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Isolation and Kv Channel Recordings in Murine Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: March 12, 2013
Functional ion channels in mouse cardiac c-kit(+) cells.
Yi Han1, Jia-Dao Chen, Zu-Mei Liu
1Dept. of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Univ. of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
|February 5, 2010
Summary
Cardiac c-kit(+) cells possess functional ion channels, including delayed rectifier K(+) current, inward rectifier K(+) current, and volume-sensitive chloride current. Volume-sensitive chloride current specifically regulates cardiac stem cell proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Cardiac c-kit(+) cells are considered the primary stem/progenitor cells in the heart.
- These cells hold potential for cardiomyoplasty, but their electrophysiological properties remain largely uncharacterized.
- Understanding ion channel function is crucial for elucidating their behavior and therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of ion channels in undifferentiated mouse cardiac c-kit(+) cells.
- To determine the role of specific ion currents in regulating cell proliferation.
- To identify the ion channel genes expressed in these cells.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell patch voltage clamp electrophysiology to record ionic currents.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify ion channel gene expression.
- Cell proliferation assays and cell cycle analysis to assess proliferation regulation.
Main Results:
- Three distinct functional ion currents were identified: delayed rectifier K(+) current (IK(DR)), inward rectifier K(+) current (I(Kir)), and volume-sensitive chloride current (I(Cl.vol)).
- RT-PCR confirmed the expression of genes encoding Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kv1.6, Kir1.1, Kir2.1, Kir2.2, and Clcn3.
- Inhibition of I(Cl.vol) significantly reduced cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle progression at the G(0)/G(1) phase, while IK(DR) inhibition had no effect.
Conclusions:
- Undifferentiated mouse cardiac c-kit(+) cells exhibit functional IK(DR), I(Kir), and I(Cl.vol) ion currents.
- The volume-sensitive chloride current (I(Cl.vol)) plays a critical role in regulating the proliferation of cardiac c-kit(+) cells.
- These findings provide novel insights into the electrophysiology of cardiac stem cells and their proliferative mechanisms.
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