Ca2+ controls functional expression of the cardiac K+ transient outward current via the calcineurin pathway

The transient outward K+ current (Ito) modulates transmembrane Ca2+ influx into cardiomyocytes, which, in turn, might act on Ito. Here, we investigated whether Ca2+ modifies functional expression of Ito. Whole-cell Ito were recorded using the patch clamp technique in single right ventricular myocytes isolated from adult rats and incubated for 24 h at 37 degrees C in a serum-free medium containing various Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]o). Increasing the [Ca2+]o from 0.5 to 1.0 and 2.5 mM produced a gradual decrease in Ito density without change in current kinetics. Quantitativereverse transcriptase-PCR showed that a decrease of the Kv4.2 mRNA could account for this decrease. In the acetoxymethyl ester form of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM)-loaded myocytes (a permeant Ca2+ chelator), Ito density increased significantly when cells were exposed for 24 h to either 1 or 2.5 mM [Ca2+]o. Moreover, 24-h exposure to the Ca2+ channel agonist, Bay K8644, in 1 mM [Ca2+]o induced a decrease in Ito density, whereas the Ca2+ channel antagonist, nifedipine, blunted Ito decrease in 2.5 mM [Ca2+]o. The decrease of Ito in 2.5 mM [Ca2+]o was also prevented by co-incubation with either the calmodulin inhibitor W7 or the calcineurin inhibitors FK506 or cyclosporin A. Furthermore, in myocytes incubated for 24 h with 2.5 mM [Ca2+]o, calcineurin activity was significantly increased compared with 1 mM [Ca2+]o. Our data suggest that modulation of [Ca2+]i via L-type Ca2+ channels, which appears to involve the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase calcineurin, down-regulates the functional expression of Ito. This effect might be involved in many physiological and pathological modulations of Ito channel expression in cardiac cells, as well other cell types.