Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor–Induced Endothelial Proliferation and NO Synthesis Involves Inward Rectifier K+ Current

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 1229 - 1233
• Main Authors: Scharbrodt, Wolfram, Kuhlmann, Christoph Rüdiger Wolfram, Wu, Yongijan, Schaefer, Christian Alexander, Most, Astrid Kerstin, Backenköhler, Ulrich, Neumann, Thomas, Tillmanns, Harald, Waldecker, Bernd, Erdogan, Ali, Wiecha, Johannes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Heart Association, Inc 01.07.2004; Hagerstown, MD Lippincott
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Barium - metabolism; Barium - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Calcium - metabolism; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cell Division - drug effects; Cells, Cultured - cytology; Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Cells, Cultured - physiology; Cyclic GMP - biosynthesis; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - pharmacology; Humans; Ion Channel Gating - drug effects; Ion Channel Gating - physiology; Ion Transport - drug effects; Ion Transport - physiology; Medical sciences; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Potassium - metabolism; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying - physiology; Vascular disease; Angiogenesis; growth factors; Nitric oxide; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Basic fibroblast growth factor; ion channels; Growth factor
• ISSN: 1079-5642; 1524-4636
• DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000130663.37663.6a

OBJECTIVES—Inward rectifier K currents (Kir) determine the resting membrane potential and thereby modulate essential Ca-dependent pathways, like cell growth and synthesis of vasoactive agents in endothelial cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) acts as a vasodilatator and angiogenic factor. Therefore, we investigated the effect of bFGF on Kir and assessed the role in proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) formation of endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS—Using the patch-clamp technique, we found characteristic Kir in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), which were dose-dependently blocked by barium (10 to 100 μmol/L). Perfusion with bFGF (50 ng/mL) caused a significant increase of Kir, which was blocked by 100 μmol/L barium (n=18, P <0.01). The bFGF-induced HUVEC proliferation was significantly inhibited when using 50 to 100 μmol/L barium (n=6; P <0.01). NO production was examined using a cGMP radioimmunoassay. bFGF caused a significant increase of cGMP levels (n =10; P <0.05), which were blocked by barium. CONCLUSIONS—Modulation of Kir plays an important role in bFGF-mediated endothelial cell growth and NO formation.