title: Identification of GIRK2-4 subunits in human esophageal smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Acetylcholine (ACh) secreted from the vagus nerve contributes to the physiological and pathological regulation of the contraction and relaxation of human esophageal smooth muscle. Expression of acetylcholine-sensitive G protein‑activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs) occurs widely in the heart, nervous system and gastrointestine, but the role of GIRKs in the esophagus remains unclear. In the present study, expression of the GIRK1-4 subunits in mRNA and total protein was examined in human esophageal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. mRNA and protein expression of the GIRK2-4 subunits was detected in human esophageal longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM) cells. However, GIRK1 mRNA and protein were not observed in either the esophageal LM or CM. This study is the first to identify the expression of GIRK2-4 subunits in human esophageal SMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhipei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yunjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology*; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger