title: Inhibition of astroglial inwardly rectifying Kir4.1 channels by a tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline.
abstract: The inwardly rectifying K(+) (Kir) channel Kir4.1 is responsible for astroglial K(+) buffering. We examined the effects of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), on Kir4.1 channel currents heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells, using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Nortriptyline (3-300 microM) reversibly inhibited Kir4.1 currents in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas it marginally affected neuronal Kir2.1 currents. The inhibition of Kir4.1 channels by nortriptyline depended on the voltage difference from the K(+) equilibrium potential (E(K)), with greater potency at more positive potentials. Blocking kinetics of the drug could be described by first-order kinetics, where dissociation of the drug slowed down and association accelerated as the membrane was depolarized. The dissociation constant (K(d)) of nortriptyline for Kir4.1 inhibition was 28.1 microM at E(K). Other TCAs, such as amitriptyline, desipramine, and imipramine, also inhibited Kir4.1 currents in a similar voltage-dependent fashion. This study shows for the first time that nortriptyline and related TCAs cause a concentration-, voltage-, and time-dependent inhibition of astroglial K(+)-buffering Kir4.1 channels, which might be involved in therapeutic and/or adverse actions of the drugs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Suwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lossin
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hibino
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inanobe
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurachi
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; C489457:KCNJ2 protein, human; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D009661:Nortriptyline; D011188:Potassium