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Functional receptor‐channel coupling compared in contractile and proliferative human vascular smooth muscle
Author(s) -
Karkanis Tom,
Jiao Yang,
Hurley Bernard R.,
Li Shaohua,
Pickering J. Geoffrey,
Sims Stephen M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1069
Subject(s) - histamine , thapsigargin , vascular smooth muscle , biology , patch clamp , electrophysiology , receptor , intracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , histamine h1 receptor , medicine , biophysics , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience , smooth muscle , gene , antagonist
We have previously identified a human vascular smooth muscle clone that can reversibly convert between proliferative and contractile phenotypes. Here we compared receptor‐channel coupling in these cells using fura‐2 to monitor [Ca 2+ ] i and patch‐clamp to record currents. Histamine elevated [Ca 2+ ] i in all cells and caused contraction of cells exhibiting the contractile phenotype. The rise of [Ca 2+ ] i persisted in Ca 2+ ‐free solution and was abolished by thapsigargin, indicating involvement of stores. Whole cell electrophysiological recording revealed that histamine evoked transient outward K + current, indicating functional receptor‐channel coupling. The time‐course and amplitude of the histamine‐activated current were similar in cells of the proliferative and contractile phenotypes. Moreover, a large conductance K + channel was recorded in cell‐attached patches and was activated by histamine as well as the Ca 2+ ionophore A‐23187, identifying it as the large conductance Ca 2+ ‐dependent K + channel. This K + channel showed similar characteristics and activation in both proliferative and contractile phenotypes, indicating that expression was independent of phenotype. In contrast, histamine also elicited an inward Cl − current in some contractile cells, suggesting differential regulation of this current depending on phenotype. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of this human vascular cell clone for studying functional plasticity of smooth muscle, while avoiding complications arising from extended times in culture. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.