Potassium channels underlying the resting potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.
1. The molecular identity of the K channels giving rise to the negative membrane potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells has yet to be determined. 2. To date, most studies have focused on voltage-gated, delayed rectifier channels and their roles in mediating hypoxia-induced membrane depolarization. There is, however, strong evidence that an outwardly rectifying K+ conductance distinct from the classical delayed rectifier is involved. 3. Growing evidence that TASK-like channels can sense hypoxia and are present in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells suggests that they may be responsible for the resting K+ conductance and resting potential. 4. The present review considers the evidence that particular K channels maintain the resting membrane potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and mediate the depolarizing response to hypoxia.
Gurney
Alison M
AM
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. a.m.gurney@strath.ac.uk
Osipenko
Oleg N
ON
MacMillan
Debbi
D
Kempsill
Fiona E J
FE
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D015221:Potassium Channels