title: Association of granular exocytosis with Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in human eosinophils.
abstract: We studied the mechanism of degranulation caused by Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (KCa channels) in eosinophils isolated from mildly atopic donors using negative immunoselection. Stimulation of eosinophils with 0.1 microM platelet-activating factor (PAF) caused activation of single channels as recorded by the cell-attached patch-clamp technique. These channels were selectively permeable to K+ because the reversal potential was close to the equilibrium potential for K+. However, the channels were not permeable to Na+ or Cl- as demonstrated by ion substitution experiments. The calcium ionophore A-23187, at 1 microM, increased the K+ channel activity in the presence of Ca2+ in the external perfusate but did not induce channel activity in the absence of Ca2+. Similar results were obtained with another calcium ionophore, ionomycin (1 microM), and the Ca(2+)-releasing agent thapsigargin (10 microM). K+ channels activated by PAF and A-23187 had similar characteristics: two levels of single-channel conductances were observed, 10 +/- 1.5 and 22 +/- 1.7 pS as induced by PAF and 11 +/- 1.3 and 24 +/- 1.9 pS by A-23187; the mean open times of the large-conductance channels were 1.45 +/- 0.3 ms as induced by PAF and 1.26 +/- 0.5 ms by A-23187. These results indicate that PAF activates KCa channels. Both KCa currents and major basic protein release caused by A-23187 were blocked by quinidine. It is suggested that KCa channels are associated with granule secretion in human eosinophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago 60611-3008, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrnreiter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oyaizu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasugai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narahashi
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Leff
mesh_terms: D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D011802:Quinidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D000001:Calcimycin; D015759:Ionomycin; D019284:Thapsigargin; D012964:Sodium; D011802:Quinidine; D002118:Calcium