Tissue-specific and inducible expression of potassium channel beta subunits in activated lymphocytes

M. V. Autieri, S. M. Belkowski, J. A. Cohen, M. B. Prystowsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A number of studies have shown that potassium channel activity is essential for T lymphocyte cell cycle progression and proliferation. The identification of the IL2-inducible neuroimmune gene, F5 as the Kvβ2 subunit underscores the importance of examination of Kvβ subunit expression in proliferating lymphocytes. In this study we show that in addition to constitutive expression in adult murine brain, expression of potassium channel subunits β1 and β2 are inducible in a cloned T helper cell line stimulated with IL-2 and in normal murine splenocytes stimulated with Con A or LPS. This expression pattern appears to be lymphocyte specific, as stimulated cells of other lineages do not express Kvβ subunit mRNA. These observations suggest that Kvβ channel subunit expression is tissue specific and inducible in stimulated lymphocytes. Because Kvβ subunits modulate K+ channel activity, the inducible and variable expression of these subunits in lymphocytes may represent an additional regulatory mechanism for lymphocyte proliferation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)242a
JournalJournal of Investigative Medicine
Volume44
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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