title: Activation of expressed KCNQ potassium currents and native neuronal M-type potassium currents by the anti-convulsant drug retigabine.
abstract: Retigabine [D-23129; N-(2-amino-4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-phenyl) carbamic acid ethyl ester] is a novel anticonvulsant compound that is now in clinical phase II development. It has previously been shown to enhance currents generated by KCNQ2/3 K(+) channels when expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (Main et al., 2000; Wickenden et al., 2000). In the present study, we have compared the actions of retigabine on KCNQ2/3 currents with those on currents generated by other members of the KCNQ family (homomeric KCNQ1, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, and KCNQ4 channels) expressed in CHO cells and on the native M current in rat sympathetic neurons [thought to be generated by KCNQ2/3 channels (Wang et al., 1998)]. Retigabine produced a hyperpolarizing shift of the activation curves for KCNQ2/3, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, and KCNQ4 currents with differential potencies in the following order: KCNQ3 > KCNQ2/3 > KCNQ2 > KCNQ4, as measured either by the maximum hyperpolarizing shift in the activation curves or by the EC(50) values. In contrast, retigabine did not enhance cardiac KCNQ1 currents. Retigabine also produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the activation curve for native M channels in rat sympathetic neurons. The retigabine-induced current was inhibited by muscarinic receptor stimulation, with similar agonist potency but 25% reduced maximum effect. In unclamped neurons, retigabine produced a hyperpolarization and reduced the number of action potentials produced by depolarizing current injections, without change in action potential configuration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tatulian
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Abogadie
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002219:Carbamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002219:Carbamates; D007211:Indoles; D051656:KCNQ Potassium Channels; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; D051658:KCNQ2 Potassium Channel; C496914:KCNQ2 protein, human; D051659:KCNQ3 Potassium Channel; C496916:KCNQ3 protein, human; C117367:KCNQ4 protein, human; C496911:Kcnq1 protein, rat; C496915:Kcnq2 protein, rat; C496918:Kcnq3 protein, rat; C492166:Kcnq4 protein, rat; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010655:Phenylenediamines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011725:Pyridines; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C101866:ezogabine; C061017:linopirdine; D011188:Potassium