The 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin is an open channel blocker of human cardiac ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels.
OBJECTIVE
Ketanserin, a selective 5-HT receptor antagonist, prolongs the QT interval of ECG in patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether ketanserin would block human cardiac ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels.


METHODS
Whole-cell patch voltage-clamp technique was used to record membrane currents in HEK 293 cells expressing wild type or mutant hERG channel genes.


RESULTS
Ketanserin blocked hERG current (I(hERG)) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50=0.11 microM). The drug showed an open channel blocking property, the block increasing significantly at depolarizing voltages between +10 to +60 mV. Voltage-dependence for inactivation of hERG channels was negatively shifted by 0.3 microM ketanserin. A 2.8 fold attenuation of inhibition by elevation of external K+ concentration (from 5.0 to 20 mM) was observed, whereas the inactivation-deficient mutants S620T and S631A had the IC50s of 0.84 +/- 0.2 and 1.7 +/-0.4 microM (7.6 and 15.4 fold attenuation of block). In addition, the hERG mutants in pore helix and S6 also significantly reduced the channel block (2-59 fold) by ketanserin.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that ketanserin binds to and blocks the open hERG channels in the pore helix and the S6 domain; channel inactivation is also involved in the blockade of hERG channels. Blockade of hERG channels most likely contributes to the prolongation of QT intervals in ECG observed clinically at therapeutic concentrations of ketanserin.
Department of Medicine, and Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000187:drug effects; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin; D011188:Potassium