Charybdotoxin inhibits proliferation and interleukin 2 production in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
We demonstrate that blockade of the lymphocyte voltage-gated K+ channel by charybdotoxin (CTX) inhibits lymphocyte mitogenesis. Charybdotoxin blocks conductance with a Ki of 0.3 nM and inhibits mitogen- and antigen-stimulated proliferation with a Ki of 0.5 nM. As opposed to the other blockers of the lymphocyte K+ channel, the inhibition of mitogenesis by CTX can be overcome selectively by exogenous recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2); endogenous levels of IL-2 in the culture supernatants of stimulated cells are decreased by the presence of CTX. Our results suggest that the voltage-gated K+ channel is either directly or indirectly involved in IL-2 synthesis and/or secretion.
Price
M
M
Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6085.
Lee
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SC
Deutsch
C
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D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D011803:Quinine; D015761:4-Aminopyridine