Voltage-gated K(+) channel activity in human prostate cancer cell lines of markedly different metastatic potential: distinguishing characteristics of PC-3 and LNCaP cells.
BACKGROUND
Although ion channels are known to contribute to a variety of basic cellular behaviors involved in the metastatic cascade, their role in metastasis per se has only recently been questioned. The hypothesis tested was whether K(+) channels were different between strongly metastatic PC-3 and weakly metastatic LNCaP human prostate cancer cell lines.


METHODS
The whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp recording technique was used to record voltage-gated currents from LNCaP and PC-3 cell lines. The responses to different voltage-clamp protocols, sensitivity to external Ca(2+), and addition of drugs and toxins were explored.


RESULTS
Voltage-gated K(+) current density was significantly larger in LNCaP than PC-3 cells. In addition, the K(+) currents in a sub-population of PC-3 cells were Ca(2+)-sensitive. These properties reflected the differential metastatic character of the cells, the PC-3 cells appearing potentially more "excitable".


CONCLUSIONS
Prostate cancer cells of varying metastatic ability can be distinguished by their ion channel characteristics. The possible contribution(s) of K(+) channel activity to development of malignancy needs exploration.
Department of Surgery, Imperial College School of Medicine at Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
M E
ME
Laniado
S P
SP
Fraser
M B
MB
Djamgoz
D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008297:Male; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels