title: Voltage-dependent potassium channels Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 in human fetus.
abstract: Voltage-dependent K(+) channels (Kv) control repolarization and membrane potential in electrically excitable cells. In addition, Kv channels are involved in the maintenance of vascular smooth muscle tone, insulin release, epithelial K(+) transport, cell proliferation and leukocyte activation. Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 are widely distributed throughout the body and are involved in a variety of physiological processes taking place in the immune system, brain and muscle. Since the developmental pattern of Kv channels has an essential role in the maturing human, we aimed to study Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels in 8-10 week human fetal tissues. We chose that gestational age because all organs are in place and the nervous system, although not fully developed. However, the human embryo is undergoing major changes, which will lead to a defined adult pattern. Our results indicated that numerous tissues expressed Kv1.3 and Kv1.5. While Kv1.3 overlapped with the central and peripheral nervous systems, Kv1.5 was mostly localized in the central nervous system. In addition, both channels were abundantly expressed in the hematopoietic fetal liver. Finally, Kv1.5 heavily stained skeletal muscle and heart, whereas Kv1.3 was slightly present. This is the first study to analyze Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 in human during the beginning of fetal development.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biología Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielanska
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Losa
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moline
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somoza
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramón Y Cajal
authors.forename: Enric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Condom
authors.forename: Joan Carles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreres
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felipe
mesh_terms: D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D051666:Kv1.5 Potassium Channel