miR-1 is increased in pulmonary hypertension and downregulates Kv1.5 channels in rat pulmonary arteries.

KEY POINTS: The expression of miR-1 is increased in lungs from the Hyp/Su5416 PAH rat model. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from this animal model are more depolarized and show decreased expression and activity of voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv)1.5. miR-1 directly targets Kv1.5 channels, reduces Kv1.5 activity and induces membrane depolarization. Antagomir-1 prevents Kv1.5 channel downregulation and the depolarization induced by hypoxia/Su5416 exposition. ABSTRACT: Impairment of the voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv) plays a central role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'-untranslated region region of specific mRNAs. The present study aimed to analyse the effects of miR-1 on Kv channel function in pulmonary arteries (PA). Kv channel activity was studied in PA from healthy animals transfected with miR-1 or scrambled-miR. Kv currents were studied using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. The characterization of the Kv1.5 currents was performed with the selective inhibitor DPO-1. miR-1 expression was increased and Kv1.5 channels were decreased in lungs from a rat model of PAH induced by hypoxia and Su5416. miR-1 transfection increased cell capacitance, reduced Kv1.5 currents and induced membrane depolarization in isolated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. A luciferase reporter assay indicated that KCNA5, which encodes Kv1.5 channels, is a direct target gene of miR-1. Incubation of PA with Su5416 and hypoxia (3% O2 ) increased miR-1 and induced a decline in Kv1.5 currents, which was prevented by antagomiR-1. In conclusion, these data indicate that miR-1 induces pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and reduces the activity and expression of Kv channels, suggesting a pathophysiological role in PAH.

The inhibitory effects of levo-tetrahydropalmatine on rat Kv1.5 channels expressed in HEK293 cells.

Levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) exerts various pharmacological effects on neural and cardiac tissues and K+ channel can be one of its multiple targets. The rapidly activating Kv1.5 channel is expressed in a variety of tissues including atrial cells and hippocampal neurons, and has an essential role in tuning the action potential and excitability in those cells. The aim of current study is to explore whether there are the possible effects of l-THP on Kv1.5 channels expressed in HEK293 cells. Superfusion of l-THP led to a dose-dependent blockage of Kv1.5 currents with an IC50 value of 53.2µM. This blocking effect was substantially attenuated in mutant H452G rather than R476V and R476Y, suggesting a specific binding site in the outer mouth region. In addition, the properties of Kv1.5 channel kinetics were markedly altered by l-THP. Treatment with l-THP resulted in a potential left shift of the inactivation curve, with the half-maximum inactivation potential (V1/2) of 4.5mV in control and -12.8mV in 50µM l-THP. Our data reveal that l-THP can exert an inhibitory effect on the delayed rectifier Kv1.5 channels expressed in HEK293 cells. These lines of evidence provided an insight to understand the possible effects exerted by l-THP on relative tissues.

The Role of DPO-1 and XE991-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Perivascular Adipose Tissue-Mediated Regulation of Vascular Tone.

The anti-contractile effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is an important mechanism in the modulation of vascular tone in peripheral arteries. Recent evidence has implicated the XE991-sensitive voltage-gated KV (KCNQ) channels in the regulation of arterial tone by PVAT. However, until now the in vivo pharmacology of the involved vascular KV channels with regard to XE991 remains undetermined, since XE991 effects may involve Ca(2+) activated BKCa channels and/or voltage-dependent KV1.5 channels sensitive to diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (DPO-1). In this study, we tested whether KV1.5 channels are involved in the control of mesenteric arterial tone and its regulation by PVAT. Our study was also aimed at extending our current knowledge on the in situ vascular pharmacology of DPO-1 and XE991 regarding KV1.5 and BKCa channels, in helping to identify the nature of K(+) channels that could contribute to PVAT-mediated relaxation. XE991 at 30 µM reduced the anti-contractile response of PVAT, but had no effects on vasocontraction induced by phenylephrine (PE) in the absence of PVAT. Similar effects were observed for XE991 at 0.3 µM, which is known to almost completely inhibit mesenteric artery VSMC KV currents. 30 µM XE991 did not affect BKCa currents in VSMCs. Kcna5 (-/-) arteries and wild-type arteries incubated with 1 µM DPO-1 showed normal vasocontractions in response to PE in the presence and absence of PVAT. KV current density and inhibition by 30 µM XE991 were normal in mesenteric artery VSMCs isolated from Kcna5 (-/-) mice. We conclude that KV channels are involved in the control of arterial vascular tone by PVAT. These channels are present in VSMCs and very potently inhibited by the KCNQ channel blocker XE991. BKCa channels and/or DPO-1 sensitive KV1.5 channels in VSMCs are not the downstream mediators of the XE991 effects on PVAT-dependent arterial vasorelaxation. Further studies will need to be undertaken to examine the role of other KV channels in the phenomenon.