title: Genistein inhibits voltage-gated sodium currents in SCG neurons through protein tyrosine kinase-dependent and kinase-independent mechanisms.
abstract: Voltage-gated sodium channels play a crucial role in the initiation and propagation of neuronal action potentials. Genistein, an isoflavone phytoestrogen, has long been used as a broad-spectrum inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK). In addition, genistein-induced modulation of ion channels has been described previously in the literature. In this study, we investigated the effect of genistein on voltage-gated sodium channels in rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG) neurons. The results show that genistein inhibits Na(+) currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with a concentration of half-maximal effect (IC(50)) at 9.1 +/- 0.9 microM. Genistein positively shifted the voltage dependence of activation but did not affect inactivation of the Na(+) current. The inactive genistein analog daidzein also inhibited Na(+) currents, but was less effective than genistein. The IC(50) for daidzein-induced inhibition was 20.7 +/- 0.1 microM. Vanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, partially but significantly reversed genistein-induced inhibition of Na(+) currents. Other protein tyrosine kinase antagonists such as tyrphostin 23, an erbstatin analog, and PP2 all had small but significant inhibitory effects on Na(+) currents. Among all active and inactive tyrosine kinase inhibitors tested, genistein was the most potent inhibitor of Na(+) currents. These results suggest that genistein inhibits Na(+) currents in rat SCG neurons through two distinct mechanisms: protein tyrosine kinase-independent, and protein tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanisms. Furthermore, the Src kinase family may be involved in the basal phosphorylation of the Na(+) channel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Zhanfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yueqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Boyi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qingzhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hailin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014638:Vanadates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D015222:Sodium Channels; D014638:Vanadates; C004742:daidzein; D019833:Genistein; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases