• BMB Reports
• /
• v.42 no.8
• /
• pp.535-539
• /
• 2009

Voltage-gated $K^+$ (Kv) channels are widely expressed in the plasma membranes of numerous cells such as epithelial cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated that Kv channels are associated with the proliferation of several types of cancer cells. Specifically, Kv1.3 seems to be involved in cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. In the present study, we examined the expression of Kv1.3 in immortalized and tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells. We also evaluated the expression level of Kv1.3 in each stage of breast cancer using mRNA isolated from breast cancer patients. In addition, treatment with tetraethylammonium, a Kv channel blocker, suppressed tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cell proliferation. Therefore, Kv1.3 may serve as a novel molecular target for breast cancer therapy while its stage-specific expression pattern may provide a potential diagnostic marker for breast cancer development.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.130-135
• /
• 2021

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are involved in many important cellular functions and play pivotal roles in cancer progression. The expression level of Kv2.1 was observed to be higher in the highly metastatic prostate cancer cells (PC-3), specifically in their membrane, than in immortalized prostate cells (WPMY-1 cells) and comparatively less metastatic prostate cancer cells (LNCaP and DU145 cells). However, Kv2.1 expression was significantly decreased when the cells were treated with antioxidants, such as N-acetylcysteine or ascorbic acid, implying that the highly expressed Kv2.1 could detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) in malignant prostate cancer cells. In addition, the blockade of Kv2.1 with stromatoxin-1 or siRNA targeting Kv2.1 significantly inhibited the migration of malignant prostate cancer cells. Our results suggested that Kv2.1 plays an important role as a ROS sensor and that it is a promising therapeutic molecular target in metastasis of prostate cancer.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.10
• /
• pp.677-682
• /
• 2010

Kv4.2, a pore-forming $\alpha$-subunit of voltage-gated A-type potassium channels, is expressed abundantly in the soma and dendrites of hippocampal neurons, and is responsible for somatodendritic $I_A$ current. Recent studies have suggested that changes in the surface levels of Kv4.2 potassium channels might be relevant to synaptic plasticity. Although the function and expression of Kv4.2 protein have been extensively studied, the dendritic localization of Kv4.2 mRNA is not well described. In this study, Kv4.2 mRNAs were shown to be localized in the dendrites near postsynaptic regions. The dendritic transport of Kv4.2 mRNAs were mediated by microtubule-based movement. The 500 nucleotides of specific regions within the 3'-untranslated region of Kv4.2 mRNA were found to be necessary and sufficient for its dendritic localization. Collectively, these results suggest that the dendritic localization of Kv4.2 mRNAs might regulate the dendritic surface level of Kv4.2 channels and synaptic plasticity.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2019

Among the environmental chemicals that may be able to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals and humans are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a chemical class of considerable concern. PCB consists of two six-carbon rings linked by a single carbon bond, and theoretically, 209 congeners can form, depending on the number of chlorines and their location on the biphenyl rings. Furthermore, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) exposure also increases nitric oxide production and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells binding activity in chondrocytes, thus contributing as an initiator of chondrocyte apoptosis and resulting in thymic atrophy and immunosuppression. This study identified whether cardiac and immune abnormalities from PCB126 were caused by the Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels. PCB126 did not affect either the steady-state current or peak current of the Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels. However, PCB126 right-shifted the steady-state activation curves of human Kv1.3 channels. These results suggest that PCBs can affect the heart in a way that does not block voltage-dependent potassium channels including Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 directly.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.399-406
• /
• 2023

Voltage-dependent K⁺ (Kv) channels are widely expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells and regulate vascular tone. Here, we explored the inhibitory effect of encainide, a class Ic anti-arrhythmic agent, on Kv channels of vascular smooth muscle from rabbit coronary arteries. Encainide inhibited Kv channels in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 8.91 ± 1.75 μM and Hill coefficient of 0.72 ± 0.06. The application of encainide shifted the activation curve toward a more positive potential without modifying the inactivation curve, suggesting that encainide inhibited Kv channels by altering the gating property of channel activation. The inhibition by encainide was not significantly affected by train pulses (1 and 2 Hz), indicating that the inhibition is not use (state)-dependent. The inhibitory effect of encainide was reduced by pretreatment with the Kv1.5 subtype inhibitor. However, pretreatment with the Kv2.1 subtype inhibitor did not alter the inhibitory effects of encainide on Kv currents. Based on these results, encainide inhibits vascular Kv channels in a concentration-dependent and use (state)-independent manner by altering the voltage sensor of the channels. Furthermore, Kv1.5 is the main Kv subtype involved in the effect of encainide.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.323-333
• /
• 2024

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were once used throughout various industries; however, because of their persistence in the environment, exposure remains a global threat to the environment and human health. The Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels have been implicated in the immunotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of PCBs, respectively. We determined whether 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77), a dioxin-like PCB, alters human Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 currents using the Xenopus oocyte expression system. Exposure to 10 nM PCB77 for 15 min enhanced the Kv1.3 current by approximately 30.6%, whereas PCB77 did not affect the Kv1.5 current at concentrations up to 10 nM. This increase in the Kv1.3 current was associated with slower activation and inactivation kinetics as well as right-shifting of the steady-state activation curve. Pretreatment with PCB77 significantly suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages. Overall, these data suggest that acute exposure to trace concentrations of PCB77 impairs immune function, possibly by enhancing Kv1.3 currents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.96-103
• /
• 2012

Kv 4.2 ion channel protein has an ability to open at subthreshold membrane potentials and to recover quickly from inactivation. That is very important for neuronal signal transmission in vertebrate brain. In order to purify Kv 4.2 protein, the novel purification methods were experimented. The purification procedure utilized chromatography on DE-52 ion exchange column and affinity chromatography on a WGA-Sepharose 4B, and Kv 4.2 affinity column chromatography. It was found that 0.5% (wt./vol.) Triton X-100 detergent in lysis buffer worked well for Kv 4.2 protein solubilization from rat brain membrane. Protein quantitative determination was conducted by BCA method at 562 nm for each purification step to avoid determination interference of protein at 280 nm by detergent. The confirmation of Kv 4.2 existence and amount is performed using by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting or 96-well dot blotting. The Kv 4.2 without interacting protein that contains carbohydrate, was purified from novel biochemical 3-steps purification method for further research.

• 전기의세계
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 1971

본고에서는 한전 345KV 초고압설비의 절연협조에 대해서 개관하여 보았으며 다음과 같이 요약할 수 있다. 1. 절연협조에서는 충격전압, 개폐과도전압 및 상용주파전압을 고찰해야 한다. 2. 이들 전압의 기대치는 다음과 같다. 충격전압: 1500KV, 개폐과도전압: 890KV(3.0 P.U.), 상용주파과전압: 1.2배, 3. 한전이 선정한 절연수준은 다소 유도의 폭이 큰 편이다. 4. 송전선로의 절연은 개폐과도전압치를 2.3 P.U로 압제 상대적으로 높게하고 있으며, 일연 17개의 애자로서 충분한 것으로 보인다.

• 전기의세계
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 1973

송전전압은 계속 높아지고 있어 800KV 교류송전 또는 1500KV(.+-.750KV) 직류송전까지에 이르고 있다. 우리나라에서도 금년중에 345KV 초고압설비의 착공을 예정하고 있으며 1976년까지에는 그 일단계규모를 완성시킬 계획이다. 이와같은 위라나라 최초의 초고압설비의 설현을 앞에두고, 그동안의 경위를 돌아보고 앞으로의 전망을 살펴보는것이 또한 뜻있는 일로 생각되어, 이하 초고압설비의 필요성, 특성, 경위 및 금후의 전망이라는 순으로 요약 기술코저 한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
• /
• 1999.06a
• /
• pp.22-23
• /
• 1999

Voltage-gated $K^{＋}$ channels represent the most complex group of ion channel genes expressed in cardiovascular system. The human Kv1.5 channel (hKv1.5) represents the $I_{Kur}$ repolarizing current in atrial myocytes. The hKv1.5 channel is functionally modulated by the Kv$\beta$1.3 subunit, which converts it from a delayed rectifier to a channel with rapid inactivation and enhanced voltage sensitivity.(omitted)d)