scholarly journals TREK-1 currents in smooth muscle cells from pregnant human myometrium

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (6) ◽  
pp. C632-C642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathanael S. Heyman ◽  
Chad L. Cowles ◽  
Scott D. Barnett ◽  
Yi-Ying Wu ◽  
Charles Cullison ◽  
...  

The mechanisms governing maintenance of quiescence during pregnancy remain largely unknown. The current study characterizes a stretch-activated, tetraethylammonium-insensitive K+ current in smooth muscle cells isolated from pregnant human myometrium. This study hypothesizes that these K+ currents can be attributed to TREK-1 and that upregulation of this channel during pregnancy assists with the maintenance of a negative cell membrane potential, conceivably contributing to uterine quiescence until full term. The results of this study demonstrate that, in pregnant human myometrial cells, outward currents at 80 mV increased from 4.8 ± 1.5 to 19.4 ± 7.5 pA/pF and from 3.0 ± 0.8 to 11.8 ± 2.7 pA/pF with application of arachidonic acid (AA) and NaHCO3, respectively, causing intracellular acidification. Similarly, outward currents were inhibited following application of 10 μM fluphenazine by 51.2 ± 9.8% after activation by AA and by 73.9 ± 4.2% after activation by NaHCO3. In human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells stably expressing TREK-1, outward currents at 80 mV increased from 91.0 ± 23.8 to 247.5 ± 73.3 pA/pF and from 34.8 ± 8.9 to 218.6 ± 45.0 pA/pF with application of AA and NaHCO3, respectively. Correspondingly, outward currents were inhibited 89.5 ± 2.3% by 10 μM fluphenazine following activation by AA and by 91.6 ± 3.4% following activation by NaHCO3. Moreover, currents in human myometrial cells were activated by stretch and were reduced by transfection with small interfering RNA or extracellular acidification. Understanding gestational regulation of expression and gating of TREK-1 channels could be important in determining appropriate maintenance of uterine quiescence during pregnancy.

1996 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Kisielewska ◽  
A P F Flint ◽  
A J Ziecik

Abstract Although the uterus is a target tissue for LH and its homologue hCG the second messenger system responding to LH/hCG in myometrial cells is not established. In this study we investigated the involvement of protein kinase A and protein kinase C in the action of hCG on porcine myometrial smooth muscle cells in vitro. Myometrium was obtained from ovariectomized gilts given 2·5 mg oestradiol benzoate plus 50 mg progesterone for five consecutive days. Myometrial cells were cultured for 48 h and different doses of hCG were then added. Increasing doses of hCG stimulated concentration-dependent increases in [3H]inositol phosphates (IPs) accumulation in incubations lasting 24 h. The highest dose of hCG (1000 mU/ml) increased turnover of IPs by 2·4-fold as reflected in elevations in IP1, IP2 and IP3, and similar effects were observed with noradrenaline. The time- and concentration-dependent effects of hCG on IPs accumulation occurred between 16 and 24 h of incubation. Incubation of myocytes with the lowest doses of hCG (0·1 and 1 mU/ml) caused a significant increase in cAMP accumulation but the highest doses (10–1000 mU/ml) had no effect on cAMP concentrations. This is the first demonstration that LH/hCG receptor signalling leads to increased inositol phosphate turnover in myometrial cells as well as cAMP generation and it leads to the conclusion that both protein kinase A and protein kinase C signalling mechanisms are involved in gonadotrophin action in porcine myometrial smooth muscle cells. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 148, 175–180


2015 ◽  
Vol 199 (1) ◽  
pp. 266-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Bools ◽  
Richard K. Fisher ◽  
Oscar H. Grandas ◽  
Stacy S. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Joshua D. Arnold ◽  
...  

1999 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronghua ZhuGe ◽  
Richard A. Tuft ◽  
Kevin E. Fogarty ◽  
Karl Bellve ◽  
Fredric S. Fay ◽  
...  

Localized, transient elevations in cytosolic Ca2+, known as Ca2+ sparks, caused by Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, are thought to trigger the opening of large conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels in the plasma membrane resulting in spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) in smooth muscle cells. But the precise relationships between Ca2+ concentration within the sarcoplasmic reticulum and a Ca2+ spark and that between a Ca2+ spark and a STOC are not well defined or fully understood. To address these problems, we have employed two approaches using single patch-clamped smooth muscle cells freshly dissociated from toad stomach: a high speed, wide-field imaging system to simultaneously record Ca2+ sparks and STOCs, and a method to simultaneously measure free global Ca2+ concentration in the sarcoplasmic reticulum ([Ca2+]SR) and in the cytosol ([Ca2+]CYTO) along with STOCs. At a holding potential of 0 mV, cells displayed Ca2+ sparks and STOCs. Ca2+ sparks were associated with STOCs; the onset of the sparks coincided with the upstroke of STOCs, and both had approximately the same decay time. The mean increase in [Ca2+]CYTO at the time and location of the spark peak was ∼100 nM above a resting concentration of ∼100 nM. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks recorded at −80 mV were unchanged for a period of 10 min after removal of extracellular Ca2+ (nominally Ca2+-free solution with 50 μM EGTA), indicating that Ca2+ influx is not necessary for Ca2+sparks. A brief pulse of caffeine (20 mM) elicited a rapid decrease in [Ca2+]SR in association with a surge in [Ca2+]CYTO and a fusion of STOCs, followed by a fast restoration of [Ca2+]CYTO and a gradual recovery of [Ca2+]SR and STOCs. The return of global [Ca2+]CYTO to rest was an order of magnitude faster than the refilling of the sarcoplasmic reticulum with Ca2+. After the global [Ca2+]CYTO was fully restored, recovery of STOC frequency and amplitude were correlated with the level of [Ca2+]SR, even though the time for refilling varied greatly. STOC frequency did not recover substantially until the [Ca2+]SR was restored to 60% or more of resting levels. At [Ca2+]SR levels above 80% of rest, there was a steep relationship between [Ca2+]SR and STOC frequency. In contrast, the relationship between [Ca2+]SR and STOC amplitude was linear. The relationship between [Ca2+]SR and the frequency and amplitude was the same for Ca2+ sparks as it was for STOCs. The results of this study suggest that the regulation of [Ca2+]SR might provide one mechanism whereby agents could govern Ca2+ sparks and STOCs. The relationship between Ca2+ sparks and STOCs also implies a close association between a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release site and the Ca2+-activated potassium channels responsible for a STOC.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (6) ◽  
pp. L1379-L1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie A. Porter ◽  
Michael T. Rhodes ◽  
Helen L. Reeve ◽  
David N. Cornfield

O2 sensing in fetal pulmonary artery smooth muscle is critically important in the successful transition to air breathing at birth. However, the mechanism by which the fetal pulmonary vasculature senses and responds to an acute increase in O2tension is not known. Isolated fetal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were kept in primary culture for 5–14 days in a hypoxic environment (20–30 mmHg). These cells showed a 25.1 ± 1.7% decrease in intracellular calcium in response to an acute increase in O2 tension. Low concentrations of caffeine (0.5 mM) and diltiazem also decreased intracellular calcium. The decrease in intracellular calcium concentration in response to increasing O2 was inhibited by iberiotoxin and ryanodine. Freshly isolated fetal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells exhibited “spontaneous transient outward currents,” indicative of intracellular calcium spark activation of calcium-sensitive potassium channels. The frequency of spontaneous transient outward currents increased when O2 tension was increased to normoxic levels. Increasing fetal pulmonary O2 tension in acutely instrumented fetal sheep increased fetal pulmonary blood flow. Ryanodine attenuated O2-induced pulmonary vasodilation. This study demonstrates that fetal pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells are capable of responding to an acute increase in O2tension and that this O2 response is mediated by intracellular calcium activation of calcium-sensitive potassium channels.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (6) ◽  
pp. C793-C801 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Kotlikoff

Canine tracheal smooth muscle cells were enzymatically dissociated, and individual myocytes were voltage clamped through use of the whole cell, patch-clamp method. Cells dialyzed with solutions high in potassium and bathed in physiological saline demonstrated brief inward currents, followed by large outward currents that inactivated very slowly. When outward currents were blocked, a voltage-activated inward current was observed that activated with depolarizations to voltages positive to -45 mV, with an apparent reversal potential greater than 110 mV, and a peak current at 15 mV. This current was identified as a calcium current on the basis of 1) its presence under conditions in which calcium was the only permeant cation, 2) the lack of a blocking effect of 2 microM tetrodotoxin, and 3) block of the current by Mn2+, Cd2+, and CO2+. Increases in external calcium concentration from 2 to 20 mM resulted in an increase in current amplitude and a shift of voltage activation toward more positive potentials. The current displayed a rapid inactivation phase with a time constant of 16-52 ms, which was well fit by a single exponential. Steady-state inactivation of the calcium current was sigmoidal, with a voltage of half inactivation of -21 mV in 20 mM Ca2+. The principle component of the calcium current was further identified as a transient current on the basis of its rapid inactivation, current-voltage characteristics, and relative insensitivity to dihydropyridine calcium channel blocking agents.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (6) ◽  
pp. C1780-C1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hatakeyama ◽  
D. Mukhopadhyay ◽  
R. K. Goyal ◽  
H. I. Akbarali

We studied the role of tyrosine kinase in the regulation of Ca2+ entry in single smooth muscle cells of the rabbit colonic muscularis mucosae using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Step depolarization to +10 mV from a holding potential of -60 mV produced inward currents that were abolished by 1 microM nifedipine, consistent with the activation of L-type Ca2+ channels. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and tyrphostin B42, dose dependently inhibited these Ca2+ currents. The inactive analogue of tyrphostins, tyrphostin A1, did not affect the currents at concentrations of up to 100 microM. Conversely, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, orthovanadate, enhanced peak Ca2+ currents by 30%. Spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) (50-600 pA) were elicited with high K+ in the pipette and at 0-mV holding potential. STOCs were activated due to release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, required the presence of extracellular Ca2+ concentration, and were insensitive to nifedipine. Genistein abolished STOCs; however, in its presence, outward currents activated by caffeine or carbachol were not affected. The refilling of the Ca2+ stores was studied by first depleting intracellular Ca2+ with carbachol in Ca(2+)-free media followed by reperfusing with a Ca(2+)-containing solution for 3-5 min. Under these conditions, a second application of carbachol evoked an outward current due to Ca2+ release. However, this effect was abolished when the refilling of the stores was carried out in the presence of genistein. Carbachol-evoked currents were not attenuated when the refilling was examined in the presence of orthovanadate. Epidermal growth factor (200 ng/ml) enhanced Ca2+ currents by 60% and markedly increased STOCs by over 200%. Western blot analysis, using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, showed a tyrosine phosphorylated protein of 60 kDa in control conditions. This was markedly increased after treatment with epidermal growth factor and carbachol. These results suggest that 1) tyrosine kinase modulates the entry of Ca2+ through L-type channels and through nifedipine-resistant pathways involved in refilling of intracellular stores and 2) stimulation of the kinase by agonists enhances Ca2+ entry in the smooth muscle cells of the rabbit colonic muscularis mucosae.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (1) ◽  
pp. C92-C98 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Mackenzie ◽  
R. A. Word ◽  
M. L. Casey ◽  
J. T. Stull

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the 20-kDa regulatory light chain of myosin is of signal importance in the initiation of contraction in a number of smooth muscle tissues. In this investigation, we evaluated the relationship between intracellular free Ca2+/concentration [( Ca2+]i) and the extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation in cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Treatment of myometrial cells with ionomycin caused a concentration- and time-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i and phosphorylation of myosin light chain. Temporally, the increases in light chain phosphorylation and [Ca2+]i in response to ionomycin were similar. In myometrial cells treated with ionomycin (10(-5) M) for 10 s, [Ca2+]i increased from 138 to 800 nM; in these same cells, myosin light chain phosphorylation increased from 5% to a maximum value of 54%. Half-maximal phosphorylation of myosin light chain was attained at 300 nM [Ca2+]i. Treatment of myometrial smooth muscle cells with prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha (10(-8) M) and PGE2 (10(-8) M) caused a proportionate increase in [Ca2+]i and myosin light chain phosphorylation. In addition, [Ca2+]i and myosin light chain phosphorylation increased in response to oxytocin and angiotensin II. These findings indicate that a number of uterotonic agents effect an increase in [Ca2+]i, which in turn causes phosphorylation of myosin light chain. Furthermore, the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm is a primary determinant for myosin light chain phosphorylation in human myometrial smooth muscle cells.


1996 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Kornyei ◽  
X Li ◽  
ZM Lei ◽  
ChV Rao

Kornyei JL, Li X, Lei ZM, Rao ChV. Restoration of human chorionic gondadotropin response in human myometrial smooth muscle cells by treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): evidence for the presence of FSH receptors in human myometrium. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:225–31. ISSN 0804–4643 Human myometrial smooth muscle cells contain receptors for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)/ luteinizing hormone (LH). Exogenous hCG and LH can cause a modest hyperplasia in myometrial smooth muscle cells in culture. This response is lost after about the third subculture of the cells. The present study investigated whether the loss of hCG response could be restored by co-culturing with human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The results showed that co-culturing with FSH can indeed restore a modest mitogenic response of hCG. However, FSH alone was not mitogenic. The FSH restoration of hCG response can be blocked by antibodies to FSH or hCG but not by non-specific rabbit IgG. The FSH treatment resulted in an increase of steady state levels of hCG/LH receptor mRNA and protein in myometrial smooth muscle cells. Since the FSH actions could be receptor mediated, we investigated the presence of FSH receptor mRNA transcripts and protein in freshly dispersed myometrial smooth muscle cells. Northern blotting demonstrated that myometrial smooth muscle cells, just as rat ovary, a classical target of FSH action, contain multiple FSH receptor mRNA transcripts. Western immunoblotting demonstrated that myometrial smooth muscle cells also contain a 60 kDa FSH receptor protein just as rat ovary and human granulosa cells used as positive control tissues. The immunocytochemistry also demonstrated that myometrial smooth muscle cells, as rat ovary and human granulosa cells, contain FSH receptor immunostaining. In summary, it is novel that FSH could restore the mitogenic response of hCG in human myometrial smooth muscle cells and these cells contain FSH receptors. These findings may have functional implications for direct regulation of human myometrium not only by hCG/LH but also by FSH. ChV Rao, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 438 MDR Building, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (3) ◽  
pp. E439-E445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Mitchell ◽  
Oksana Shynlova ◽  
B. Lowell Langille ◽  
Stephen J. Lye

During pregnancy, stretch of the uterus, imposed by the growing fetus, is an important signal for the induction of genes involved in the onset of labor. In this study, the expression of activator protein-1 (AP-1) family mRNAs in response to in vitro stretch was investigated in myometrial cells. Rat primary myometrial smooth muscle cells were plated onto collagen I-coated Flex I culture plates and subjected to 25% static stretch on day 4 of culture. Static stretch induced an increase in the expression of c -fos, fosB, fra-1, c -jun, and junB. The expression of both c -fos and junB was maximally induced at 30 min by static stretch. The peak induction for fosB and c -jun occurred at 1 h, whereas the peak of fra-1 induction occurred between 1 and 2 h after application of stretch. Treatment of myometrial cells with progesterone (100 nM, 400 nM, 1 μM) for 1 or 6 h before the application of static stretch did not affect the magnitude of the c -fos response. However, 24 h of progesterone exposure reduced the magnitude of c -fos and fosB stretch induction at both the 400 nM and 1 μM doses. These data indicate that several members of the AP-1 family are stretch-responsive genes in myometrial smooth muscle cells. This response can be attenuated by pretreatment with progesterone; however, the requirement for longer pretreatment times suggests that the inhibitory actions of progesterone do not occur through a direct action of the progesterone receptor within the promoter regions of AP-1 genes.


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