Neuroleptics antagonize a calcium-activated potassium channel in airway smooth muscle

We examined the effect of neuroleptics on Ca-activated K channels from dog airway smooth muscle cells. Because these agents inhibit a variety of other Ca-mediated processes, it seemed possible that they might also inhibit Ca-activated K channels. In excised, inside-out patches, several neuroleptics potently and reversibly inhibited the K channel from the internal but not the external surface of the patch. Measurements of the effect on open probability and open- and closed-state durations support a simple kinetic model in which neuroleptics bind to and block the open channel. Inhibition by neuroleptics was moderately voltage dependent, with blockers less potent at hyperpolarizing voltages. The relationship between voltage and the dissociation constant for the blocker suggests that the binding site is one-third of the way across the channel's electrical field. Equilibrium dissociation constants for the drug-channel complex were: haloperidol, 1.0 +/- 0.1 microM; trifluoperazine, 1.4 +/- 0.1 microM; thioridazine, 2.4 +/- 0.1 microM; and chlorpromazine, 2.0 microM. This rank-order potency is different from their potency as calmodulin inhibitors, which suggests that neuroleptics bind to the channel rather than a calmodulin-channel complex.     

Inhibitory effects of potassium channel blockers on tetramethylpyrazine-induced relaxation of rat aortic strip in vitro

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is one of the active principles contained in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae), a herb that has been widely used to treat vascular disorders in China. In the present study, role of potassium channel in the vasodilatation of TMP was investigated using the effect of potassium channel blocker on TMP induced relaxation in isolated aortic rings from Wistar rats. TMP produced a concentration-dependent relaxation in the aortic rings precontracted with vasopressin or phenylephrine. Similar effect of TMP on vasoconstrictions by phenylephrine and vasopressin, induced through two different receptors, indicating the direct vasodilatation of TMP. Specific inhibitors for potassium channel were used to characterize the role of potassium channel in this action of TMP. Only the inhibitors specific to small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK(Ca)) channel or ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel inhibited the action of TMP. Also, the TMP-induced relaxation was reversed by the inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase in a way similar to that of K(ATP) channel blockade. The obtained results indicated that vasodilatation induced by TMP is related to the opening of SK(Ca) and K(ATP) channels.     

Propofol and thiopental attenuate adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel relaxation in pulmonary veins

Pulmonary veins (PV) make a significant contribution to total pulmonary vascular resistance. We investigated the cellular mechanisms by which the intravenous anesthetics propofol and thiopental alter adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP+) channel relaxation in canine PV. The effects of KATP+ channel inhibition (glybenclamide), cyclooxygenase inhibition (indomethacin), nitric oxide synthase inhibition (L-NAME), and L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel inhibition (nifedipine) on vasorelaxation responses to levcromakalim (KATP+ channel activator) alone and in combination with the anesthetics were assessed. The maximal relaxation response to levcromakalim was attenuated by removing the endothelium and by L-NAME, but not by indomethacin. Propofol (10(-5), 3x10(-5), and 10(-4) M) and thiopental (10(-4) and 3x10(-4) M) each attenuated levcromakalim relaxation in endothelium-intact (E+) rings, whereas propofol (3x10(-5) and 10(-4) M) and thiopental (3x10(-4) M) attenuated levcromakalim relaxation in endothelium-denuded (E-) rings. In E+ rings, the anesthesia-induced attenuation of levcromakalim relaxation was decreased after pretreatment with L-NAME but not with indomethacin. In E-strips, propofol (10(-4) M) and thiopental (3x10(-4) M) inhibited decreases in tension and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to levcromakalim, and these changes were abolished by nifedipine. These findings indicate that propofol and thiopental attenuate the endothelium-dependent component of KATP+ channel-induced PV vasorelaxation via an inhibitory effect on the nitric oxide pathway. Both anesthetics also attenuate the PV smooth muscle component of KATP+ channel-induced relaxation by reducing the levcromakalim-induced decrease in [Ca2+]i via an inhibitory effect on L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.     

Measurement of 15N relaxation in the detergent-solubilized tetrameric KcsA potassium channel

A set of TROSY-HNCO (tHNCO)-based 3D experiments is presented for measuring ¹⁵N relaxation parameters in large, membrane-associated proteins, characterized by slow tumbling times and significant spectral overlap. Measurement of backbone ¹⁵N R ₁, R _1ρ, ¹⁵N–{¹H} NOE, and ¹⁵N CSA/dipolar cross correlation is demonstrated and applied to study the dynamic behavior of the homotetrameric KcsA potassium channel in SDS micelles under conditions where this channel is in the closed state. The micelle-encapsulated transmembrane domain, KcsA^TM, exhibits a high degree of order, tumbling as an oblate ellipsoid with a global rotational correlation time, τ_c = 38 ± 2.5 ns, at 50 °C and a diffusion anisotropy, , corresponding to an aspect ratio a/b ≥ 1.4. The N- and C-terminal intracellular segments of KcsA exhibit considerable internal dynamics (S ² values in the 0.2–0.45 range), but are distinctly more ordered than what has been observed for unstructured random coils. Relaxation behavior in these domains confirms the position of the C-terminal helix, and indicates that in SDS micelles, this amphiphilic helix does not associate into a stable homotetrameric helical bundle. The relaxation data indicate the absence of elevated backbone dynamics on the ps–ns time scale for the 5-residue selectivity filter, which selects K⁺ ions to enter the channel. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorised users in the online version of this article at . An erratum to this article can be found at     

Calcium-sensitive univalent cation channel formed by lysotriphosphoinositide in bilayer lipid membranes

A calcium sensitive univalent cation channel could be formed by lysotriphosphoinositide on an artificial bilayer membrane made of oxidized cholesterol. The modified membrane was selectively permeable to univalent cations, but was only very sparingly permeable to anions or divalent cations. Selectivity sequence among group IA cations was Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Li⁺. The conductance of the membrane was increased up to a value of about 10⁻² ohm⁻¹/cm² with an increase in the concentration of univalent cation, and was drastically depressed by a relatively small increase in the concentration of calcium ion or other divalent cations. The sequence of depressing efficiency among divalent cations was Zn²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Mg²⁺.     

Discovery of triarylethanolamine inhibitors of the Kv1.5 potassium channel

A series of triarylethanolamine inhibitors of the Kv1.5 potassium channel have been prepared and evaluated for their effects in vitro and in vivo. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies described herein led to the development of potent, selective and orally active inhibitors of Kv1.5.     

In vitro synthesis, tetramerization and single channel characterization of virus-encoded potassium channel Kcv

Chlorella virus-encoded membrane protein Kcv represents a new class of potassium channel. This 94-amino acids miniature K(+) channel consists of two trans-membrane alpha-helix domains intermediated by a pore domain that contains a highly conserved K(+) selectivity filter. Therefore, as an archetypal K(+) channel, the study of Kcv may yield valuable insights into the structure-function relationships underlying this important class of ion channel. Here, we report a series of new properties of Kcv. We first verified Kcv can be synthesized in vitro. By co-synthesis and assembly of wild-type and the tagged version of Kcv, we were able to demonstrate a tetrameric stoichiometry, a molecular structure adopted by all known K(+) channels. Most notably, the tetrameric Kcv complex retains its functional integrity in SDS (strong detergent)-containing solutions, a useful feature that allows for direct purification of protein from polyacrylamide gel. Once purified, the tetramer can form single potassium-selective ion channels in a lipid bilayer with functions consistent to the heterologously expressed Kcv. These finding suggest that the synthetic Kcv can serve as a model of virus-encoded K(+) channels; and its newly identified properties can be applied to the future study on structure-determined mechanisms such as K(+) channel functional stoichiometry.     

核苷酸对ATP-敏感性钾通道开放剂吡那地尔舒血管效应的调节作用

目的: 在正常Wistar大鼠离体主动脉上,研究核苷酸类物质ATP,ADP,UDP,GTP及其代谢产物腺苷(Ade)对ATP敏感性钾通道(ATP-sensitive potassium channel,KATP)开放剂吡那地尔(pinacidil,Pin)舒血管效应的影响,以评价其对动脉平滑肌KATP功能的调节作用.方法: 大鼠离体主动脉去内皮血管环以核苷酸或核苷酸与格列本脲(Gli)孵育10 min后,再以KCl 20 mmol*L-1诱发收缩,观察Pin的血管舒张效应的变化.结果: 离体去内皮大鼠主动脉标本经ATP,ADP,UDP和GTP 4种核苷酸和Ade在100 μmol*L-1浓度下预孵育后,Pin舒血管作用发生变化:①ATP可减弱Pin对KATP的开放作用,但增强Gli对KATP的阻断作用.②ADP既减弱Pin对KATP的开放作用,又减弱Gli对KATP的阻断作用.③Ade对KATP功能的调节与ADP相似,既减弱Pin对KATP的开放作用,又减弱Gli对KATP的阻断作用.④UDP 100 μmol*L-1可增强Pin对KATP的开放作用,但减弱Gli对KATP的阻断作用.⑤GTP可增强Pin激活KATP开放的作用,但对Gli阻断KATP开放的作用无影响.结论: 不同的核苷酸和腺苷均可调节血管平滑肌KATP的功能,但其调节作用的药理学特征并不相同.     

Calcium-sensitive univalent cation channel formed by lysotriphosphoinositide in bilayer lipid membranes.

A calcium sensitive univalent cation channel could be formed by lysotriphosphoinositide on an artificial bilayer membrane made of oxidized cholesterol. The modified membrane was selectively permeable to univalent cations, but was only very sparingly permeable to anions or divalent cations. Selectivity sequence among group IA cations was Rb+ greater than Cs+ greater than Na+ greater than K+ greater than Li+. The conductance of the membrane was increased up to a value of about 10-2 ohm-1/cm2 with an increase in the concentration of univalent cation, and was drastically depressed by a relatively small increase in the concentration of calcium ion or other divalent cations. The sequence of depressing efficiency among divalent cations was Zn+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Mg2+.     

Lactam sulfonamides as potent inhibitors of the Kv1.5 potassium ion channel

A series of lactam sulfonamides has been discovered and optimized as inhibitors of the Kv1.5 potassium ion channel for treatment of atrial fibrillation. In vitro structure–activity relationships from lead structure C to optimized structure 3y are described. Compound 3y was evaluated in a rabbit PD-model and was found to selectively prolong the atrial effective refractory period at submicromolar concentrations.     

Cardiac mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel is activated by nitric oxide in vitro

Previous observations on the activation of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoK(ATP)) by nitric oxide (NO) in myocardial preconditioning were based on indirect evidence. In this study, we have investigated the direct effect of NO on the rat cardiac mitoK(ATP) after reconstitution of the inner mitochondrial membranes into lipid bilayers. We found that the mitoK(ATP) was activated by exogenous NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine or PAPA NONOate. This activation was inhibited by mitoK(ATP) blockers 5-hydroxydecanoate or glibenclamide. Our observations confirm that NO can directly activate the cardiac mitoK(ATP), which may underlie its contribution to myocardial preconditioning.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of chalcones as inhibitors of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3

Chalcone derivatives of the natural product khellinone were synthesised and screened for bioactivity against the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3. X-ray crystallography was employed to investigate relationships between the structure and function of a selection of the reported chalcones.     

电压激活的钾通道阻断剂抑制山莨菪碱松弛去甲肾上腺素预收缩的兔主动脉平滑肌

研究显示,山莨菪碱预处理不改变高钾引起的兔主动脉环收缩,但可明显减弱去甲肾上腺素(noradrenaline,NA)、组织胺或5-羟色胺引起的收缩,且其减弱作用不受去除血管内皮影响。本实验观察了几种钾通道阻断剂对山良菪碱松弛：NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的影响。结果表明,1、3、10μmol／L山莨菪碱作用8min,可使0．01μmol／L NA预收缩的兔主动脉环松弛(P＜O．01)。10mmol／L,CsCl、1mmol／L 4-氨基吡啶、10μmol／L BaCl2、10μmol/L格列本脲、3μmol／L charybdotoxin和3μmol／L蜂毒明从分别与0．0lμmol／L NA同时加入,可增强后者收缩兔主动脉环的作用(P＜0．01)。10、30mmol／L CsCl或10、30mmol／L 4-氨基吡啶存在时,10μmol／L山茛菪碱对NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的松弛作用减弱,松弛率与对照组比较分别有极显著差异(P＜0．01);10、30μmol／L BaCl2,10、30μmol/L格列本脲,3μmol/L charybdotoxin或3μmol／L蜂毒明肽存在时,山莨菪碱对NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的松弛作用不受影响(P＞O．05)。本研究表明,电压激活的钾通道阻断剂抑制山莨菪碱松弛NA预收缩的兔主动脉平滑肌,初步提示血管平滑肌细胞膜上电压激活的钾通道参与山莨菪碱扩血管作用。     

Design,synthesis, and biological evaluation of arylmethylpiperidines as Kv1.5 potassium channel inhibitors

Kv1.5 potassium channel, encoded by KCNA5, is a promising target for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, one of the common arrhythmia. A new series of arylmethylpiperidines derivatives based on DDO-02001 were synthesised and evaluated for their ability to inhibit Kv1.5 channel. Among them, compound DDO-02005 showed good inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.72 μM), preferable anti-arrhythmic effects and favoured safety. These results indicate that DDO-02005 can be a promising Kv1.5 inhibitor for further studies.Key Words: Kv1.5 inhibitors, atrial fibrillation, anti-arrhythmia     

Ion channel inhibitors block caspase activation by mechanisms other than restoring intracellular potassium concentration

Ion fluxes at the plasma membrane have an important role in early stages of apoptosis. Accordingly, plasma membrane depolarization and gain of Na⁺ and loss of K⁺ are initial events in apoptosis. We have studied the effect of staurosporine (STS), a well-established apoptosis inducer, on the membrane potential of HeLa cells to determine the nature of STS-activated ion conductances and their role in the activation of different caspases. We observed that STS can activate tetraethylammonium (TEA⁺) and 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K⁺ channels and flufenamic-sensitive cation channels as an early response. The combination of these ion channel inhibitors significantly reduced cytochrome c (cyt c) release and activation of caspase-9, -3 and -8. STS also induced a large reduction in the intracellular [K⁺] that was not blocked by the ion channel inhibitors. Our data suggest that reduction in the [K⁺]_i is necessary but not sufficient and that ion channel inhibitors block activation of caspase-3 by two different mechanisms: the inhibitors of K⁺ channels by reducing cyt c release while flufenamic acid by a different, unrelated mechanism that does not involve cation channels at the plasma membrane. Our data also imply that these ion channels activated by STS are not responsible for the reduction in the [K⁺]_i associated with apoptosis.     

Lactobacilli antagonize biological effects of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in vitro

Aims:  To assess the effect of two lactobacilli on the biological activity of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in vitro .
Methods and Results:  Strains CIDCA 133 ( Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ) and CIDCA 83114 ( Lactobacillus plantarum ) were studied. Hep-2 cells were used as an in vitro model to assess the biological effect of a clinical isolate of EHEC. Preincubation of cell monolayers with lactobacilli before EHEC prevented detachment of eukaryotic cells and minimizes both F-actin rearrangements and morphological alterations. Interestingly, the protective effect could not be ascribed to pathogen exclusion. In addition, viability of the lactobacilli was not necessary for protection and other species of the genus Lactobacillus failed to protect eukaryotic cells.
Conclusions:  Our results suggest that lactobacilli are antagonizing virulence mechanisms of EHEC either by modification of the microenvironment or by interfering with the signalling cascades triggered by the pathogen.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Our findings give a rationale basis for the use of specific probiotic strains for the prophylaxis and prevention of intestinal infections due to EHEC.     

Characterization of human cardiac mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel and its regulation by phorbol ester in vitro

Activation of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) and its regulation by PKC are critical events in preconditioning induced by ischemia or pharmaceutical agents in animals and humans. The properties of the human cardiac mitoKATP channel are unknown. Furthermore, there is no evidence that cytosolic PKC can directly regulate the mitoKATP channel located in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) due to the physical barrier of the outer mitochondrial membrane. In the present study, we characterized the human cardiac mitoKATP channel and its potential regulation by PKC associated with the IMM. IMM fractions isolated from human left ventricles were fused into lipid bilayers in symmetrical potassium glutamate (150 mM). The conductance of native mitoKATP channels was usually below 80 pS ( approximately 70%), which was reduced by ATP and 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The native mitoKATP channel is activated by diazoxide and inhibited by ATP and 5-HD. The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (2 microM) increased the cumulative open probability of the mitoKATP channel previously inhibited by ATP (P < 0.05), but its inactive analog 4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate had no effect. Western blot analysis detected an inward rectifying K+ channel (Kir6.2) immunoreactive protein at 56 kDa and PKC-delta in the IMM. These data provide the first characterization of the human cardiac mitoKATP channel and its regulation by PKC(s) in IMM. This local PKC control mechanism may represent an alternative pathway to that proposed previously for cytosolic PKC during ischemic/pharmacological preconditioning.     

Shaw potassium channel genes in Drosophila

Drosophila Shaw encodes a voltage-insensitive, slowly activating, noninactivating K(+) current. The functional and developmental roles of this channel are unknown. In this study, we use a dominant transgenic strategy to investigate Shaw function and describe a second member of the Shaw family, Shawl. In situ hybridization showed that the two Shaw family genes, Shaw and Shawl, have largely nonoverlapping expression patterns in embryos. Shaw is expressed mainly in excitable cells of the CNS and PNS of late embryos. Shawl is expressed in many nonexcitable cell types: ubiquitously in embryos until the germband extends, then transiently in the developing CNS and PNS, becoming restricted to progressively smaller subsets of the CNS. Ectopic full-length and truncated Shaw localize differently within neurons, and produce uneclosed small pupae and adults with unfurled wings and softened cuticle. This phenotype was mapped to the crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP)-neuropeptide circuit. Widespread expression of Shaw in the nervous system results in a reduction in body mass, ether-induced shaking, and lethality. Expression of full-length Shaw had more extreme phenotypic consequences and caused earlier lethality than expression of truncated Shaw in a given GAL4 pattern. Whole cell recordings from ventral ganglion motor neurons expressing the truncated Shaw protein suggest that a major role of Shaw channels in these cells is to contribute to the resting potential.     

A discriminant model constructed by the support vector machine method for HERG potassium channel inhibitors

HERG attracts attention as a risk factor for arrhythmia, which might trigger torsade de pointes. A highly accurate classifier of chemical compounds for inhibition of the HERG potassium channel is constructed using support vector machine. For two test sets, our discriminant models achieved 90% and 95% accuracy, respectively. The classifier is even applied for the prediction of cardio vascular adverse effects to achieve about 70% accuracy. While modest inhibitors are partly characterized by properties linked to global structure of a molecule including hydrophobicity and diameter, strong inhibitors are exclusively characterized by properties linked to substructures of a molecule.     

Effect of the phytoestrogen, genistein-8-C-glucoside, on Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro

Genistein-8-C-glucoside (G8CG) belongs to isoflavones, which are a subclass of flavonoids, a large group of polyphenolic compounds widely distributed in plants. A number of studies on flavonoids show their cardioprotective and antiosteoporosis properties in in vitro and in vivo models. As a phytoestrogen, genistein has recently generated interest as a potential anticancer and antiatherogenic agent. Several flavonoids are known as antioxidants and scavengers of free oxygen radicals. In the current investigation we used glycosylated genistein (genistein-8-C-glucoside) from flowers of lupine (Lupinus luteus L.). Many authors have found that the action of genistein is not so simple, although many reports conducted in vitro have demonstrated that it is cytotoxic and genotoxic. Therefore, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of this compound in Chinese hamster ovary cells (line CHO) were studied. A colorimetric MTT assay to assess cytotoxicity and a Comet assay for the detection of DNA damage were used. Apoptosis was determined by the Hoechst 33258/propidium iodide staining technique. We have also demonstrated antioxidant properties of G8CG. The level of reactive oxygen species generated by G8CG alone and/or H2O2 was evaluated with fluorescence probes: dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFDA) by flow cytometry. The cells were exposed to various concentrations of genistein-8-C-glucoside (1-290 microM) and hydrogen peroxide (10-130 microM) and the effect of G8CG alone or in combination with H2O2 was determined. The results reveal that G8CG at concentrations higher than 10 microM significantly reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis and DNA damage. However at lower concentrations (5 and 7.5 microM), G8CG showed antioxidant properties, but had no cytotoxic or genotoxic activity.