Relationship of Intracellular Free Ca^(2+) Concentration and Calcium-activated Chloride Channels of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells in Rats under Hypoxic Conditions

To investigate the relationship between intracellular free Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋ ]i ） and calcium-activated chloride （Clca） channels of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells （PASMCs） in rats under acute and chronic hypoxic conditions, acute hypoxia-induced contraction was observed in rat pulmonary artery by using routine blood vascular perfusion in vitro. The fluorescence Ca^2＋ indicator Fura-2/AM was used to observe [Ca^2＋ ]i of rat PASMCs under normal and chronic hypoxic condition. The effect of Clca channels on PASMCs proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. The Clca channel blockers niflumic acid （NFA） and indaryloxyacetic acid （IAA-94） exerted inhibitory effects on acute hypoxia-evoked contractions in the pulmonary artery. Under chronic hypoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ ]i was increased. Under normoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ If was （123.634-18.98） nmol/ L, and in hypoxic condition, [Ca^2＋]i wag （281. 754-16.48） nmol/L （P〈0. 01）. Under normoxic condition, [Ca^2＋ ]i showed no significant change and no effect on Clca channels was observed （P〉 0. 05）. Chronic hypoxia increased [Ca^2＋ ]i which opened Clca channels. The NFA and IAA-94 blocked the channels and decreased [Ca^2＋ ]i from （281.75± 16.48） nmot/L to （117.66 ±15.36） nmol/L （P〈0.01）. MTT assay showed that under chronic hypoxic condition NFA and IAA-94 decreased the value of absorbency （A value） from 0. 459±0. 058 to 0. 224±0. 025 （P〈0. 01）. Hypoxia increased [Ca^2＋ ]i which opened Cl~ channels and had a positive-feedback in [Ca^2＋ ]i. This may play an important role in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Under chronic hypoxic condition, Clca channel may play a part in the regulation of proliferation of PASMCs.

Effects of Atractylodes Macrocephala on the Cytomembrane Ca^(2+)-activated K^+ Currents in Cells of Human Pregnant Myometrial Smooth Muscles

The study examined the inhibitory effect of Atractylodes macrocephala （AM） on the uterine contraction during premature delivery and explored its electrophysiological mechanism by studying the effects of AM on the Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ currents of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells with or without the treatment with intedeukin-6. Single cells were acutely isolated from pregnant human myometrial smooth muscles. Whole-cell Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ currents were recorded by using an Axopatchl-D amplifier. The cells were divided into three groups： group A in which AM was added into perfusate, group B, in which interleukin-6 was added into perfusate） and group C in which AM was added into perfusate after addition of interleukin-6. IL-6 10 ng/mL inhibited BKca by 36.9%±13.7% as compared with control （P〈0.01）. AM at 2 mg/mL raised BKca by 36.7%±22.6% or 45.2%±13.7% with or without the treatment of IL-6, respectively （P〈0.01）. It is concluded that AM was able to enhance the BKca of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells treated or untreated with interleukin-6 and its effect on the BKca IL-treated cells was stronger that its effect on BKca of untreated cells. Our results suggested that AM can help to maintain the membrane potentials and the resting status of pregnant human myometrial smooth muscle cells.

Domesticated HERV-W env contributes to the activation of the small conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^(+)type 2 channels via decreased 5-HT4 receptor in recent-onset schizophrenia

The human endogenous retroviruses type W family envelope(HERV-W env)gene is located on chromosome 7q21-22.Our previous studies show that HERV-W env is elevated in schizophrenia and HERV-W env can increase cal-cium influx.Additionally,the 5-HTergie system and particularly 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)receptors play a prominent role in the pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia.5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4(5-HT4R)agonist can block calcium channels.However,the underlying relationship between HERV-W env and 5-HT4R in the etiology of schizophrenia has not been revealed.Here,we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the concentration of HERV-W env and 5-HT4R in the plasma of patients with schizophrenia and we found that there were decreased levels of 5-HT4R and a negative correlation between 5-HT4R and HERV-W env in schizophrenia.Overexpression of HERV-W env decreased the transcription and protein levels of 5-HT4R but increased small conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^(+)type 2 channels(SK2)expression levels.Further studies revealed that HERV-w env could interact with 5-HT4R.Additionally,luciferase assay showed that an essential region(-364 to-176 from the transcription start site)in the SK2 promoter was required for HERV-W env-induced SK2 expression.Importantly,5-HT4R participated in the regulation of SK2 expression and promoter activity.Electrophysiological recordings suggested that HERV-Wenv could increase SK2 channel currents and the increase of SK2 currents was inhibited by 5-HT4R.In condusion,HERV-W env could activate SK2 channels via decreased 5-HT4R,which might exhibit a novel mechanism for HERV-Wenv to influence neuronal activity in schizophrenia.

Effects of calcium-activated chloride channels on proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in rats under chronic hypoxic condition

Objective：To investigate the effects of calcium-activated chloride （ClCa） channels on proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells（PASMCs） in rats under chronic hypoxic condition. Methods：The cultured PASMCs were placed under normoxic and chronic hypoxic conditions：The cells were observed by light and electron microscope; The cell cycles were observed by flow-cytometry; Immunocytochemistry staining was used to detect the expressions of PCNA, c-fos and c-jun of PASMCs; Cytoplasmic free Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋]i） in PASMCs was investigated by fluorescent quantitation using fluorospectrophotometer. Results：The PASMCs were contractile phenotype under normoxic conditions. Observation by transmission electron microscope： In kytoplasm of contractile phenotype cells, myofilament bundles were abundant and the content of cell organs such as Golgi＇s bodies were rare. The PASMCs were synthetic phenotype under chronic hypoxic condition. There were increased free ribosomes, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulums, highly developed Golgi complexes, decreased or disappeared thick filaments and dense body in kytoplasm of synthetic phenotype cells. After NFA and IAA-94, the situations were reversed The number of S ＋G2M PASMCs were significantly increased in chronic hypoxic condition; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease them from （28.6±1.0）% to （16.0±1.6）% and the number of G0G1 PASMCs significantly increased from （71.4± 1.9）% to （83.9 ± 1.6）% （P〈 0.01）. In chronic hypoxic conditions, the expression of proliferating cell nucleus antigen was significantly increased; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease it from （81 ± 6）% to （27 ± 7）%（P 〈 0.01）. The expression of c-fos and c-jun were significantly increased in＇chronic hypoxic conditions; The NFA and IAA-94 were shown to significantly decrease them from 0.15 ±0.02, 0.32 ± 0.05 to 0.05 ± 0.01, 0.12 ± 0.05, respectively （P〈 0.01）; Under chronic hypoxic conditions, [Ca^2＋]i was increased; The NFA and IAA-94 decreased it from （281.8±16,5）nmol/L to （117.7 ± 15.4）nmol/L（P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion：Hypoxia initiated the change of PASMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype and increased proliferation of PASMCs. NFA and IAA-94 depressed cell proliferation by blocking ClCa channels in hypoxic condition. These may play an important role in proliferation of PASMCs under chronic hypoxic conditions.

Effects of ethanol on the tonicity of corporal tissue and the intracellular Ca^2＋ concentration of human corporal smooth muscle cells

Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction （ED）; however, the acute effects of ethanol （EtOH） on penile tissue are not fully understood. We sought to investigate the effects of EtOH on corporal tissue tonicity, as well as the intracellular Ca^2＋ concentration （[Ca^2＋]i） and potassium channel activity of corporal smooth muscle. Strips of corpus cavernosum （CC） from rabbits were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension studies. Electrical field stimulation （EFS） was applied to strips precontracted with 10 μmol L^-1 phenylephrine as a control. EtOH was then added to the organ bath and incubated before EFS. The [Ca^2＋]i levels were monitored by the ratio of fura-2 fluorescence intensities using the fura-2 loading method. Single-channel and whole-cell currents were recorded by the conventional patch-clamp technique in short-term cultured smooth muscle cells from human CC tissue. The corpus cavernosal relaxant response of EFS was decreased in proportion to the concentration of EtOH. EtOH induced a sustained increase in [Ca^2＋]i in a dose-dependent manner, Extracellular application of EtOH significantly increased whole-cell K^＋ currents in a concentration-dependent manner （P 〈 0.05）. EtOH also increased the open probability in cell-attached patches; however, in inside-out patches, the application of EtOH to the intracellular aspect of the patches induced slight inhibition of Ca^2＋-activated potassium channel （KCa） activity. EtOH caused a dose-dependent increase in cavemosal tension by alterations to [Ca^2＋]i. Although EtOH did not affect KCa channels directly, it increased the channel activity by increasing [Ca^2＋]i. The increased corpus cavemosal tone caused by EtOH might be one of the mechanisms of ED after heavy drinking.

Intermediate conductance, Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ channels： a novel target for chronic renal diseases

Renal failure is a medical condition in which the kidneys are not working properly. There are two types of kidney failure： 1） acute kidney failure, which is sudden and often reversible with adequate treatment; and 2） chronic renal failure, which develops slowly and often is not reversible. The last stage of chronic renal failure is fatal without dialysis or kidney transplant. The treatment for chronic renal failure is focusing on slowing the progression of kidney damage. Several reports have described a promising approach to slow the loss of renal function through inhibition of the basolateral membrane, Ca^2＋-activated K^＋ （KCa3.1） channel with a selective and nontoxic blocker TRAM-34. This review summarizes pathophysiological studies that describe the role of KCa3.1 in kidney diseases.

Tacrolimus Inhibits Vasoconstriction by Increasing Ca^(2+) Sparks in Rat Aorta

The present study attempted to test a novel hypothesis that Ca^2＋ sparks play an important role in arterial relaxation induced by tacrolimus. Recorded with confocal laser scanning microscopy, tacrolimus（10 μmol/L） increased the frequency of Ca^2＋ sparks, which could be reversed by ryanodine（10 μmol/L）. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that tacrolimus（10 μmol/L） increased the large-conductance Ca^2＋-activated K＋ currents（BKCa） in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells（AVSMCs）, which could be blocked by ryanodine（10 μmol/L）. Furthermore, tacrolimus（10 and 50 μmol/L） reduced the contractile force induced by norepinephrine（NE） or KCl in aortic vascular smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner, which could be also significantly attenuated by iberiotoxin（100 nmol/L） and ryanodine（10 μmol/L） respectively. In conclusion, tacrolimus could indirectly activate BKCa currents by increasing Ca^2＋ sparks released from ryanodine receptors, which inhibited the NE- or KCl-induced contraction in rat aorta.

The Ca^(2+)-activated chloride channel ANO1/TMEM16A:An emerging therapeutic target for epithelium-originated diseases?

Anoctamin 1(ANO1) or TMEM16 A gene encodes a member of Ca^(2+) activated Cl^(-) channels(CaCCs) that are critical for physiological functions,such as epithelial secretion,smooth muscle contraction and sensory signal transduction.The attraction and interest in ANO1/TMEM16 A arise from a decade long investigations that abnormal expression or dysfunction of ANO1 is involved in many pathological phenotypes and diseases,including asthma,neuropathic pain,hypertension and cancer.However,the lack of specific modulators of ANO1 has impeded the efforts to validate ANO1 as a therapeutic target.This review focuses on the recent progress made in understanding of the pathophysiological functions of CaCC ANO1 and the current modulators used as pharmacological tools,hopefully illustrating a broad spectrum of ANO1 channelopathy and a path forward for this target validation.

otassium channels in airway smooth muscle and airway hyperreactivity in asthma

Our knowledge of the physiology of ion channels has increased tremendously during the past 20 years because of the advances of the single-channel recording and molecular cloning techniques. More than 50 different identified potassium channels have already been found.1,2 They are distributed ubiquitously in wide variety of cells including airway smooth muscle （ASM） cells and inflammatory cells in airway such as eosinophils, basophils, macrophages and so on.3 Several types of K+ channels have been identified in ASM cells, e.g., a large-conductance, voltgage-dependent Ca2+-activated K+ channel(BKCa), a voltage-dependent delayed-rectifier K+ channel（Kv）, and an ATP-sensitve K+ channel(KATP).1 In such excitable cells,

Chenopodium ambrosioides induces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat isolated aorta

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the vasodilatory effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the isolated rat aorta, and to explore its mechanism of action.Methods: The vasorelaxant effect and the mode of action of various extracts from the leaves of C. ambrosioides were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Wistar rats. In addition, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were analyzed, using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, for their polyphenolic content.Results: The various active extracts of C. ambrosioides at four concentrations(10^(-3), 10^(-2), 10^(-1) and 1 mg/mL) relaxed the contraction elicited by phenylephrine, in a concentration-dependent manner.This effect seems to be endothelium-dependent, since the vasodilatory effect was entirely absent in denuded aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effect of the methanol fraction(MF) of C. ambrosioides at 1 mg/mL was also inhibited by atropine and tetraethylammonium. This effect remained unchanged by Nx-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and glibenclamide. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaves of C. ambrosioides are rich in phenolic and flavonoid derivatives.Conclusion: These results suggest that the MF of C. ambrosioides produces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of the isolated rat aorta, which is thought to be mediated mainly through stimulation of the muscarinic receptors, and probably involving the opening of Ca^(2+)-activated potassium channels.