title: Role of potassium channels in Abeta(1-40)-activated apoptotic pathway in cultured cortical neurons.
abstract: Potassium channel dysfunction has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, by using potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA), we investigated the relationship between the enhancement of potassium currents and the alteration of apoptotic cascade in the neuronal apoptotic model induced by beta-amyloid peptide 1-40(Abeta(1-40)). Cortical neurons exposed to Abeta(1-40) 5 muM developed a specific increase in the delayed rectifier potassium current (I(K)), but not the transient outward potassium currents (I(A)), before the appearance of neuronal apoptosis. Abeta(1-40) induced various apoptotic features such as chromatin condensation, a decrease in the amount of Bcl-2 protein, an increase in the amount of Bax protein, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and caspase-3 activation. Potassium channel blocker 5 mM TEA attenuated Abeta(1-40)-induced neuronal death and prevented the alterations of all above mentioned apoptotic indicators. The study indicates that I(K) enhancement might play an important role in certain form of programmed cell death induced by beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta). Increased potassium channel activity might trigger the activation of apoptosis cascade in Abeta(1-40)-treated rat cortical neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zheng-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c; D053148:Caspase 3; C027917:tetramethylammonium