title: Small-conductance Cl- channels contribute to volume regulation and phagocytosis in microglia.
abstract: The shape and volume of microglia (brain immune cells) change when they activate during brain inflammation and become migratory and phagocytic. Swollen rat microglia express a large Cl(-) current (I(Clswell)), whose biophysical properties and functional roles are poorly understood and whose molecular identity is unknown. We constructed a fingerprint of useful biophysical properties for comparison with I(Clswell) in other cell types and with cloned Cl(-) channels. The microglial I(Clswell) was rapidly activated by cell swelling but not by voltage, and showed no time-dependence during voltage-clamp steps. Like I(Clswell) in many cell types, the halide selectivity sequence was I(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-) > F(-). However, it differed in lacking inactivation, even at +100 mV with high extracellular Mg(2+), and in having a much lower single-channel conductance: 1-3 pS. Based on these fundamental differences, the microglia channel is apparently a different gene product than the more common intermediate-conductance I(Clswell). Microglia express several candidate genes, with relative mRNA expression levels of: CLIC1 > ClC3 > I(Cln) > or = ClC2 > Best2 > Best1 > or = Best3 > Best4. Using a pharmacological toolbox, we show that all drugs that reduced the microglia current (NPPB, IAA-94, flufenamic acid and DIOA) increased the resting cell volume in isotonic solution and inhibited the regulatory volume decrease that followed cell swelling in hypotonic solution. Both channel blockers tested (NPPB and flufenamic acid) dose-dependently inhibited microglia phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria. Because I(Clswell) is involved in microglia functions that involve shape and volume changes, it is potentially important for controlling their ability to migrate to damage sites and phagocytose dead cells and debris.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.forename: Evan W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Lyanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Schlichter
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D018118:Chloride Channels; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D008274:Magnesium