Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium and ether-a-go-go potassium channels regulate proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Poster Presentation: abstract no. P11BACKGROUND: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine; however, cellular physiology is not fully understood in human MSCs. The present study was to explore the potential role of the dominant functional ion channels, large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (BKCa) channel, ether-à-go-go potassium (hEAG1) channel, and sodium channel, in regulating proliferation of human MSCs using whole-cell patch clamp and cell proliferation assay approaches. RESULTS: We found that the BKCa channel blocker paxilline (1 μM) almost fully inhibited BKCa current (from 6.76±0.99 pA/pF of control, to 0.02±0.09 pA/pF at +100 mV, n=5, P<0.05) in human MSCs. The hEAG1 channel blocker astemizole (0.5 μM) significantly reduced hEAG1 current from 4.28±1.86 pA/pF to 1.40±1.13 pA/pF at +50 mV, n=6, P