超极化激活环核苷酸门控阳离子通道(HCN)研究进展

HCN是超极化激活环核苷酸门控阳离子通道,其激活后产生If/Ih电流,能被ZD7288和Cs+特异性阻断.该通道有4个亚型,具有稳定细胞膜电位、参与心脏和神经节律调节、参与树突整合,以及调节神经递质释放等生理功能.近期实验中发现豚鼠膀胱ICC上存在Ih电流,其功能特点值得进一步研究和探讨.     

超极化激活的环核苷酸门控性阳离子通道（HCN）与疾病的相关性

超极化激活的环核苷酸门控的阳离子通道(hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gate cation channel,HCN)是一种特殊的阳离子通道,存在于神经细胞、小肠间质细胞、窦房结细胞或心脏细胞等具有自律性的细胞膜上,是产生过度激活正离子电流的结构基础,被认为是起搏细胞的重要特征。HCN离子蛋白通道不但与细胞凋亡以及电流传导有着密切关系,而且还与多种生命活动过程密切相关,近年来,已涉及到疼痛、癫痫、心律失常、消化道系统等许多疾病,特别是有关神经系统方面的疾病,下面将超极化激活的环核苷酸门控性阳离子通道(HCN)与疾病的关系综述如下。     

HCN 通道在神经系统中的分布及功能

超极化激活的环核苷酸门控的阳离子通道(hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated channels,HCN),分为四个亚型:HCN1、HCN2、HCN3和HCN4。关于其在神经系统中作用的研究有很多,但是有些研究的结果似乎是矛盾的,这些矛盾的结果可能与其分布特点有关。在神经系统中,HCN通道的各个亚型的分布具有差异,这决定了其作用的差异性,因此在不同区域有其特定的生理功能。本文从不同脑区、脊髓及外周DRG等方面综述了HCN通道4个亚型在神经系统的分布,并且针对具体组织、核团分析其作用和生理功能。     

HCN通道在焦虑中作用的研究进展

超极化激活环核苷酸门控(hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated,HCN)通道具有重要的生理功能,尤其是在静息膜电位、树突整合、神经元起搏和动作电位阈值的建立等方面作用明显。研究发现,HCN通道的失调可能会引起焦虑,该通道介导焦虑作用的机制可能受脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶点(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)、谷氨酸(glutamate,Glu)、γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid,GABA)、单胺类神经递质、突触可塑性等的调节。现就HCN通道的结构、分布、调节及介导焦虑作用可能的机制进行综述,以期为焦虑症的预防和治疗提供药物治疗靶点。     

钠离子通道疾病及其抑制剂生物学功能研究进展

电压门控型钠离子通道(Voltage-gated sodium channel,VGSC)广泛分布于兴奋性细胞,是电信号扩大和传导的主要介质,在神经细胞以及心肌细胞兴奋传导等方面发挥重要作用。钠离子通道结构和功能的异常会改变细胞的兴奋性,从而导致多种疾病的发生,如神经性疼痛、癫痫,以及心律失常等。目前临床上多采用钠离子通道抑制剂治疗上述疾病。近些年,研究人员陆续从动物的毒液中分离纯化出具有调控钠离子通道功能的神经毒素。这些神经毒素多为化合物或小分子多肽。现已有医药研发公司将这些天然的神经毒素进行定向设计改造成钠离子通道靶向药物用于临床疾病的治疗。此外,来源于七鳃鳗Lampetra japonica口腔腺的富含半胱氨酸分泌蛋白(Cysteine-rich buccal gland protein,CRBGP)也首次被证明能够抑制海马神经元和背根神经元的钠离子电流。以下针对钠离子通道疾病及其抑制剂生物学功能的最新研究进展进行分析归纳。     

人HCN4通道的滞后现象:影响窦房结起搏的潜在决定因素(英文)

超极化活化环核苷酸门控(hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated,HCN)通道参与调制心脏跳动的节律和速率。与HCN1和HCN2有所不同,慢通道HCN4可能不存在电压依赖的滞后现象。本研究采用单细胞膜片钳方法,在稳定转染hHCN4的HEK293细胞上进行电生理记录,观察hHCN4通道是否存在滞后现象,以及cAMP对其的调制作用;同时采用实时定量RT-PCR方法检测窦房结和心房组织中HCNs的表达。电压钳实验结果显示hHCN4电流(Ih)激活随着保持电位超极化的变化而向去极化方向移动。三角电位变化钳(triangular ramp)和动作电位钳的结果也显示了hHCN4的滞后现象。cAMP增加Ih电流幅度,且使电流激活向去极化方向移动,从而改变内源性hHCN4滞后行为。RT-PCR结果显示,人窦房结组织主要表达HCN4,占75%,HCN1占21%,HCN2占3%,HCN3占0.7%。以上结果提示,人窦房结组织主要表达HCN4亚型,hHCN4的Ih存在电压依赖性的滞后现象,且受cAMP调制。由此推断,hHCN4通道的滞后现象可能在窦房结起搏活动中起到了关键作用。     

HCN通道在神经系统中的功能和作用

HCN通道(hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels)是一种超极化激活的,选择性通透K 、Na ,直接受cAMP调控的离子通道,其在神经系统中有多方面的功能并与癫痫等神经疾病有关系.对HCN通道正常生理功能以及与疾病的关系的深入认识,必将对今后的研究和临床有深远的意义.     

大电导钙激活钾通道（BKCa）及其开放剂研究进展

大电导钙激活钾通道（BKCa）广泛分布在哺乳动物各种组织（不含心肌细胞）中,并参与细胞内信号转导、细胞的兴奋及代谢调节等生理过程。BKCa功能异常牵涉到特发性癫痫、高血压等疾病的发生。BKCa通道是治疗高血压、尿失禁、哮喘、冠心病及缺血性脑中风等疾病的潜在药物靶点。探索高活性、高选择性、细胞通透性优良、类药性好的BKCa通道开放剂,不仅有助于阐明BKCa通道在生理病理条件下的作用机制,而且为治疗心脑血管疾病的药物研发奠定基础。对各类BKCa通道开放剂做一概述。     

拉莫三嗪对GHB 致失神发作大鼠脑内HCN1、HCN2表达的影响

目的:观察拉莫三嗪对γ-羟丁酸(GHB)致失神发作大鼠脑电及脑内超极化激活环核苷酸门控阳离子通道(HCN)的亚型HCN1、HCN2表达变化的影响,探讨拉莫三嗪抗失神癫痫的可能作用机制。方法:健康成年雄性SD大鼠,随机分为空白对照组,模型组,拉莫三嗪治疗组(低剂量组为8 mg/(kg·d)、中剂量组为12 mg/(kg·d)、高剂量组为24 mg/(kg·d)),每组7只。空白对照组及模型组每日应用0.25%的甲基纤维素钠溶液灌胃,治疗组每日应用0.25%的甲基纤维素钠溶液配制的浓度为2 mg/mL的拉莫三嗪混悬液灌胃。手术埋置皮层脑电电极。腹腔注射GHB的前体γ-丁内酯(GBL)200 mg/kg制作大鼠失神发作模型,并监测脑电。免疫组化法检测皮层HCN1及丘脑HCN2的表达。结果:皮层脑电图拉莫三嗪治疗组比模型组失神发作的潜伏期延长,最高波幅降低(P0.05)。模型组皮质HCN1比空白对照组表达减少,而拉莫三嗪高、中剂量组皮质HCN1比模型组表达增加(P0.05)。模型组丘脑HCN2表达减少,与空白对照组及治疗组相比,差异有统计学意义。结论:拉莫三嗪可以改善GHB致失神发作模型脑电图的异常表现;拉莫三嗪抗失神癫痫作用可能与调节HCN表达有关。     

State-Dependent Accessibility of the P-S6 Linker of Pacemaker (HCN) Channels Supports a Dynamic Pore-to-Gate Coupling Model

The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated channel gene family (HCN1-4) encodes the membrane depolarizing current that underlies pacemaking. Although the topology of HCN resembles K_v channels, much less is known about their structure-function correlation. Previously, we identified several pore residues in the S5-P linker and P-loop that are externally accessible and/or influence HCN gating, and proposed an evolutionarily conserved pore-to-gate mechanism. Here we sought dynamic evidence by assessing the functional consequences of Cys-scanning substitutions in the unexplored P-S6 linker (residues 352–359), the HCN1-R background (that is, resistant to sulfhydryl-reactive agents). None of A352C, Q353C, A354C, P355C, V356C, S357C, M358C, or S359C produced functional currents; the loss-of-function of Q353C, A354C, S357C, and M358C could be rescued by the reducing agent dithiothreitol. Q353C, A354C, and S357C, but not M358C and HCN1-R, were sensitive to Cd²⁺ blockade (IC₅₀ = 3–12 μM vs. >1 mM). External application of the positively charged covalent sulfhydryl modifier MTSET irreversibly reduced I _−140mV of Q353C and A354C to 27.9 ± 3.4% and 58.2 ± 13.1% of the control, respectively, and caused significant steady-state activation shifts (∆V _1/2 = –21.1 ± 1.6 for Q353C and −10.0 ± 2.9 mV for A354C). Interestingly, MTSET reactivity was also state dependent. MTSET, however, affected neither S357C nor M358C, indicating site specificity. Collectively, we have identified novel P-S6 residues whose extracellular accessibility was sterically and state dependent and have provided the first functional evidence consistent with a dynamic HCN pore-to-gate model.     

Peripheral N- and C-terminal domains determine deactivation kinetics of HCN channels

Among four subtypes of mammalian HCN channels, HCN1 has the fastest activation and deactivation kinetics while HCN4 shows the slowest. We previously showed that the activation kinetics are determined mainly by S1, S1-S2, and the S6-cyclic nucleotide binding domain. However, the effects of those regions on the deactivation kinetics were relatively small. Therefore, we investigated the structural basis for deactivation kinetics. Substitution of the core region (from S3 to S6) between HCN1 and HCN4 did not affect deactivation kinetics. This suggests that the peripheral regions (outside of S3 to S6) determine subtype-specific deactivation kinetics. Furthermore, we examined whether peripheral regions determined the deactivation kinetics across species by introducing the core region of DMIH (Drosophila homologue) into both HCN1 and HCN4. The DMIH core with HCN1 activated and deactivated more than threefold faster than that with HCN4. Taken together, the peripheral domains are diversified to create distinct kinetics.     

Integrated allosteric model of voltage gating of HCN channels

Hyperpolarization-activated (pacemaker) channels are dually gated by negative voltage and intracellular cAMP. Kinetics of native cardiac f-channels are not compatible with HH gating, and require closed/open multistate models. We verified that members of the HCN channel family (mHCN1, hHCN2, hHCN4) also have properties not complying with HH gating, such as sigmoidal activation and deactivation, activation deviating from fixed power of an exponential, removal of activation "delay" by preconditioning hyperpolarization. Previous work on native channels has indicated that the shifting action of cAMP on the open probability (Po) curve can be accounted for by an allosteric model, whereby cAMP binds more favorably to open than closed channels. We therefore asked whether not only cAMP-dependent, but also voltage-dependent gating of hyperpolarization-activated channels could be explained by an allosteric model. We hypothesized that HCN channels are tetramers and that each subunit comprises a voltage sensor moving between "reluctant" and "willing" states, whereas voltage sensors are independently gated by voltage, channel closed/open transitions occur allosterically. These hypotheses led to a multistate scheme comprising five open and five closed channel states. We estimated model rate constants by fitting first activation delay curves and single exponential time constant curves, and then individual activation/deactivation traces. By simply using different sets of rate constants, the model accounts for qualitative and quantitative aspects of voltage gating of all three HCN isoforms investigated, and allows an interpretation of the different kinetic properties of different isoforms. For example, faster kinetics of HCN1 relative to HCN2/HCN4 are attributable to higher HCN1 voltage sensors' rates and looser voltage-independent interactions between subunits in closed/open transitions. It also accounts for experimental evidence that reduction of sensors' positive charge leads to negative voltage shifts of Po curve, with little change of curve slope. HCN voltage gating thus involves two processes: voltage sensor gating and allosteric opening/closing.     

Endogenous channels in HEK cells and potential roles in HCN ionic current measurements

A transformed line of human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (HEK 293) is commonly used as an expression system for exogenous ion channel genes. Previously, it has been shown that these cells contain mRNAs for a variety of ion channels. Expression of some of these genes has been confirmed at the protein level. Patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments confirm the presence of multiple ion channels and molecular data agree with pharmacological profiles of identified channels. In this work, we show that endogenous voltage-gated potassium channels in HEK cells are a significant source of outward current at positive potentials. We show that both non-transfected HEK cells and HEK cells transfected with hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide gated (HCN) channels have a significant amount of voltage-gated potassium (K(V)) current when certain tail current voltage-clamp protocols are used to assay HCN current activation. Specifically, tail current protocols that use a depolarized holding potential of -40 mV followed by hyperpolarizing pulses (-80 to -140 mV) and then a tail pulse potential of +20 mV indicate K(V) channels undergo closed-state inactivation at the more depolarized holding potential of -40 mV, followed by recovery from inactivation (but no activation) at hyperpolarizing potentials and high amount of activation at the positive tail potential. Our results indicate that pulse protocols with positive tail pulses are inaccurate assays for HCN current in certain HEK cells. Surprisingly, HEK-293 cells were found to contain mRNA for HCN2 and HCN3 although we have not detected a significant and consistent endogenous I(f)-like current in these cells.     

HCN channel activity-dependent modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the rat basolateral amygdala

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are expressed in the central nervous system and play a regulatory role in neuronal excitability. In the present study, we examined a physiological role of HCN channels in the rat basolateral amygdala (BLA). In vitro electrophysiological studies showed that ZD7288 decreased spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) without changing miniature IPSC (mIPSC). HCN channel blockade also attenuated feedback inhibitions in BLA principal neurons. However, blockade of HCN channel had little effects on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) and mEPSC. Therefore, HCN channel appeared to decrease BLA excitability by increasing the action potential-dependent inhibitory control over the BLA principal neurons. Anxiety is reported to be influenced by neuronal excitability in the BLA and inhibitory synaptic transmission is thought to play a pivotal role in regulating overall excitability of the amygdala. As expected, blockade of HCN channels by targeted injection of ZD7288 to the BLA increased anxiety-like behavior under elevated plus maze test. Our results suggest that HCN channel activity can modulate the GABAergic synaptic transmission in the BLA, which in turn control the amygdala-related emotional behaviors such as anxiety.     

HCN4 provides a 'depolarization reserve' and is not required for heart rate acceleration in mice

Cardiac pacemaking involves a variety of ion channels, but their relative importance is controversial and remains to be determined. Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which underlie the I(f) current of sinoatrial cells, are thought to be key players in cardiac automaticity. In addition, the increase in heart rate following beta-adrenergic stimulation has been attributed to the cAMP-mediated enhancement of HCN channel activity. We have now studied mice in which the predominant sinoatrial HCN channel isoform HCN4 was deleted in a temporally controlled manner. Here, we show that deletion of HCN4 in adult mice eliminates most of sinoatrial I(f) and results in a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by recurrent sinus pauses. However, the mutants show no impairment in heart rate acceleration during sympathetic stimulation. Our results reveal that unexpectedly the channel does not play a role for the increase of the heart rate; however, HCN4 is necessary for maintaining a stable cardiac rhythm, especially during the transition from stimulated to basal cardiac states.     

Local electrostatic interactions determine the diameter of fusion pores

In regulated exocytosis vesicular and plasma membranes merge to form a fusion pore in response to stimulation. The nonselective cation HCN channels are involved in the regulation of unitary exocytotic events by at least 2 mechanisms. They can affect SNARE-dependent exocytotic activity indirectly, via the modulation of free intracellular calcium; and/or directly, by altering local cation concentration, which affects fusion pore geometry likely via electrostatic interactions. By monitoring membrane capacitance, we investigated how extracellular cation concentration affects fusion pore diameter in pituitary cells and astrocytes. At low extracellular divalent cation levels predominantly transient fusion events with widely open fusion pores were detected. However, fusion events with predominately narrow fusion pores were present at elevated levels of extracellular trivalent cations. These results show that electrostatic interactions likely help determine the stability of discrete fusion pore states by affecting fusion pore membrane composition.     

Solution structure of the Mesorhizobium loti K1 channel cyclic nucleotide‐binding domain in complex with cAMP

Cyclic nucleotide‐sensitive ion channels, known as HCN and CNG channels, are crucial in neuronal excitability and signal transduction of sensory cells. HCN and CNG channels are activated by binding of cyclic nucleotides to their intracellular cyclic nucleotide‐binding domain (CNBD). However, the mechanism by which the binding of cyclic nucleotides opens these channels is not well understood. Here, we report the solution structure of the isolated CNBD of a cyclic nucleotide‐sensitive K⁺ channel from Mesorhizobium loti. The protein consists of a wide anti‐parallel β‐roll topped by a helical bundle comprising five α‐helices and a short 3₁₀‐helix. In contrast to the dimeric arrangement (‘dimer‐of‐dimers’) in the crystal structure, the solution structure clearly shows a monomeric fold. The monomeric structure of the CNBD supports the hypothesis that the CNBDs transmit the binding signal to the channel pore independently of each other.