title: TNF alpha induces a protein kinase C-dependent reduction in astroglial K+ conductance.
abstract: Incubation of cultured cortical astrocytes with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) led to a marked reduction of membrane potential. Here we report that this depolarization depends on activation of protein kinase C (PKC), since it could be blocked by the PKC antagonists staurosporine and H7 and it could be mimicked by direct activation of PKC using the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA). Analyses of whole cell currents revealed a reduction of inwardly rectifying K+ currents whereas K+ outward currents were not affected. We conclude that TNF alpha induces changes of basic electrophysiological properties of astrocytes which are similar to those induced by proliferation or an in vitro model of traumatic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köller
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Allert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siebler
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001464:Barium; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate