title: Effects of gaseous sulfur dioxide and its derivatives on the expression of KATP, BKCa and L-Ca(2+) channels in rat aortas in vitro.
abstract: Epidemiological investigations have revealed that sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure is linked to cardiovascular diseases. Our previous study indicated that the vasorelaxant effect of SO2 might be partly related to ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP), big-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa) and L-type calcium (L-Ca(2+)) channels. The present study was designed to further investigate the effects of gaseous SO2 and its derivatives on the gene and protein expression of these channels in the rat aortas in vitro. The results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of the KATP channel subunits Kir6.1, Kir6.2 and SUR2B of the rat aortas in SO2 and its derivatives groups were higher than those in control group. Similarly, the expression of the BKCa channel subunits α and β1 was increased by SO2 and its derivatives. However, SO2 and its derivatives at 1500μM significantly decreased the expression of the L-Ca(2+) channel subunits Cav1.2 and Cav1.3. Histological examination of the rat aorta tissues showed moderate injury of tunica media induced by SO2 and its derivatives at 1500μM. These results suggest that SO2 and its derivatives can activate the KATP and BKCa channels by increasing the expression of Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR2B and α, β1, respectively, while also inhibiting the L-Ca(2+) channels by decreasing the expression of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 of the rat aortas. The molecular mechanism of the vasorelaxant effect of SO2 and its derivatives might be related to the expression changes of KATP, BKCa and L-Ca(2+) channel subunits, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of SO2-associated cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China. Electronic address: qxzhang@sxu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Quanxi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Yunlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine and Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Wucheng Road 92#, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
authors.forename: Ziqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D054086:KATP Channels; C494842:Kcnma1 protein, rat; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide
keywords: BK(Ca) channel; K(ATP) channel; L-Ca(2+) channel; Sulfur dioxide; Sulfur dioxide derivatives