Voltage-dependent potassium channels are involved in staurosporine-induced apoptosis of rat mesenchymal stem cells.
The strategy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation is limited by the inability to deliver a large number of grafted cells that resist peri-transplantation apoptosis in ischemic tissues, and this led us to investigate methods of improving the viability of these cells. We demonstrate the presence of voltage-gated potassium channels in rat MSCs that can be activated by staurosporine (ST). MSCs exposed to ST underwent apoptotic cell changes. Tetraethylammonium (TEA), a classic blocker of K+ channels, blocked the ST-induced augmentation of K+ currents, and reduced ST-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that TEA prevented the ST-induced increase in expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and decrease of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Taken together, our findings suggest that voltage-gated potassium is involved in ST-induced apoptosis of rat MSCs. TEA blocks the ST-induced augmentation of K+ currents, alters the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins induced by ST, and attenuates the apoptosis of rat MSCs.
Wang
Shaoping
S
Division of Cardiology, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jie Fang Street, Hangzhou 310009, PR China.
Wang
Jian-an
JA
Li
Jun
J
Zhou
Jinghong
J
Wang
Hai
H
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000378:metabolism; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D019311:Staurosporine