Potassium Channels Kv1.3 and Kir2.1 But Not Kv1.5 Contribute to BV2 Cell Line and Primary Microglial Migration

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 4; p. 2081
• Main Authors: Anton, Ruxandra, Ghenghea, Mihail, Ristoiu, Violeta, Gattlen, Christophe, Suter, Marc-Rene, Cojocaru, Petre Alexandru, Popa-Wagner, Aurel, Catalin, Bogdan, Deftu, Alexandru-Florian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 19.02.2021; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Movement; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Kv1.3 Potassium Channel - metabolism; Kv1.5 Potassium Channel - metabolism; Mice, Transgenic; Microglia - cytology; Microglia - metabolism; microglial cells; migration; Nerve Tissue - injuries; Nerve Tissue - pathology; pain; potassium channels; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying - metabolism; spared nerve injury; migration; pain; microglial cells; spared nerve injury; potassium channels
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042081

(1) Background: As membrane channels contribute to different cell functions, understanding the underlying mechanisms becomes extremely important. A large number of neuronal channels have been investigated, however, less studied are the channels expressed in the glia population, particularly in microglia. In the present study, we focused on the function of the Kv1.3, Kv1.5 and Kir2.1 potassium channels expressed in both BV2 cells and primary microglia cultures, which may impact the cellular migration process. (2) Methods: Using an immunocytochemical approach, we were able to show the presence of the investigated channels in BV2 microglial cells, record their currents using a patch clamp and their role in cell migration using the scratch assay. The migration of the primary microglial cells in culture was assessed using cell culture inserts. (3) Results: By blocking each potassium channel, we showed that Kv1.3 and Kir2.1 but not Kv1.5 are essential for BV2 cell migration. Further, primary microglial cultures were obtained from a line of transgenic CX3CR1-eGFP mice that express fluorescent labeled microglia. The mice were subjected to a spared nerve injury model of pain and we found that microglia motility in an 8 µm insert was reduced 2 days after spared nerve injury (SNI) compared with sham conditions. Additional investigations showed a further impact on cell motility by specifically blocking Kv1.3 and Kir2.1 but not Kv1.5; (4) Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of the Kv1.3 and Kir2.1 but not Kv1.5 potassium channels on microglia migration both in BV2 and primary cell cultures.