Selective activation of vascular Kv 7.4/Kv 7.5 K+ channels by fasudil contributes to its vasorelaxant effect.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Kv 7 (Kv 7.1-7.5) channels play an important role in the regulation of neuronal excitability and the cardiac action potential. Growing evidence suggests Kv 7.4/Kv 7.5 channels play a crucial role in regulating vascular smooth muscle contractility. Most of the reported Kv 7 openers have shown poor selectivity across these five subtypes. In this study, fasudil - a drug used for cerebral vasospasm - has been found to be a selective opener of Kv 7.4/Kv 7.5 channels. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A perforated whole-cell patch technique was used to record the currents and membrane potential. Homology modelling and a docking technique were used to investigate the interaction between fasudil and the Kv 7.4 channel. An isometric tension recording technique was used to assess the vascular tension. KEY RESULTS: Fasudil selectively and potently enhanced Kv 7.4 and Kv 7.4/Kv 7.5 currents expressed in HEK293 cells, and shifted the voltage-dependent activation curve in a more negative direction. Fasudil did not affect either Kv 7.2 and Kv 7.2/Kv 7.3 currents expressed in HEK293 cells, the native neuronal M-type K+ currents, or the resting membrane potential in small rat dorsal root ganglia neurons. The Val248 in S5 and Ile308 in S6 segment of Kv 7.4 were critical for this activating effect of fasudil. Fasudil relaxed precontracted rat small arteries in a concentration-dependent fashion; this effect was antagonized by the Kv 7 channel blocker XE991. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that fasudil is a selective Kv 7.4/Kv 7.5 channel opener and provide a new dimension for developing selective Kv 7 modulators and a new prospective for the use, action and mechanism of fasudil.