Martín Pedro, Rebolledo Alejandro, Palomo Ana Rocio Roldán, Moncada Melisa, Piccinini Luciano, Milesi Verónica
1Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, GINFIV-Grupo de Investigación en Fisiología Vascular, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Reprod Sci. 2014 Apr;21(4):432-41. doi: 10.1177/1933719113504468. Epub 2013 Sep 30.
Through their control of cell membrane potential, potassium (K(+)) channels are among the best known regulators of vascular tone. This article discusses the expression and function of K(+) channels in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs). We review the bibliographic reports and also present single-channel data recorded in freshly isolated cells. Electrophysiological properties of big conductance, voltage- and Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channel and voltage-dependent K(+) channels are clearly established in this vessel, where they are involved in contractile state regulation. Their role in the maintenance of membrane potential is an important control mechanism in the determination of the vessel diameter. Additionally, small conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channels, 2-pore domains K(+) channels and inward rectifier K(+) channels also appear to be present in HUASMCs, while intermediate conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channels and ATP-sensitive K(+) channels could not be identified. In both cases, additional investigation is necessary to reach conclusive evidence of their expression and/or functional role in HUASMCs. Finally, we discuss the role of K(+) channels in pregnancy-related pathologies like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
通过对细胞膜电位的控制，钾（K⁺）通道是血管张力最知名的调节因子之一。本文讨论了K⁺通道在人脐动脉平滑肌细胞（HUASMCs）中的表达和功能。我们回顾了文献报道，并展示了在新鲜分离的细胞中记录的单通道数据。大电导、电压和Ca²⁺敏感的K⁺通道以及电压依赖性K⁺通道的电生理特性在该血管中已明确确立，它们参与收缩状态调节。它们在维持膜电位方面的作用是决定血管直径的重要控制机制。此外，小电导Ca²⁺敏感的K⁺通道、2孔结构域K⁺通道和内向整流K⁺通道似乎也存在于HUASMCs中，而中电导Ca²⁺敏感的K⁺通道和ATP敏感的K⁺通道未能被识别。在这两种情况下，都需要进一步研究以获得它们在HUASMCs中表达和/或功能作用的确凿证据。最后，我们讨论了K⁺通道在妊娠相关疾病如妊娠期糖尿病和先兆子痫中的作用。
