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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Profiling Voltage-gated Potassium Channel mRNA Expression in Nigral Neurons using Single-cell RT-PCR Techniques
Published on: September 27, 2011
The increase of voltage-gated potassium channel Kv3.4 mRNA expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Kuo-Wei Chang1, Ta-Chun Yuan, Kung-Ping Fang
1The School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Potassium channels have been reported to be involved in the proliferation of many types of cells, including tumor cells. The overexpression of the K+ channel and related channel activity are involved in the neoplastic process.
Methods:
We examined the expression of an A-type voltage-gated K+ channel, Kv3.4, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) compared with non-cancerous matched tissue (NCMT) using RT-PCR analysis. In addition, administration of an A-type K+ channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) directed specifically against Kv3.4 were performed to identify the involvement of Kv3.4 in the growth of OSCC cells.
Results:
A significantly increase in the frequency of Kv3.4 mRNA expression was identified in OSCC (64%) compared to corresponding NCMT (29%) (P = 0.05). The increase of Kv3.4 mRNA expression was also eminent in ESCC. Growth of OSCC cells was significantly inhibited by 4-AP in a dose-dependent manner at different time point of treatment. In OECM-1 OSCC cells, a significant growth inhibition was noted in antisense ODN-treated cells compared to control cells.
Conclusion:
We provide novel evidences of the increase of Kv3.4 mRNA expression in OSCC. The abrogation of Kv3.4 inhibits the growth of OSCC cells.
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