Downregulation of IL-8 and IL-10 by LRRC8A Inhibition through the NOX2-Nrf2-CEBPB Transcriptional Axis in THP-1-Derived M2 Macrophages.

M2-polarized, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) produce pro-tumorigenic and angiogenic mediators, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-10. Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8 members (LRRC8s) form volume-regulated anion channels and play an important role in macrophage functions by regulating cytokine and chemokine production. We herein examined the role of LRRC8A in IL-8 and IL-10 expression in THP-1-differentiated M2-like macrophages (M2-MACs), which are a useful tool for investigating TAMs. In M2-MACs, the pharmacological inhibition of LRRC8A led to hyperpolarizing responses after a transient depolarization phase, followed by a slight elevation in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. Both the small interfering RNA-mediated and pharmacological inhibition of LRRC8A repressed the transcriptional expression of IL-8 and IL-10, resulting in a significant reduction in their secretion. The inhibition of LRRC8A decreased the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), while the activation of Nrf2 reversed the LRRC8A inhibition-induced transcriptional repression of IL-8 and IL-10 in M2-MACs. We identified the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein isoform B, CEBPB, as a downstream target of Nrf2 signaling in M2-MACs. Moreover, among several upstream candidates, the inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) suppressed the Nrf2-CEBPB transcriptional axis in M2-MACs. Collectively, the present results indicate that the inhibition of LRRC8A repressed IL-8 and IL-10 transcription in M2-MACs through the NOX2-Nrf2-CEBPB axis and suggest that LRRC8A inhibitors suppress the IL-10-mediated evasion of tumor immune surveillance and IL-8-mediated metastasis and neovascularization in TAMs.

Transcriptional Up-Regulation of FBXW7 by KCa1.1 K+ Channel Inhibition through the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Cell Spheroid Model.

The tumor suppressor gene F-box and WD repeat domain-containing (FBXW) 7 reduces cancer stemness properties by promoting the protein degradation of pluripotent stem cell markers. We recently demonstrated the transcriptional repression of FBXW7 by the three-dimensional (3D) spheroid formation of several cancer cells. In the present study, we found that the transcriptional activity of FBXW7 was promoted by the inhibition of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa1.1, in a 3D spheroid model of human prostate cancer LNCaP cells through the Akt-Nrf2 signaling pathway. The transcriptional activity of FBXW7 was reduced by the siRNA-mediated inhibition of the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein C/EBP δ (CEBPD) after the transfection of miR223 mimics in the LNCaP spheroid model, suggesting the transcriptional regulation of FBXW7 through the Akt-Nrf2-CEBPD-miR223 transcriptional axis in the LNCaP spheroid model. Furthermore, the KCa1.1 inhibition-induced activation of FBXW7 reduced (1) KCa1.1 activity and protein levels in the plasma membrane and (2) the protein level of the cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, c-Myc, which is a molecule degraded by FBXW7, in the LNCaP spheroid model, indicating that KCa1.1 inhibition-induced FBXW7 activation suppressed CSC conversion in KCa1.1-positive cancer cells.

The Effects of a Red-Light Controllable Nitric Oxide Donor, NORD-1, on Erectile Dysfunction in Rats with Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes Mellitus.

PURPOSE: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often exhibit refractory erectile dysfunction (ED). Red-light-controllable nitric oxide donor (NORD-1) and red-light irradiation have successfully enhanced erectile function in intact rats. In this study, we investigated whether the combination of NORD-1 and red-light irradiation effectively treated ED in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats with DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Rats in the DM and sham groups received intravenous STZ (50 mg/kg) and saline, respectively. One week after treatment, the blood glucose level of rats in the DM group was >250 mg/dL. Five weeks after the treatment, we performed a functional study by measuring intracavernous pressure (ICP) under cavernous nerve stimulation before and after NORD-1 treatment with and without light irradiation. Additionally, we performed an isometric tension study using the corpus cavernosum of rats treated with NORD-1 or the control compound, SiR650. RESULTS: The ICP/mean arterial pressure (MAP) ratio was significantly lower in the DM group than in the sham group before and after NORD-1 treatment without light irradiation (both p<0.05). After NORD-1 treatment with light irradiation, the ICP/MAP ratio in the sham and DM groups was significantly enhanced than before and after NORD-1 treatment without light irradiation (all p<0.05). The ICP/MAP ratio in the DM group after NORD-1 with light irradiation was similar to that in the sham group under normal conditions before NORD-1 treatment. Moreover, the systemic blood pressure was not affected by NORD-1 or light irradiation. In the tension study, the corpus cavernosum of rats treated with SiR650 was not changed by red light in the sham or DM groups. However, the rats treated with NORD-1 were strongly relaxed by red light in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: NORD-1 and red-light irradiation could improve ED in the presence of DM without lowering blood pressure.

[Overcoming chemoresistance by Ca2＋-activated K＋ channel inhibition in cancer spheroid models].

Ca2＋-activated K＋ channels play a critical role in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, adhesion, and metastasis of various types of cancer cells by controlling Ca2＋ signaling and cell volumes. Their amplification correlated with a high tumor stage and poor prognosis and has the potential as tumor grade-associated markers. The amplification of the large-conductance Ca2＋-activated K＋ channel, KCa1.1 is observed in many types of cancers such as breast, colon, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic cancers and gliomas. The hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes the anti-cancer drug resistance and stemness of solid tumors. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cancer spheroid models mimic the TME of human solid tumors, and are efficient tools for investigating chemoresistance and stemness. We here introduce the mechanisms underlying the post-translational modification of KCa1.1 and the overcome of chemo- and antiandrogen-resistance by KCa1.1 inhibition in 3D cancer spheroid models. KCa1.1 is a key modulator of chemoresistance in KCa1.1-positive cancer cells, indicating that targeting KCa1.1 is a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming chemoresistance.

Down-Regulation of CYP3A4 by the KCa1.1 Inhibition Is Responsible for Overcoming Resistance to Doxorubicin in Cancer Spheroid Models.

The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa1.1, plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, metastasis, and the acquisition of chemoresistance. Previous studies indicated that the pharmacological inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) by down-regulating multidrug resistance-associated proteins in the three-dimensional spheroid models of human prostate cancer LNCaP, osteosarcoma MG-63, and chondrosarcoma SW-1353 cells. Investigations have recently focused on the critical roles of intratumoral, drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) in chemoresistance. In the present study, we examined the involvement of CYPs in the acquisition of DOX resistance and its overcoming by inhibiting KCa1.1 in cancer spheroid models. Among the CYP isoforms involved in DOX metabolism, CYP3A4 was up-regulated by spheroid formation and significantly suppressed by the inhibition of KCa1.1 through the transcriptional repression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein, CEBPB, which is a downstream transcription factor of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. DOX resistance was overcome by the siRNA-mediated inhibition of CYP3A4 and treatment with the potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, ketoconazole, in cancer spheroid models. The phosphorylation levels of Akt were significantly reduced by inhibiting KCa1.1 in cancer spheroid models, and KCa1.1-induced down-regulation of CYP3A4 was reversed by the treatment with Akt and Nrf2 activators. Collectively, the present results indicate that the up-regulation of CYP3A4 is responsible for the acquisition of DOX resistance in cancer spheroid models, and the inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame DOX resistance by repressing CYP3A4 transcription mainly through the Akt-Nrf2-CEBPB axis.

Recent Developments in Ion Channel and Ion-Related Signaling.

Ion channels play an important role in the cellular functions of various organ systems, such as the nervous, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems, and are potential therapeutic targets for treatments of their dysfunctions, via 'channelopathy' [...].

KCa3.1 regulates cell cycle progression by modulating Ca2+ signaling in murine preosteoblasts.

Osteoblasts synthesize and deposit essential components of the extracellular bone matrix and collagen scaffolds, leading to mineralized bone formation. Therefore, the proliferation of preosteoblasts (precursors of mature osteoblasts) helps in regulating skeletal homeostasis. This study demonstrated that the functional expression of KCa3.1, an intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel, is markedly upregulated in murine preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in the G0/G1 phase. The enhancement of KCa3.1 is involved in the establishment of more negative membrane potentials in MC3T3-E1 cells. This hyperpolarization can promote intracellular Ca2+ signaling because store-operated Ca2+ channels are activated. Treatment with TRAM-34, a specific KCa3.1 inhibitor, attenuated the cell cycle progression from the G0/G1 phase to the S/G2/M phases. In MC3T3-E1 cells, KCa3.1 significantly promoted the transition from the G1 phase to the S phase. KCa3.1 inhibition also caused G0 phase cell accumulation. Furthermore, TRAM-34 decreased the expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin, osteoblast differentiation markers in MC3T3-E1 cells, and inhibited the endochondral ossification of murine metatarsals. These results reveal novel ways by which KCa3.1 activity can strongly modulate osteoblast maturation during bone formation.

Downregulation of IL-8 and IL-10 by the Activation of Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel KCa3.1 in THP-1-Derived M2 Macrophages.

THP-1-differentiated macrophages are useful for investigating the physiological significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In the tumor microenvironment (TME), TAMs with the M2-like phenotype play a critical role in promoting cancer progression and metastasis by inhibiting the immune surveillance system. We examined the involvement of Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in TAMs in expressing pro-tumorigenic cytokines and angiogenic growth factors. In THP-1-derived M2 macrophages, the expression levels of IL-8 and IL-10 were significantly decreased by treatment with the selective KCa3.1 activator, SKA-121, without changes in those of VEGF and TGF-ß1. Furthermore, under in vitro experimental conditions that mimic extracellular K+ levels in the TME, IL-8 and IL-10 levels were both significantly elevated, and these increases were reversed by combined treatment with SKA-121. Among several signaling pathways potentially involved in the transcriptional regulation of IL-8 and IL-10, respective treatments with ERK and JNK inhibitors significantly repressed their transcriptions, and treatment with SKA-121 significantly reduced the phosphorylated ERK, JNK, c-Jun, and CREB levels. These results strongly suggest that the KCa3.1 activator may suppress IL-10-induced tumor immune surveillance escape and IL-8-induced tumorigenicity and metastasis by inhibiting their production from TAMs through ERK-CREB and JNK-c-Jun cascades.

Identification of responsible amino acid residues in staphylococcal superantigen-like 12 for the activation of mast cells.

Staphylococcal superantigen-like 12 (SSL12) is reported to evoke the degranulation in murine mast cells. The allelic variant of SSL12 in the genome of reference strain NCTC8325 induced the degranulation of murine mast cells, that of MRSA252 strain did not, nevertheless relatively high sequence similarity (82%). To identify responsible amino acid residues of SSL12 for mast cell activation, we created a series of domain swap mutants and amino acid substitution mutants between the active and inactive variants. The mutants that harbored oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding (OB)-fold domain of the active variant activated mast cells. The replacement at position 56 (L56F) in the OB-fold domain diminished the mast cell stimulatory activity, and the combinatorial substitutions L56F/K92E, L56F/D95S, and L56F/S100V abolished the stimulatory activities of the mutant that harbored OB-fold domain of the active variant and the intact active variant. These indicate that the responsive elements of SSL12 for mast cell activation are in the OB-fold of SSL12, and L56 would be an essential amino acid residue for the activation of mast cells. The findings would contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of SSL12 for mast cell activation and the development of toxoids preventing allergic inflammations associated with Staphylococcus aureus.

KCa3.1 inhibition-induced activation of the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway enhances IL-10 expression in peripherally-induced regulatory T cells.

The KCa3.1 inhibition up-regulates IL-10 expression in regulatory T (Treg) cells in the recovery phase of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) model mice; however, the underlying signaling pathway remains unclear. We investigated the involvement of AP-1 (Fos/Jun) and NF-κB in the expression of IL-10 and its transcription factors (TFs) in in vitro-induced mouse splenic Treg cells. The pharmacological inhibition of JNK reversed KCa3.1 inhibition-induced increases in the expression of IL-10 and its TFs. The inhibition of KCa3.1 increased phosphorylated JNK and c-Jun levels. Therefore, the JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway may contribute to the KCa3.1 inhibition-induced up-regulation of IL-10 in peripherally-induced Treg cells.

KCa1.1 K+ Channel Inhibition Overcomes Resistance to Antiandrogens and Doxorubicin in a Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Spheroid Model.

Several types of K+ channels play crucial roles in tumorigenicity, stemness, invasiveness, and drug resistance in cancer. Spheroid formation of human prostate cancer (PC) LNCaP cells with ultra-low attachment surface cultureware induced the up-regulation of cancer stem cell markers, such as NANOG, and decreased the protein degradation of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa1.1 by down-regulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase, FBXW7, compared with LNCaP monolayers. Accordingly, KCa1.1 activator-induced hyperpolarizing responses were larger in isolated cells from LNCaP spheroids. The pharmacological inhibition of KCa1.1 overcame the resistance of LNCaP spheroids to antiandrogens and doxorubicin (DOX). The protein expression of androgen receptors (AR) was significantly decreased by LNCaP spheroid formation and reversed by KCa1.1 inhibition. The pharmacological and genetic inhibition of MDM2, which may be related to AR protein degradation in PC stem cells, revealed that MDM2 was responsible for the acquisition of antiandrogen resistance in LNCaP spheroids, which was overcome by KCa1.1 inhibition. Furthermore, a member of the multidrug resistance-associated protein subfamily of ABC transporters, MRP5 was responsible for the acquisition of DOX resistance in LNCaP spheroids, which was also overcome by KCa1.1 inhibition. Collectively, the present results suggest the potential of KCa1.1 in LNCaP spheroids, which mimic PC stem cells, as a therapeutic target for overcoming antiandrogen- and DOX-resistance in PC cells.

Role of K+ and Ca2+-Permeable Channels in Osteoblast Functions.

Bone-forming cells or osteoblasts play an important role in bone modeling and remodeling processes. Osteoblast differentiation or osteoblastogenesis is orchestrated by multiple intracellular signaling pathways (e.g., bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) and Wnt signaling pathways) and is modulated by the extracellular environment (e.g., parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), and integrins). The regulation of bone homeostasis depends on the proper differentiation and function of osteoblast lineage cells from osteogenic precursors to osteocytes. Intracellular Ca2+ signaling relies on the control of numerous processes in osteoblast lineage cells, including cell growth, differentiation, migration, and gene expression. In addition, hyperpolarization via the activation of K+ channels indirectly promotes Ca2+ signaling in osteoblast lineage cells. An improved understanding of the fundamental physiological and pathophysiological processes in bone homeostasis requires detailed investigations of osteoblast lineage cells. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functional impacts of K+ channels and Ca2+-permeable channels, which critically regulate Ca2+ signaling in osteoblast lineage cells to maintain bone homeostasis.

Ca2+ -activated K+ channel KCa 1.1 as a therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in three-dimensional sarcoma spheroid models.

The large-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel KCa 1.1 plays a pivotal role in tumor development and progression in several solid cancers. The three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture system is a powerful tool for cancer spheroid formation, and mimics in vivo solid tumor resistance to chemotherapy in the tumor microenvironment (TME). KCa 1.1 is functionally expressed in osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma cell lines. KCa 1.1 activator-induced hyperpolarizing responses were significantly larger in human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells isolated from 3D spheroid models compared with in those from adherent 2D monolayer cells. The present study investigated the mechanisms underlying the upregulation of KCa 1.1 and its role in chemoresistance using a 3D spheroid model. KCa 1.1 protein expression levels were significantly elevated in the lipid-raft-enriched compartments of MG-63 spheroids without changes in its transcriptional level. 3D spheroid formation downregulated the expression of the ubiquitin E3 ligase FBXW7, which is an essential contributor to KCa 1.1 protein degradation in breast cancer. The siRNA-mediated inhibition of FBXW7 in MG-63 cells from 2D monolayers upregulated KCa 1.1 protein expression. Furthermore, a treatment with a potent and selective KCa 1.1 inhibitor overcame the chemoresistance of the MG-63 and human chondrosarcoma SW-1353 spheroid models to paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. Among several multidrug resistance ATP-binding cassette transporters, the expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1 was upregulated in both spheroids and restored by the inhibition of KCa 1.1. Therefore, the pharmacological inhibition of KCa 1.1 may be an attractive new strategy for acquiring resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the TME of KCa 1.1-positive sarcomas.

Increased Interleukin-10 Expression by the Inhibition of Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel KCa3.1 in CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells in the Recovery Phase in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract arising from abnormal responses of the innate and adaptative immune systems. Interleukin (IL)-10-producing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells play a protective role in the recovery phase of IBD. In the present study, the effects of the administration of the selective Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 inhibitor TRAM-34 on disease activities were examined in chemically induced IBD model mice. IBD disease severity, as assessed by diarrhea, visible fecal blood, inflammation, and crypt damage in the colon, was significantly lower in mice administered 1 mg/kg TRAM-34 than in vehicle-administered mice. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction examinations showed that IL-10 expression levels in the recovery phase were markedly increased by the inhibition of KCa3.1 in mesenteric lymph node (mLN) Treg cells of IBD model mice compared with vehicle-administered mice. Among several positive and negative transcriptional regulators (TRs) for IL-10, three positive TRs-E4BP4, KLF4, and Blimp1-were upregulated by the inhibition of KCa3.1 in the mLN Treg cells of IBD model mice. In mouse peripheral CD4+CD25+ Treg cells induced by lectin stimulation, IL-10 expression and secretion were enhanced by the treatment with TRAM-34, together with the upregulation of E4BP4, KLF4, and Blimp1. Collectively, the present results demonstrated that the pharmacological inhibition of KCa3.1 decreased IBD symptoms in the IBD model by increasing IL-10 production in peripheral Treg cells and that IL-10high Treg cells produced by the treatment with KCa3.1 inhibitor may contribute to efficient Treg therapy for chronic inflammatory disorders, including IBD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Pharmacological inhibition of Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 increased IL-10 expression in peripheral Treg cells, together with the upregulation of the transcriptional regulators of IL-10: Krüppel-like factor 4, E4 promoter-binding protein 4, and/or B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1. The manipulation of IL-10high-producing Treg cells by the pharmacological inhibition of KCa3.1 may be beneficial in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Downregulation of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1 in mouse preosteoblast cells treated with vitamin D receptor agonist.

The maturity of osteoblasts by proliferation and differentiation in preosteoblasts is essential for maintaining bone homeostasis. The beneficial effects of vitamin D on bone homeostasis in mammals have been demonstrated experimentally and clinically. However, the direct actions of vitamin D on preosteoblasts remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that the functional activity of intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (KCa3.1) positively regulated cell proliferation in MC3T3-E1 cells derived from mouse preosteoblasts by enhancing intracellular Ca2+ signaling. We examined the effects of treatment with vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist on the expression and activity of KCa3.1 by real-time PCR examination, Western blotting, Ca2+ imaging, and patch clamp analyses in mouse MC3T3-E1 cells. Following the downregulation of KCa3.1 transcriptional modulators such as Fra-1 and HDAC2, KCa3.1 activity was suppressed in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with VDR agonists. Furthermore, application of the KCa3.1 activator DCEBIO attenuated the VDR agonist-evoked suppression of cell proliferation rate. These findings suggest that a decrease in KCa3.1 activity is involved in the suppression of cell proliferation rate in VDR agonist-treated preosteoblasts. Therefore, KCa3.1 plays an important role in bone formation by promoting osteoblastic proliferation under physiological conditions.

Possible Contribution of Inflammation-Associated Hypoxia to Increased K2P5.1 K+ Channel Expression in CD4+ T cells of the Mouse Model for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Previous studies have reported the up-regulation of the two-pore domain K+ channel K2P5.1 in the CD4+ T cells of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the mechanisms underlying this up-regulation remain unclear. Inflammation-associated hypoxia is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as IBD, MS, and RA, and T cells are exposed to a hypoxic environment during their recruitment from inflamed tissues to secondary lymphoid tissues. We herein investigated whether inflammation-associated hypoxia is attributable to the increased expression and activity of K2P5.1 in the splenic CD4+ T cells of chemically-induced IBD model mice. Significant increases in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α transcripts and proteins were found in the splenic CD4+ T cells of the IBD model. In the activated splenic CD4+ T cells, hypoxia (1.5% O2) increased K2P5.1 expression and activity, whereas a treatment with the HIF inhibitor FM19G11 but not the selective HIF-2 inhibitor exerted the opposite effect. Hypoxia-exposed K2P5.1 up-regulation was also detected in stimulated thymocytes and the mouse T-cell line. The class III histone deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is a downstream molecule of HIF-1α signaling. We examined the effects of the SIRT1 inhibitor NCO-01 on K2P5.1 transcription in activated CD4+ T cells, and we found no significant effects on the K2P5.1 transcription. No acute compensatory responses of K2P3.1-K2P5.1 up-regulation were found in the CD4+ T cells of the IBD model and the hypoxia-exposed T cells. Collectively, these results suggest a mechanism for K2P5.1 up-regulation via HIF-1 in the CD4+ T cells of the IBD model.

[Ca2+-activated K+ channels as cancer therapeutic targets].

Similar to calcium (Ca2+) and chloride (Cl-) ion channels/transporters, potassium (K+) channels have been recognized as a crucial cancer treatment target. Recent studies have provided convincing evidences of positive correlation between elevated expression levels of Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels and cancer proliferation, metastasis, and poor patient prognosis. In cancer cells, KCa1.1 and KCa3.1 KCa channels are co-localized with Ca2+-permeable Orai/TRP channels to provide a positive-feedback loop for Ca2+ entry. They are responsible for the promotion of cell growth and metastasis in the different types of cancer, and are therefore potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for cancer. We determined the epigenetic and post-transcriptional dysregulation of KCa3.1 by class I histone deacetylase inhibitors in breast and prostate cancer cells. We further determined the transcriptional repression and protein degradation of KCa1.1 by vitamin D receptor agonists and androgen receptor antagonists, which are expected as potential therapeutic drugs for triple-negative breast cancer. The anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunosuppressive factor involved in tumorigenesis, and plays a crucial role in escape from tumor immune surveillance. We determined KCa3.1 activators are a possible therapeutic option to suppress the tumor-promoting activities of IL-10. These results may provide new insights into cancer treatment focused on Ca2+-activated K+ channels.