title: Human astrocytoma cells express a unique chloride current.
abstract: Human astrocytoma cells were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Voltage-dependent outwardly-rectifying anion currents were identified in primary cultures of six freshly resected human brain tumors and in seven established anaplastic astrocytoma/glioblastoma cell lines (U251MG, CH235MG, U373MG, U105MG, D54MG, SK-MG-1, and STTG1). Anion currents were not observed in normal, non-neoplastic glial cells, nor in human tumor-derived cells of non-glial origin (melanoma, breast cancer, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma). Currents activated at potentials > 50 mV and showed large transients upon termination of voltage steps. Currents reversed at the predicted equilibrium potential for chloride ions and could also be recorded when Cl- was replaced by F-, Br- or I-. Currents were inhibited by the Cl- channel blockers chlorotoxin, DIDS, and DNDS. These Cl- currents may play a role in the growth control of astrocytoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sontheimer
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels