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Published on: January 10, 2011
Patch-clamp profile of ion channels in resting murine B lymphocytes
F V McCann1, D C McCarthy, R J Noelle
1Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03756.
Insights
This study details ion channel activity in mouse B lymphocytes, identifying a prevalent large-conductance anion channel and characterizing several other chloride and potassium channels crucial for B cell function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- B lymphocytes play a critical role in adaptive immunity.
- Ion channels are essential for cellular function and signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the unitary conductances, ion selectivities, regulatory factors, distributions, and kinetic behavior of ion channels in murine B lymphocytes.
- To identify the predominant ion channels involved in B cell activation.
Main Methods:
- Patch-clamp electrophysiology was used to record single ion channel currents.
- Studies were performed on freshly isolated murine B lymphocytes.
Main Results:
- A large conductance (348 pS) nonselective anion channel is the most prevalent.
- Additional characterized channels include two chloride channels (40 and 128 pS), a calcium-activated potassium channel (93 pS), and an outwardly rectifying potassium channel (18 and 30 pS).
- Complex kinetic behaviors, including bursting and flickering, were observed for all channels.
Conclusions:
- Murine B lymphocytes express a diverse array of ion channels.
- These ion channels, particularly the anion and chloride channels, likely play significant roles in B cell activation signal transduction.
Abstract:
Patch-clamp studies of single ion channel currents in freshly isolated murine B lymphocytes are characterized here according to their respective unitary conductances, ion selectivities, regulatory factors, distributions and kinetic behavior. The most prevalent ion channel in murine B lymphocytes is a large conductance (348 pS) nonselective anion channel. This report characterizes additional conductances including: two chloride channels (40 and 128 pS), a calcium-activated potassium channel (93 pS), and an outwardly rectifying potassium channel which displays two distinct conductances (18 and 30 pS). Like the anion channel, both chloride channels exhibit little activity in the cell-attached patch configuration. The kinetic behavior of all of these channels is complex, with variable periods of bursting and flickering activity interspersed between prolonged closed/open intervals (dwell times). It is likely that some of these channels play an important role in the signal transduction of B cell activation.
