title: Modulation by histamine of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel in human endothelial cells.
abstract: 1. Whole-cell and single-channel currents were recorded together with intracellular Ca2+ in voltage clamped, single endothelial cells isolated from human umbilical vein. 2. The major current component under resting conditions in the whole-cell configuration was a strongly inwardly rectifying potassium current. 3. This current is due to activation of a K+ channel with an inward conductance of 29 +/- 3 pS (n = 7) with symmetrical 140 mM K+ on both sides of the membrane. This channel could be measured both in the cell-attached and in the inside-out configuration. At potentials below -110 mV both whole-cell and averaged single-channel currents showed a fast inactivation. 4. During stimulation of endothelial cells with histamine, whole-cell K+ currents initially increased but then substantially declined, despite the sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). 5. The blockade of the inwardly rectifying K+ channel by histamine could not be observed in cell-attached patches if histamine was added to the bath. 6. It is concluded that endothelial cells possess K+ channels that are directly inhibited by agonists, such as histamine. Blocking these channels may depolarize the cell membrane and thereby reduce the driving force for Ca2+ influx.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nilius
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Droogmans
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D006632:Histamine; D002118:Calcium