteromultimeric association of Kv1.2 and Kv1.5 subunits.

Potassium channels in gastrointestinal smooth muscle

1. Electromechanical coupling in smooth muscle serves to coordinate the contractile activity of the syncytium. Electrical activity of smooth muscle of the gut is generated by ionic conductances that regulate and in turn are regulated by the membrane potential of smooth muscle cells. This activity determines the extent of Ca2+ entry into smooth muscle cells, and thus, the timing and intensity of contractions. 2. Potassium channels play an important role in regulating the excitability of the syncytium. The different types of K+ channel are characterized by different sensitivities to membrane potential, to intracellular Ca2+ levels and to modulation by agonists. 3. This review highlights the different types of K+ channels found in gut smooth muscle and describes their possible roles in regulating the electrical activity of the muscle.

Diverse expression of delayed rectifier K+ channel subtype transcripts in several types of smooth muscles of the rat

Diverse expression of voltage dependent K+ (Kv) channels was examined in smooth muscles (SMs); carotid artery (CA), mesenteric artery (MA), urinary bladder (UB), and vas deferens (VD) of the rat, using RT-PCR based analyses. Among eight Kv channel subtypes examined (Kv 1.1, Kv 1.2, Kv 1.5, Kv 1.6, Kv 2.1, Kv 2.2, Kv 3.1, and Kv 3.2), expression of three delayed rectifier Kv (KD) channel (Kv 1.2, Kv 1.5, and Kv 2.1) transcripts was observed in these SMs. To determine precisely the expression levels of the transcripts encoding K(D) subtypes, those of three K(D) subtypes (Kv 1.2, Kv 1.5, and Kv 2.1) were determined by competitive PCR. In vascular SM tissues, CA and MA, Kv 1.2 and Kv 1.5 transcripts were expressed at relatively high levels, whereas in visceral SM tissues, UB and VD, Kv 2.1 transcripts were expressed at the relatively high levels. These results suggest that the diverse expression of K(D) subtypes is, at least in part, responsible for differences in electrical excitability and also for the variation of the electrophysiological and pharmacological phenotypes as tonic and phasic SMs.

Cellular and molecular basis for electrical rhythmicity in gastrointestinal muscles

Regulation of gastrointestinal (GI) motility is intimately coordinated with the modulation of ionic conductance expressed in GI smooth muscle and nonmuscle cells. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) act as pacemaker cells and possess unique ionic conductances that trigger slow wave activity in these cells. The slow wave mechanism is an exclusive feature of ICC: Smooth muscle cells may lack the basic ionic mechanisms necessary to generate or regenerate slow waves. The molecular identification of the components for these conductances provides the foundation for a complete understanding of the ionic basis for GI motility. In addition, this information will provide a basis for the identification or development of therapeutics that might act on these channels. It is much easier to study these conductances and develop blocking drugs in expression systems than in native GI muscle cells. This review focuses on the relationship between ionic currents in native GI smooth muscle cells and ICC and their molecular counterparts.

Contribution of delayed rectifier potassium currents to the electrical activity of murine colonic smooth muscle

1. We used intracellular microelectrodes to record the membrane potential (Vm) of intact murine colonic smooth muscle. Electrical activity consisted of spike complexes separated by quiescent periods (Vm approximately -60 mV). The spike complexes consisted of about a dozen action potentials of approximately 30 mV amplitude. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1-10 mM) had little effect on the quiescent periods but increased the amplitude of the action potential spikes. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP, >= 5 mM) caused continuous spiking. 2. Voltage clamp of isolated myocytes identified delayed rectifier K+ currents that activated rapidly (time to half-maximum current, 11.5 ms at 0 mV) and inactivated in two phases (tauf = 96 ms, taus = 1.5 s at 0 mV). The half-activation voltage of the permeability was -27 mV, with significant activation at -50 mV. 3. TEA (10 mM) reduced the outward current at potentials positive to 0 mV. 4-AP (5 mM) reduced the early current but increased outward current at later times (100-500 ms) consistent with block of resting channels relieved by depolarization. 4-AP inhibited outward current at potentials negative to -20 mV, potentials where TEA had no effect. 4. Qualitative PCR amplification of mRNA identified transcripts encoding delayed rectifier K+ channel subunits Kv1.6, Kv4.1, Kv4.2, Kv4.3 and the Kvbeta1.1 subunit in murine colon myocytes. mRNA encoding Kv 1.4 was not detected. 5. We find that TEA-sensitive delayed rectifier currents are important determinants of action potential amplitude but not rhythmicity. Delayed rectifier currents sensitive to 4-AP are important determinants of rhythmicity but not action potential amplitude.

Outward rectifying potassium currents are the dominant voltage activated currents present in Deiters' cells

Supporting cells in the cochlea are thought to maintain the homeostasis of the organ of Corti and contribute to the electrical and micromechanical environment of the hair cells. Of the different types of supporting cells, Deiters' cells form a structure that holds the outer hair cells (OHCs) at their base and apex. This structure may play an important role in modifying cochlear mechanics by influencing the force produced by sound induced motion of the OHCs which in turn may be modulated by ATP acting on ligand gated cation channels on the Deiters' cells. Also, a glia-like role of buffering external K+ concentration for the Deiters' cells has been suggested. We studied Deiters' cells' electrical properties and ion conductances using the whole cell variant of the patch clamp technique since they must play an important role in the function of these cells. It was found that isolated Deiters' cells possess a large voltage activated, outwardly rectifying K+ selective conductance. Voltage activated Ca2+ currents and non-selective currents were not detected and voltage activated inward currents were very small. The outward K+ currents were found to be dependent on voltage but not on Ca2+ for their activation. Nimodipine and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) were shown to interact directly with the K+ channels in a voltage dependent manner. It is suggested that the K+ selective channels in Deiters' cells may be similar to the Kv1.5 type channel. However, based on the voltage dependence of the channels that was described by double Boltzmann equation and on the alteration of that dependence by 4-AP, it is possible that more than one type of K+ selective channel exists.

Molecular identification of a component of delayed rectifier current in gastrointestinal smooth muscles

Kv2.2, homologous to the shab family of Drosophila voltage-gated K+ channels, was isolated from human and canine colonic circular smooth muscle-derived mRNA. Northern hybridization analysis performed on RNA prepared from tissues and RT-PCR performed on RNA isolated from dispersed and selected smooth muscle cells demonstrate that Kv2.2 is expressed in smooth muscle cells found in all regions of the canine gastrointestinal (GI) tract and in several vascular tissues. Injection of Kv2.2 mRNA into Xenopus oocytes resulted in the expression of a slowly activating K+ current (time to half maximum current, 97 +/- 8.6 ms) mediated by 15 pS (symmetrical K+) single channels. The current was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (IC50 = 2.6 mM), 4-aminopyridine (IC50 = 1.5 mM at +20 mV), and quinine (IC50 = 13.7 microM) and was insensitive to charybdotoxin. Low concentrations of quinine (1 microM) were used to preferentially block the slow component of the delayed rectifier current in native colonic myocytes. These data suggest that Kv2.2 may contribute to this current in native GI smooth muscle cells.

Inactivation of voltage-gated cardiac K+ channels

Inactivation is the process by which an open channel enters a stable nonconducting conformation after a depolarizing change in membrane potential. Inactivation is a widespread property of many different types of voltage-gated ion channels. Recent advances in the molecular biology of K+ channels have elucidated two mechanistically distinct types of inactivation, N-type and C-type. N-type inactivation involves occlusion of the intracellular mouth of the pore through binding of a short segment of residues at the extreme N-terminal. In contrast to this "tethered ball" mechanism of N-type inactivation, C-type inactivation involves movement of conserved core domain residues that result in closure of the external mouth of the pore. Although C-type inactivation can show rapid kinetics that approach those observed for N-type inactivation, it is often thought of as a slowly developing and slowly recovering process. Current models of C-type inactivation also suggest that this process involves a relatively localized change in conformation of residues near the external mouth of the permeation pathway. The rate of C-type inactivation and recovery can be strongly influenced by other factors, such as N-type inactivation, drug binding, and changes in [K+]o. These interactions make C-type inactivation an important biophysical process in determining such physiologically important properties as refractoriness and drug binding. C-type inactivation is currently viewed as arising from small-scale rearrangements at the external mouth of the pore. This review will examine the multiplicity of interactions of C-type inactivation with N-terminal-mediated inactivation and drug binding that suggest that our current view of C-type inactivation is incomplete. This review will suggest that C-type inactivation must involve larger-scale movements of transmembrane-spanning domains and that such movements contribute to the diversity of kinetic properties observed for C-type inactivation.

The real life of voltage-gated K+ channels: more than model behaviour

The past ten years have provided an embarrassment of riches for those interested in cloned voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels. Details of their physiology and pharmacology in expression systems, and their precise cellular location abound, making them excellent targets for pharmacologists. However, there is still a considerable and important gap in our knowledge between the behaviour of expressed Kv channels and K+ currents in vivo. In this review Brian Robertson focuses on a few of the recent developments in the field of Kv channels, namely modulation of their behaviour by accessory subunits, their control, and localization of identified Kv subunits.

Regulation of smooth muscle delayed rectifier K+ channels by protein kinase A

We identified voltage-activated K+ channels in freshly dispersed smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of the canine colon in patch-clamp experiments using 200 nM charybdotoxin to suppress 270-pS Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK channels). Three channel types were distinguished in symmetrical 140 mM KCl solutions: 19.5 +/- 1.7 pS channels (KDR1), 90.6 +/- 5.4 pS channels (KDR2) and 149 +/- 4 pS intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (IK channels). All three types showed an increase in open probability with membrane depolarization. Ensemble average current from KDR1 channels inactivated with a time constant of 1.7 +/- 0.1 s at +60 mV test potential, while KDR2 and IK channels did not show inactivation. IK channels were activated by free cytoplasmic [Ca2+] (10(-6 )M) but were insensitive to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 10 mM) and intracellular tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM). KDR1 channels were sensitive to 4-AP (10 mM) and intracellular TEA (1-10 mM) but not to Ca2+. KDR2 channels did not have a consistent pharmacological profile, suggesting that this class may be comprised of several subtypes. At +40 mV membrane potential, the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) increased the open probability of KDR1 channels 3.4-fold and of KDR2 channels 3.9-fold, but had no effect on IK channels. In the absence of Mg-ATP, PKA did not affect channel open probabilities. At physiological membrane potentials (-60 mV) only openings of KDR1 channels could be induced by PKA, suggesting that these 4-AP-sensitive 20-pS K+ channels are primarily responsible for the cAMP-mediated hyperpolarization of colonic smooth muscle cells.

The positive inotropic effect of alpha 1A-adrenoceptor stimulation is inhibited by 4-aminopyridine

This study was designed to determine if 4-aminopyridine, a reported inhibitor of the transient outward K+ current (Ito), alters the inotropic actions elicited via stimulation of WB4101- or chloroethylclonidine-sensitive receptors in rat myocardium. WB4101 (N-[2-(2, 6-dimethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-m ethanamine) is a competitive antagonist that is selective for alpha 1A- and alpha 1C-adrenoceptors, while chloroethylclonidine is an irreversible blocker that is reported to antagonize alpha 1B-, alpha 1C-, and alpha 1D-adrenoceptor binding. Inotropic effects of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine were examined in isolated left atrial and papillary muscle before and after addition of 4-aminopyridine, and before and after addition of 4-aminopyridine in preparations pretreated with chloroethylclonidine or WB4101. In addition, effects of phenylephrine were examined before and after treatment with staurosporine (an inhibitor of protein kinase C) in chloroethylclonidine-pretreated preparations. Phenylephrine (10 microM) elicited a sustained positive inotropic response in left atria and a triphasic inotropic action in papillary muscle (transient positive and negative inotropic components preceding a sustained positive inotropic response). 4-Aminopyridine (1.0, 1.7, 3.0 mM) reduced the sustained positive inotropic responses in the absence of antagonists and in chloroethylclonidine-pretreated preparations. However, in the presence of 10 nM WB4101, 4-aminopyridine had no effect on the remaining inotropic actions of phenylephrine. The sustained positive inotropic response to the alpha 1-agonist in chloroethylclonidine-pretreated preparations was not inhibited by 100 nM staurosporine. These data suggest that the sustained positive inotropic actions of alpha 1A-adrenoceptor stimulation in rat atrial and ventricular myocardium are mediated via non-protein kinase C-associated reductions in Ito.

Mechanism of inhibition of delayed rectifier K+ current by 4-aminopyridine in rabbit coronary myocytes

1. The mechanisms involved in the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced block of delayed rectifier K+ current (IK(V)) in vascular smooth muscle cells were studied in cells enzymatically isolated from the rabbit coronary artery. 2. 4-AP inhibited slowly inactivating IK(V) in a dose-dependent manner (concentration producing half-maximal inhibition, K1/2, = 1.37 mM), and shifted the steady-state activation and inactivation curves of IK(V) by +9 and +16 mV, respectively. 3. The time constant of activation was significantly increased by 4-AP at +20 mV; deactivation kinetics were unaffected upon repolarization to -40 mV. The fast (tau f approximately 1 s) and slow (tau s approximately 5 s) time constants of inactivation (0 and +20 mV), and the recovery kinetics (tau r approximately 6 s) at -60 mV were not significantly affected by 0.5 mM 4-AP. However, tau f disappeared in the presence of 2 mM 4-AP while tau s remained unaffected. 4. Use-dependent unblock of IK(V) was revealed at potentials > or = -10 mV from analyses of the voltage dependence of 4-AP-sensitive currents and the frequency-dependent changes ('reverse use dependence') of IK(V) during the application of repetitive steps (-60 to +20 mV for 250 ms at a rate of 0.25 Hz) in control conditions, in the presence of 0.5 mM 4-AP, and after washout of the drug. These results suggested that 4-AP preferentially binds to the channel in the closed state, and unbinding is promoted by transitions to the open state. 5. The channel was modelled as a simple three-state mathematical loop model incorporating single closed, open and inactivated states. The block by 4-AP was modelled as a state-dependent interaction with 4-AP primarily binding to the closed state. Computer simulations support the hypothesis that 4-AP-induced block of the delayed rectifier K+ (KV) channel in the closed state is relieved during membrane depolarization. 6. Closed state binding of 4-AP to the KV channel depolarizes vascular smooth muscle cells by shifting the activation curve of these channels to more positive potentials.

C-type inactivation controls recovery in a fast inactivating cardiac K+ channel (Kv1.4) expressed in Xenopus oocytes

1. A fast inactivating transient K+ current (FK1) cloned from ferret ventricle and expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Removal of the NH2-terminal domain of FK1 (FK1 delta 2-146) removed fast inactivation consistent with previous findings in Kv1.4 channels. The NH2-terminal deletion mutation revealed a slow inactivation process, which matches the criteria for C-type inactivation described for Shaker B channels. 2. Inactivation of FK1 delta 2-146 at depolarized potentials was well described by a single exponential process with a voltage-insensitive time constant. In the range -90 to +20 mV, steady-state C-type inactivation was well described by a Boltzmann relationship that compares closely with inactivation measured in the presence of the NH2-terminus. These results suggest that C-type inactivation is coupled to activation. 3. The coupling of C-type inactivation to activation was assessed by mutation of the fourth positively charged residue (arginine 454) in the S4 voltage sensor to glutamine (R454Q). This mutation produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the inactivation relationship of both FK1 and FK1 delta 2-146 without altering the rate of inactivation of either clone. 4. The rates of recovery from inactivation are nearly identical in FK1 and FK1 delta 2-146. 5. To assess the mechanisms underlying recovery from inactivation the effects of elevated [K+]o and selective mutations in the extracellular pore and the S4 voltage sensor were compared in FK1 and FK1 delta 2-146. The similarity in recovery rates in response to these perturbations suggests that recovery from C-type inactivation governs the overall rate of recovery of inactivated channels for both FK1 and FK1 delta 2-146. 6. Analysis of the rate of recovery of FK1 channels for inactivating pulses of different durations (70-2000 ms) indicates that recovery rate is insensitive to the duration of the inactivating pulse.

Multiple components of delayed rectifier K+ current in canine colonic smooth muscle

1. We investigated the pharmacology and voltage-dependent activation and inactivation kinetics of the 'delayed rectifier' K+ current, IdK, in canine colonic myocytes and developed protocols which separate this current into three distinct components that differ in their kinetics and pharmacology. 2. Block of IdK by TEA or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) alone was incomplete. Maximal concentrations of TEA or 4-AP blocked 76% (EC50 = 2.6 mM) and 51% (EC50 = 69 mM) of current, respectively. In the presence of 10 mM 4-AP, IdK could be blocked completely by TEA. 3. TEA and 4-AP had distinct effects on current activation: time constants for activation of IdK at +10 mV were 25.6 +/- 4.4 ms under control conditions, 40.3 +/- 7.6 ms in the presence of 10 mM 4-AP and 16.7 +/- 2.3 ms with 10 mM TEA in the bath solution. 4-AP block and removal of block were use dependent, but no frequency dependence or voltage dependence of steady-state block could be detected. These data are consistent with the presence of a rapidly activating 4-AP-sensitive current, IdK(f), and a more slowly activating TEA-sensitive current component, IdK(s). 4. A third component of the delayed rectifier current, IdK(n), was revealed when 10 mM TEA was included in the pipette solution. IdK(n) was rapidly activating, had a membrane potential at half-maximal inactivation (V1/2) for steady-state inactivation 13 mV negative of that for the mixed IdK, was completely insensitive to 4-AP (10 mM) and was blocked by external TEA with an EC50 of 7.7 mM. 5. These data demonstrate that the delayed rectifier current in canine colonic smooth muscle is composed of three currents, IdK(f), IdK(s) and IdK(n). All three currents are insensitive to charybdotoxin (100 nM).