Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E K Gallin

Publications and source records attributed to E K Gallin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ca2+-dependent production and release of IL-8 in human neutrophils.

IL-8, a potent neutrophil chemoattractant that is elevated about 200-fold in exudative neutrophils isolated from localized inflammatory sites in vivo, is thought to play a major role in recruitment of neutrophils to inflammatory sites. Incubation of peripheral blood neutrophils with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-sequestering-ATPase, causes a dose-dependent induction of IL-8 synthesis that continues for up to 8 h. Cycloheximide inhibits the thapsigargin-induced IL-8 production, suggesting the induction of protein synthesis de novo. In addition, Northern blot analysis of mRNA isolated from neutrophils indicates that thapsigargin treatment increases IL-8 mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Thapsigargin also induces a biphasic rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, which is composed of an initial (within 15 s) EGTA-insensitive elevation in [Ca2+]i, followed by a delayed (2-min) EGTA-sensitive component. Addition of EGTA before thapsigargin inhibited the induction of IL-8 production. Experiments in which EGTA was added at various times after thapsigargin treatment indicated that a sustained Ca2+ influx was required for maximum IL-8 production. Ascomycin and cyclosporin A, inhibitors of the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin, also inhibited thapsigargin-induced IL-8 production. Thus, in neutrophils, a prolonged increase in [Ca2+]i stimulates IL-8 transcription and synthesis, possibly through a calcineurin-dependent pathway.

Calcium↗

Modulation of K+ currents in monocytes by VCAM-1 and E-selectin on activated human endothelium.

Resting membrane potential (RMP) and whole cell currents were recorded in human THP-1 monocytes adherent to polystyrene, unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated HUVECs, immobilized E-selectin, or vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) using the patch-clamp technique. RMP after 5 h on polystyrene was -24.3 +/- 1.7 mV (n = 42) with delayed rectifier K+ (Idr) and Cl- currents (ICl) present in >75% of the cells. Inwardly rectifying K+ currents (Iir) were present in only 14% of THP-1 cells. Adherence to unstimulated HUVECs or E-selectin for 5 h had no effect on Iir or ICl but decreased Idr. Five hours after adherence to LPS-treated HUVECs, outward currents were unchanged, but Iir was present in 81% of THP-1 cells. A twofold increase in Iir and a hyperpolarization (-41.3 +/- 3.7 mV, n = 16) were abolished by pretreatment of THP-1 cells with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, or herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or by pretreatment of the LPS-treated HUVECs with anti-VCAM-1. Only a brief (15-min) interaction between THP-1 cells and LPS-treated HUVECs was required to induce Iir expression 5 h later. THP-1 cells adherent to VCAM-1 exhibited similar conductances to cells adherent to LPS-treated HUVECs. Thus engagement of specific integrins results in selective modulation of different K+ conductances.

Cell Adhesion↗

Ionizing radiation increases endothelial and epithelial cell production of influenza virus and leukocyte adherence.

To characterize the effect of 60Co gamma radiation on cell-cell and pathogen-cell interactions, the adherence of undifferentiated HL-60 cells to HUVEC monolayers was tested in the absence and presence of LPS or influenza virus type A. Basal HL-60 cell adherence to uninfected HUVEC monolayers (3.0 +/- 1.6%, n = 30) was not altered when HUVECs were exposed to 1- to 10-Gy gamma irradiation 4 to 72 h before the adhesion assay. LPS treatment of HUVEC monolayers (0.5 microgram/ml, 4 h) produced a 6.9-fold increase in adherence that was not altered by previous irradiation. However, when HUVEC monolayers were subjected to 1-10 Gy 41 h before influenza virus infection (10(6) pfu/ml) for 7 h, virus-induced adherence was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. Increased virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein expression mediated the radiation-induced adherence for the following reasons: 1) HA Ag increases paralleled increases in leukocyte adherence. 2) Northern blot analysis demonstrated a time-dependent increase in mRNA HA levels. 3) Anti-HA blocked HL-60 cell adherence to irradiated and virus-infected HUVEC monolayers. These changes were associated with an increased virus titer yield and virus-induced HUVEC killing. In contrast, cytotoxicity produced by vesicular stomatitis virus, which unlike influenza virus replicates cytoplasmically, was not altered by radiation in HUVECs. In related studies, the canine kidney epithelial (MDCK) cell line showed a similar increased influenza virus production after gamma radiation, indicating that the radiation-induced increase in production of influenza virus is not cell-specific and probably involves a nuclear mechanism.

Animals↗

Characterization of regulatory volume decrease in the THP-1 and HL-60 human myelocytic cell lines.

Exposure to hypotonic stress produces a transient increase in cell volume followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in both THP-1 and HL-60 cells. In contrast, cells exposed to hypotonic stress in a high K/low Na Hanks' solution not only failed to volume regulate, but displayed a secondary swelling. Thus, while an outward K gradient was required for RVD, the secondary swelling indicated that hypotonic stress increased permeability in the absence of a negative membrane potential. The K channel blocker quinine (1-4 mM) blocked RVD in both cell types. Gramicidin's ability to overcome the quinine block of RVD indicated that RVD is mediated by a quinine-sensitive cation transport mechanism that is independent of the swelling-induced anion transport mechanism. Barium (1-4 mM), another K channel blocker, slowed the rate of RVD, while 4-aminopyridine, charybdotoxin, tetraethylammonium chloride, tetrabutylammonium chloride, and gadolinium had no effect on RVD. Furthermore, RVD was not mediated by calcium-activated conductances, since it occurred normally in Ca-free medium, in medium containing cadmium, and in BAPTA-loaded cells. Gramicidin produced little or no volume change in isotonic medium, suggesting that basal C1 permeability of both THP-1 and HL-60 cells is low. However, swelling induced an anion efflux pathway that is permeable to both chloride and bromide, but is impermeable to methanesulfonate and glutamate. The anion channel blocker 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid (DISA) antagonized RVD in both cell types. In conclusion, RVD in THP-1 and HL-60 cells is mediated by independent anion and cation transport mechanisms that involve both a DISA-sensitive anion pathway and a quinine-inhibitable K efflux pathway, neither of which requires increases in intracellular calcium to be activated.

Anions↗

IKir regulation in murine macrophages: whole cell and perforated patch studies.

Previous studies have reported that the inwardly rectifying K+ conductance (GKir) in macrophages is modulated by intracellular perfusion with inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3), inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4), or GTP analogues and by exposing cells to macrophage-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF) I. This study uses both conventional whole cell and amphotericin B perforated patch studies to investigate GKir modulation in thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages (MO). Under whole cell recording conditions with 150 mM Cl- in the patch pipette, GKir decreased within 25 min. The GKir decrease was slowed by exchanging glutamate for Cl- as the major anion in the pipette or by adding guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (50 nM) or ATP (0.5 mM) to the pipette. Addition of InsP3 or InsP4 to the pipette had no effect on the magnitude of GKir or its rate of decrease but activated an outward current in the voltage range of +60 to +120 mV in 57% of the cells studied. Thus in murine MO GKir may be modulated by G proteins but is unaffected by inositol phosphate metabolites, which have been reported to enhance GKir in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated HL-60 cells. In contrast to whole cell studies, perforated patch recordings of murine MO GKir were stable for > 1 h. Perforated patch studies demonstrated that murine MO also differ from PMA-differentiated HL-60 cells in that CSF I had no effect on GKir. Additionally, arachidonic acid, PMA, and H2O2, agents implicated in macrophage activation, did not modulate GKir. We conclude that GKir regulation in murine MO differs from that reported in PMA-differentiated HL-60 cells and that although our data suggest that GKir is modulated by G protein(s), they differ from the G proteins involved in MO responses to CSF I and the other agents tested.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Characterization of influenza virus-induced leukocyte adherence to human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers.

The adherence of undifferentiated 51Cr-labeled HL-60 (0.5 x 10(6) HL-60 cells/well) cells was monitored on influenza virus-infected HUVEC monolayers. Whereas only 3.0 +/- 1.6% (n = 36) of HL-60 cells adhered to uninfected HUVEC, adherence was increased to 41.7 +/- 2.2% (n = 6), 79.7 +/- 1.2% (n = 6), 83.9 +/- 0.7% (n = 6), and 84.4 +/- 0.5% (n = 6) on HUVEC infected for 7 h at a MOI of 1, 3, 6, and 9, respectively. In comparison, HL-60 cell adherence increased to 35% when HUVEC monolayers were stimulated with LPS (0.2-20 micrograms) for 4 h. Increased adherence to infected HUVEC occurred at 5 h postinfection, peaked at 7 h, and was maintained at 24 h postinfection. Active virus and metabolically active endothelial cells were required to mediate the virus-induced adherence. E-selectin and ICAM-1 Ag were upregulated 78.3- and 4.1-fold, respectively, by LPS (0.02-20 micrograms, 4 h) whereas virus infection (7 h) only increased these proteins 2.6- and 1.4-fold with a MOI > or = 16. Although the time courses of expression for both adhesion molecules after LPS treatment of virus infection were similar, the difference in the magnitude of upregulation suggests that virus-induced adherence is not a result of upregulation of E-selectin and ICAM-1. In contrast, surface expression of HA is involved in HL-60 cell adherence to virus-infected HUVEC because (1) the time course and magnitude of HA AG expression paralleled the time course and magnitude of HL-60 cell adherence after virus infection of HUVEC; (2) HL-60 cell aggregates were absent on infected HUVEC monolayers in the presence of anti-HA; (3) HL-60 cells competed with RBC for infected endothelial cells stained for cellular HA Ag and (4) anti-HA abolished the virus-induced adherence. Furthermore, it appears that HL-60 cells are binding directly to HA because HL-60 cell adherence to a cell-free surface was increased if virus was prebound and neuraminidase treatment of HL-60 cells prevented the HL-60 cell adherence to influenza virus-infected endothelial monolayers.

Cell Adhesion↗

G-protein activators induce a potassium conductance in murine macrophages.

The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to test whether intracellular application of G-protein activators affect ionic currents in murine macrophages. Both the J774.1 macrophage-like cell line and primary bone marrow derived macrophages were used. Cells were bathed in Na Hanks' solution and intracellularly dialyzed (via the patch pipette) with K Hanks (145 mM KCl, < 100 nM Ca) plus or minus the G-protein activators GTP gamma S (10 microM), GppNHp (10 microM), or AIF4- (200 microM AlCl3 + 5 mM KF). In the absence of G-protein activators, only two K currents, an inwardly rectifying K current (Kir) and an outward, inactivating K current (Ko) were observed. In the presence of protein activators, two effects were observed: (i) the Kir conductance, which is stable for up to 30 min under control conditions, decayed twice as fast and (ii) an outwardly rectifying, noninactivating current appeared. The induced outward current appeared < 2 min after attaining the whole-cell patch clamp configuration. The current could be distinguished from the Kir and Ko currents on the basis of its direction of rectification (outward), barium sensitivity (> 1 mM), and kinetics (no time-dependent inactivation). Intracellular application of GTP (500 microM), GDP (500 microM), cAMP (100 microM + 0.5 mM ATP), or IP3 (20 microM) did not induce the current; 100 microM ATP gamma S activated a half-maximal amount of current. Induction of outward current by 10 microM GTP gamma S could be prevented by pre-exposing cells to pertussis toxin but not cholera toxin. This current is K selective since (i) its induction was accompanied by hyperpolarization of the cell toward EK, even after Kir had "washed out", (ii) it was present after > 90% of both intracellular and extracellular Cl were replaced by isethionate, and (iii) the induced outward conductance was absent when Ki was completely replaced by Cs, and was reduced by approximately 1/3 when [K]i was reduced by 1/3. Quinidine (1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (10 mM) inhibited the current, but apamin (1 microM) and charybdotoxin (1 microM) did not.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Comparative effects of particulate and soluble glucan on macrophages of C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice.

In order to compare both the actions of soluble glucan (glucan-F) and particulate glucan (glucan-P) on macrophages and the responsiveness of macrophages from C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice to these immunomodulators, interleukin-1 (IL-1) levels, phagocytosis and superoxide production were monitored after an in vitro exposure to glucan-F or glucan-P. A 2 or 20 h exposure to either glucan preparation decreased the ability of both C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN macrophages to ingest zymosan. In contrast, glucan-P, but not glucan-F, decreased (after a 20 h exposure) the uptake of both IgG opsonized erythrocytes and latex beads. Furthermore, glucan-P, but not glucan-F was as effective as zymosan (after a 1 h exposure) in inducing superoxide release by macrophages isolated from both C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice. While the effects of glucan-P on PMA-induced superoxide release and IL-1 levels were similar in macrophages from C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice, glucan-F was ineffective at enhancing PMA-induced superoxide release or increasing IL-1 levels in C3H/HeJ mice. Thus (1) the effects of glucan-P on phagocytosis of opsonized erythrocytes and latex beads are not mimicked by glucan-F and (2) while macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice respond normally (as compared with C3H/HeN macrophages) to glucan-P, they are hyporesponders to glucan-F. These findings indicate that the activation of macrophages by glucan-P involves different (or additional) pathways from those activated by glucan-F.

Animals↗

Comparison of apical and basal surfaces of confluent endothelial cells: patch-clamp and viral studies.

The distribution of inwardly rectifying (Ki) and calcium-activated (KCa) potassium channels on the apical and basal surfaces of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) was examined by inverting BAEC monolayers onto polylysine-coated cover slips. To monitor cellular polarity, we examined human red blood cell adherence (hemadsorption) to the influenza virus protein, hemagglutinin (HA), and virus budding on the surface of infected BAECs. Hemadsorption and virus budding occurred on the apical surface but were not apparent on the basal surface of monolayers 1 and 5 h after inversion, although cellular HA antigen localization confirmed that all monolayers were infected. In contrast, by 9.5 and 24 h after inversion, hemadsorption was evident on the "new" apical surface. Single-channel patch-clamp analysis revealed the presence of both Ki and KCa channels on the apical surface and basal surface of BAEC monolayers 2-5 h after inversion. K channel conductance and kinetics were similar regardless of the surface monitored. This nonenzymatic mechanical technique of exposing the basal surface of endothelium provides a useful tool to study the distribution of ion channels in endothelium and in other polarized cell types grown in tissue culture.

Animals↗

Characterization of human phagocytic cell receptors for C5A and platelet activating factor expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Platelet activating factor (PAF) and the active cleavage product of the fifth component of complement, C5a, are potent anaphylotoxins and mediators of inflammation. Both substances engage distinct guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein-coupled receptors on a variety of cell types, thereby activating a signaling cascade that results in the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores, and in functional responses such as neutrophil chemotaxis and smooth muscle contraction. Little is known about the structure of PAF and C5a receptors or about the intracellular signaling pathways used by them. We have used the Xenopus oocyte expression system to demonstrate acquired C5a and PAF receptor activity in oocytes injected with mRNA from the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60 differentiated with dibutyryl cAMP. Activity was determined by measuring acquired ligand-dependent efflux of intracellular 45Ca2+ and by measuring ligand-activated transmembrane currents in voltage clamped oocytes. C5a receptor activity was confined to a single sharp peak in sucrose gradient fractionated RNA that corresponded to a transcript size of 2 kb. In contrast, PAF receptor activity was broadly distributed in size fractionated RNA from 3.5 to 6 kb. This suggests that multiple transcripts of different sizes may encode a functional PAF receptor. Both ligands activated their respective receptor in a concentration-dependent and a structure-dependent manner. The acquired C5a-dependent calcium efflux activity was inhibited by pertussis toxin whereas the PAF receptor activity was not, suggesting that the two receptors couple to different G-proteins. These data establish the Xenopus oocyte as a model system for studying the molecular and functional properties of the C5a receptor and the PAF receptor(s) of phagocytic cells.

Animals↗

The formyl peptide chemoattractant receptor is encoded by a 2 kilobase messenger RNA. Expression in Xenopus oocytes.

Activation of the formyl peptide chemoattractant receptor (FPCR) of phagocytic cells mobilizes intracellular calcium stores and affects the plasma membrane potential. Affinity crosslinking of FPCR has demonstrated a 60-80 kDa glycoprotein, with core peptide of 32 kDa. It is not known whether functional FPCR is this single peptide or requires multiple subunits. We used Xenopus oocyte expression system to determine the size of mRNA required for synthesis of functional FPCR. Injection of oocytes with poly(A)+ RNA from HL60 cells differentiated to the granulocyte phenotype resulted in acquisition of formyl peptide-specific responses (inward transmembrane current with a reversal potential consistent with a chloride conductance, and calcium efflux). FPCR activity expressed in oocytes had a ligand concentration dependence, ligand structure dependence and pertussis toxin sensitivity similar to those reported in phagocytic cells. When RNA was size fractionated, a single peak of FPCR activity at 2 kilobases was observed after injection of mRNA into oocytes. Our data strongly suggest that FPCR is composed of a single-sized polypeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of adherence, cell morphology, and lipopolysaccharide on potassium conductance and passive membrane properties of murine macrophage J774.1 cells.

The effects of adherence, cell morphology, and lipopolysaccharide on electrical membrane properties and on the expression of the inwardly rectifying K conductance in J774.1 cells were investigated. Whole-cell inwardly rectifying K currents (Ki), membrane capacitance (Cm), and membrane potential (Vm) were measured using the patch-clamp technique. Specific Ki conductance (GKi, whole-cell Ki conductance corrected for leak and normalized to membrane capacitance) was measured as a function of time after adherence, and was found to increase almost twofold one day after plating. Membrane potential (Vm) also increased from -42 +/- 4 mV (n = 32) to -58 +/- 2 mV (n = 47) over the same time period. GKi and Vm were correlated with each other; GL (leak conductance normalized to membrane capacitance) and Vm were not. The magnitudes of GKi and Vm 15 min to 2 hr after adherence were unaffected by the presence of 100 microM cycloheximide, but the increase in GKi and Vm that normally occurred between 2 and 8 hr after adherence was abolished by cycloheximide treatment. Membrane properties were analyzed as a function of cell morphology, by dividing cells into three categories ranging from small round cells to large, extremely spread cells. The capacitance of spread cells increased more than twofold within one day after adherence, which indicates that spread cells inserted new membrane. Spread cells had more negative resting membrane potentials than round cells, but GKi and GL were not significantly different. Lipopolysaccharide-(LPS; 1 or 10 micrograms/ml) treated cells showed increased Cm compared to control cells plated for comparable times. In contrast to the effect of adherence, LPS-treated cells exhibited a significantly lower GKi than control cells, indicating that the additional membrane did not have as high a density of functional GKi channels. We conclude that both adherence and LPS treatment increase the total surface membrane area of J774 cells and change the density of Ki channels. In addition, this study demonstrates that membrane area and density of Ki channels can vary independently of one another.

Animals↗

Heat induces intracellular acidification in human A-431 cells: role of Na(+)-H+ exchange and metabolism.

The resting intracellular pH (pHi) of A-431 cells at 37 degrees C in Na+ Hanks' solution is 7.23 +/- 0.02. In the presence of amiloride (100 microM) pHi decreases to 7.08 +/- 0.03. Hyperthermia induces a temperature- and time-dependent intracellular acidification of 0.2 pH units in either bicarbonate-free or bicarbonate-buffered solutions. After heat treatment (45 degrees C, 10 min) pHi returns to normal 1 h after incubation at 37 degrees C. The activity of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger was examined in heated and unheated cells in the absence of bicarbonate. Unheated cells recover from an acid load in a [Na+]o-dependent and amiloride-sensitive manner. The apparent Michaelis constant for extracellular Na+ is 38 +/- 9 mM, and the apparent mean affinity constant for amiloride is 11 +/- 3 microM. In heated cells the apparent affinity of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger for extracellular Na+ is not changed, but the maximal recovery rate is approximately 40% slower than that of unheated cells. The rate of recovery from acid loading returns to normal 2 h after heat treatment. [Na+]i and intrinsic buffering power in heated cells are the same as those in unheated cells. Decreases in both intracellular ATP and lactic acid are observed in heated cells. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose and sodium azide induce an intracellular acidification but prevent most of the acidification induced by heat. Heat treatment causes no further acidification in cells that are acidified by both amiloride and 2-deoxy-D-glucose together. These data are the first to suggest that thermally induced intracellular acidification is due to both an inhibition of Na(+)-H+ exchange and an inhibition of metabolic pathways.

Amiloride↗

Evidence for a Ca-activated inwardly rectifying K channel in human macrophages.

Cell-attached patch studies of cultured human macrophages demonstrate that exposure to ionomycin induces inward-rectifying single-channel currents that differ from the voltage-dependent 28 pS inward-rectifying K currents previously described in these cells (J. Membr. Biol. 103: 55-66, 1988). With 150 mM KCl in the electrode and NaCl Hanks' solution in the bath, the ionomycin-induced single-channel conductance for inward currents was 37 pS, and the reversal potential was 57 mV. Channel activity was often associated with a shift in the base-line current level indicating that the cell membrane potential hyperpolarized. The ability of ionomycin to induce channel activity depended on extracellular [Ca] supporting the view that the channels were gated by calcium. Ionomycin-induced channels were permeable to K, relatively impermeable to Cl or Na, exhibited bursting kinetics, and had no apparent voltage dependence. Barium (3 mM in the patch electrode) did not significantly block the ionomycin-induced channel at rest but blocked channel activity when the patch was hyperpolarized beyond the resting membrane potential. Exposure of macrophages to platelet-activating factor, which is known to increase intracellular [Ca] [( Ca]i) (J. Cell Biol. 103: 439-450, 1986), also transiently induced channel activity. In excised patches with 3 microM [Ca]i bursting inward-rectifying channels with a 41 pS conductance were noted that probably correspond to the ionomycin-induced channels present in cell-attached patches. Increasing [Ca]i from 10(-8) to 3 x 10(-6) M induced inward-rectifying channel activity in previously quiescent excised patches.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Barium↗

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentrations increase after adherence in the macrophage-like cell line J774.1.

Several properties of macrophages change when suspended cells become adherent. To determine the intracellular signals involved in these changes, concentrations of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] were monitored during adherence of J774.1 cells, a macrophage-like cell line. When cells grown in suspension were allowed to adhere to a glass surface, there was a transient increase in InsP3 that reached a peak between 100 and 120 s after plating. Inositol mono- and bis-phosphate concentrations were also elevated 100 and 120 s after plating. Analysis of isomer distribution showed significant 3-fold increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] at 100 s after plating. These values were maintained at 120 s, with the additional appearance of a 4-fold increase in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. The adherence-induced generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was decreased, and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 formation was blocked, in Ca2+-free medium. However, doubling intracellular [Ca2+] by addition of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (1 microM) did not increase Ins(1,4,5)P3 in suspended cells. Adherence of J774.1 cells to fibronectin-coated glass also induced an increase in InsP3.

Animals↗

Inwardly rectifying whole-cell and single-channel K currents in the murine macrophage cell line J774.1.

Inward currents in the murine macrophage-like cell line J774.1 were studied using the whole-cell and cell-attached variations of the patch-clamp technique. When cells were bathed in Na Hanks' (KCl = 4.5 mM, NaCl = 145 mM), and the electrode contained Na-free K Hanks' (KCl = 145 mM) single-channel currents were observed at potentials below -40 mV which showed inward rectification, were K-selective, and were blocked by 2.5 mM Ba in the pipette. Single-channel conductance was 29 pS, and was proportional to the square root of [K]o. Channels manifested complex kinetics, with multiple open and closed states. The steady-state open probability of the channel was voltage dependent, and declined from 0.9 to 0.45 between -40 and -140 mV. When hyperpolarizing voltage pulses were repetitively applied in the cell-attached patch mode, averaged single-channel currents showed inactivation. Inactivation of inwardly rectifying whole-cell current was measured in Na Hanks' and in two types of Na-free Hanks': one with a normal K concentration (4.5 mM) and the other containing 145 mM K. Inactivation was shown to have Na-dependent and Na-independent components. Properties of single-channel current were found to be sufficient to account for the behavior of the macroscopic current, except that single-channel current showed a greater degree of Na-independent inactivation than whole-cell current.

Animals↗

Patch-clamp studies in human macrophages: single-channel and whole-cell characterization of two K+ conductances.

Human peripheral blood monocytes cultured for varying periods of time were studied using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp recording techniques. Whole-cell recordings revealed both an outward K current activating at potentials greater than 20 mV and an inwardly rectifying K current present at potentials negative to -60 mV. Tail currents elicited by voltage steps that activated outward current reversed near EK, indicating that the outward current was due to a K conductance. The I-V curve for the macroscopic outward current was similar to the mean single-channel I-V curve for the large conductance (240 pS in symmetrical K) calcium-activated K channel present in these cells. TEA and charybdotoxin blocked the whole-cell outward current and the single-channel current. Excised and cell-attached single-channel data showed that calcium-activated K channels were absent in freshly isolated monocytes but were present in greater than 85% of patches from macrophages cultured for greater than 7 days. Only 35% of the human macrophages cultured for greater than 7 days exhibited whole-cell inward currents. The inward current was blocked by external barium and increased when [K]o increased. Inward-rectifying single-channel currents with a conductance of 28 pS were present in cells exhibiting inward whole-cell currents. These single-channel currents are similar to those described in detail in J774.1 cells (L.C. McKinney & E.K. Gallin, J. Membrane Biol. 103:41-53, 1988).

Barium↗