Changes in Inward Rectifier K+ Channels in Hepatic Stellate Cells During Primary Culture

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 459 - 471
• Main Authors: Lee, Dong Hyeon, Kong, In Deok, Lee, Joong-Woo, Park, Kyu-Sang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 30.06.2008; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Animals; Barium - pharmacology; Blotting, Western; Cells, Cultured; Electrophysiology; Liver - cytology; Liver - metabolism; Male; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Original; Potassium - pharmacology; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying - genetics; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying - metabolism; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying - physiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; 의학일반
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2008.49.3.459

This study examined the expression and function of inward rectifier K(+) channels in cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The expression of inward rectifier K(+) channels was measured using real-time RT-PCR, and electrophysiological properties were determined using the gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp technique. The dominant inward rectifier K(+) channel subtypes were K(ir)2.1 and K(ir)6.1. These dominant K(+) channel subtypes decreased significantly during the primary culture throughout activation process. HSC can be classified into two subgroups: one with an inward-rectifying K(+) current (type 1) and the other without (type 2). The inward current was blocked by Ba(2+) (100 microM) and enhanced by high K(+) (140 mM), more prominently in type 1 HSC. There was a correlation between the amplitude of the Ba(2+)-sensitive current and the membrane potential. In addition, Ba(2+) (300 microM) depolarized the membrane potential. After the culture period, the amplitude of the inward current decreased and the membrane potential became depolarized. HSC express inward rectifier K(+) channels, which physiologically regulate membrane potential and decrease during the activation process. These results will potentially help determine properties of the inward rectifier K(+) channels in HSC as well as their roles in the activation process.