title: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in vascular Ca2+-activated K+-channel genes and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: In the cardiovascular system, Ca2+-activated K+-channels (KCa) are considered crucial mediators in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure by modulating the membrane potential and shaping Ca2+-dependent contraction. Vascular smooth muscle cells express the BKCa channel which fine-tunes contractility by providing a negative feedback on Ca2+-elevations. BKCa channel's ion-conducting alpha-subunit is encoded by the KCa1.1 gene, and the accessory and Ca2+-sensitivity modulating beta1-subunit is encoded by the KCNMB1 gene. Vascular endothelial cells express the calmodulin-gated KCa channels IKCa (encoded by the KCa3.1 gene) and SKCa (encoded by the KCa2.3 gene). These two channels mediate endothelial hyperpolarization and initiate the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-dilator response. Considering these essential roles of KCa in arterial function, mutations in KCa genes have been suspected to contribute to cardiovascular disease in humans. So far, DNA sequence analysis in the population and patient cohorts has identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the BKCa beta1-subunit gene as well as in the alpha-subunit gene (KCa1.1). Some of these SNPs produce amino acid exchanges and evoke alterations of channel functions ("gain-of-function" as well as "loss-of-function"). Moreover, the epidemiological studies showed that the presence of the E65K polymorphism in, e.g., BKCa beta1-subunit gene (producing a "gain-of-function") lowers the prevalence for severe hypertension and myocardial infarction. Other SNPs in the BKCa alpha-subunit gene and also in the KCa3.1 gene expressed in the endothelium have been suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings from sequence analysis of human KCa genes, and epidemiological studies thus provide evidence that genetic variations and mutations in KCa channel genes contribute to human cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21 3, 5000, Odense, Denmark. rkohler@health.sdu.dk
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics*; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits / Q000235:genetics*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D051660:Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; C496923:KCNN4 protein, human; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051038:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel beta Subunits