title: T cell activation is regulated by voltage-dependent and calcium-activated potassium channels.
abstract: Membrane potential (Vm) is tightly controlled in T cells through the regulated flux of ions across the plasma membrane. To investigate the functional role of voltage-dependent (Kv) and calcium-activated (KCa) potassium channels in T cell activation, we compared the effects of two K+ channel blockers, namely kaliotoxin (KTX) and charybdotoxin (CHTX), on Vm, calcium influx, and cell proliferation. KTX potently inhibited Kv (ID50 = 3 nM) but not KCa (ID50 = 5 microM) currents in T cells. Resting T cells exposed to KTX (300 nM) depolarized from -56 mV to -50 mV. KTX had no effect on the transient membrane hyperpolarization that characteristically follows receptor-mediated T cell stimulation. However, T cells stimulated in the presence of KTX subsequently depolarized to -40 mV. KTX also reduced the steady state intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in stimulated cells by 19% and inhibited T cell proliferation by 35%. CHTX potently inhibited both Kv and KCa currents (ID50 = approximately 1 nM). CHTX (300 nM) depolarized resting T cells to -48 mV, equivalent to the effect observed for KTX. In stimulated T cells, 300 nM CHTX completely blocked the induced hyperpolarization and subsequently depolarized the cells to -21 mV. These effects were associated with a 45% reduction in peak [Ca2+]i, a 60% decrease in steady state [Ca2+]i, and 63% inhibition of T cell proliferation. These results suggest that both Kv and KCa conductances contribute to the underlying mechanisms of T cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Protein Biochemistry, G. D. Searle & Company, St. Louis, MO 63198, USA.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rader
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chinn
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018999:Charybdotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C072276:kaliotoxin; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D002118:Calcium