title: Expression and functional characterization of choline transporter in human keratinocytes.
abstract: Choline is essential for synthesis of the major membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine. Moreover, it serves as a precursor for synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Keratinocytes of the epidermis synthesize and release ACh. The uptake of choline is the rate-limiting step in both ACh synthesis and choline phospholipid metabolism, and it is a prerequisite for keratinocyte proliferation. However, the nature of the choline transport system in keratinocytes is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the molecular and functional characterization of choline uptake into cultured human keratinocytes. Choline uptake into keratinocytes was independent of extracellular Na(+), saturable, and mediated by a single transport system with an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 12.3 muM. Choline uptake was reduced when the keratinocyte membrane potential was depolarized by high K(+). These results provide evidence that the choline transport activity is potential-sensitive. Various organic cations inhibit the choline transport system. RT-PCR demonstrated that keratinocytes expressed mRNA for choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1), mainly the CTL1a subtype. The present biochemical and pharmacological data suggest that CTL1a is functionally expressed in human keratinocytes and is responsible for the uptake of choline and organic cations in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inazu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumiya
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011802:Quinidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium; D010130:p-Aminohippuric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000840:Anisoles; D015703:Antigens, CD; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C510732:SLC44A1 protein, human; C510731:SLC5A7 protein, human; D027981:Symporters; D014316:Tritium; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D011803:Quinine; C484217:2,4,6-tribromoanisole; D011802:Quinidine; D003000:Clonidine; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine; D003891:Desipramine; D010130:p-Aminohippuric Acid