title: BK channel blockers inhibit potassium-induced proliferation of human astrocytoma cells.
abstract: The functional role of BK channels, which are consistently expressed in glioma cells, is not clear. Here we show that the BK channels are regularly active in human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells at physiological membrane potentials. The proliferation of the cells at the physiological external [K+] of 5 mM is compared with that at the elevated external [K+] of 20 mM, simulating the situation in rapidly growing, necrotic tumours in vivo. High extracellular [K+] in the range 10-30 mM significantly increases the proliferation of 1321N1 cells. This K+ induced proliferation can be completely abolished by applying the specific BK channel blockers iberiotoxin (IBTX) or 1 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA). Neither blocker has any effect on cell growth at 5 mM [K+]e. These findings indicate a particular role of BK channels in astrocytoma cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology (Neuropathology), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Bachstr. 18, D-07740 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basrai
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bollensdorff
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liebmann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benndorf
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patt
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D010455:Peptides; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C064719:iberiotoxin