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Biomedical subjects

E K Hoffmann

Publications and source records attributed to E K Hoffmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Identification of a murine cysteinyl leukotriene receptor by expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

We report the identification of an EST encoding a murine cysteinyl leukotriene (mCysLT) receptor. LTD4, LTC4 and LTE4 but not LTB4 or various nucleotides activated Ca2+-evoked Cl- currents in mCysLT1 expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes. The response to LTD4 was blocked by MK-571, reduced by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), and was partly dependent on extracellular Ca2+. The identified murine CysLT1 receptor differs from the hCysLT1 receptor with regard to PTX sensitivity, receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx, and antagonist sensitivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Modulation of the volume-sensitive K+ current in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells by pH.

The effects of extracellular and intracellular pH (pHo and pHi respectively) on the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response and on the volume-sensitive K+ and Cl- currents (IK,vol and ICl,vol respectively) were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. Alkaline pHo accelerated and acidic pHo decelerated the RVD response significantly. Intra- and extracellular alkalinisation increased the amplitude of IK,vol whereas acidification had an inhibitory effect. The magnitude of ICl,vol was not affected by changes in pHi or pHo. A significant reduction in the activation time for IK,vol after hypotonic cell swelling was observed upon moderate intracellular alkalinisation (to pHi 7.9). A further increase in pHi to 8.4 resulted in the spontaneous activation of an IK under isotonic conditions which resembled IK,vol with respect to its pharmacological profile and current/voltage (I/V) relation. Noise analysis demonstrated that the increased amplitude of IK,vol at alkaline pH resulted mainly from an increase in the number of channels (N) contributing to the current. The channel open probability, Po, was largely unaffected by pH. The pH dependence and the biophysical and pharmacological properties of IK,vol are similar to those of the cloned tandem pore-domain acid-sensitive K+ (TASK) channels, and in the current study the presence of TASK-1 was confirmed in Ehrlich cells.

Alkalies↗
PubMed2000

Effect of cytochalasins on F-actin and morphology of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Cytochalasins have been used extensively to probe the role of F-actin in different aspects of cellular function. Most of the data obtained are interpreted on the basis of the well-established depolymerizing effects of cytochalasins on F-actin preparations in vitro. However, some evidence indicates that, in intact cells, different cytochalasins can have varying effects on cell morphology and F-actin content and organization. To examine this problem in more detail, we analyzed the effects of cytochalasins on the cell morphology of and F-actin content and organization in Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells. After a 3-min exposure to 0.5 microM cytochalasin D, B, or E, F-actin content was equally reduced in all cases and this correlated with a reduction in the amount of cortical F-actin associated with the EAT cell membrane. However, only with CE was cell morphology markedly altered, with the appearance of numerous blebs. At 10 microM, blebbing was present in all conditions and the organization of cortical F-actin was disrupted. F-actin content, however, was not further reduced by this higher concentration and in CD it was identical to control levels. Exposure of EAT cells to similar concentrations of cheatoglobosin C, an analog of the cytochalasins that has little to no affinity for F-actin, resulted in a loss of F-actin content, a reduction in F-actin fluorescence, but no change in cell morphology, including a complete lack of bleb formation. Myosin II immunoreactivity, concentrated in the cortical cytoplasm colocalized with F-actin and in an area associated with the Golgi, was reduced by the high-dose cytochalasin. These results demonstrate that caution must be exercised in the use of cytochalasins to probe the role of F-actin in cellular function and that several parameters must be analyzed to obtain an accurate assessment of the effect of cytochalasin on the actin filament system.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

Characterisation of a cell swelling-activated K+-selective conductance of ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells.

The K+ and Cl- currents activated by hypotonic cell swelling were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells using the whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp technique. Currents were measured in the absence of added intracellular Ca2+ and with strong buffering of Ca2+. K+ current activated by cell swelling was measured as outward current at the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl) under quasi-physiological gradients. It could be abolished by replacing extracellular Na+ with K+, thereby cancelling the driving force. Replacement with other cations suggested a selectivity sequence of K+ > Rb+ > NH4 approximately Na+ approximately Li+; Cs+ appeared to be inhibitory. The current-voltage relationship of the volume-sensitive K+ current was well fitted with the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz current equation between -130 and +20 mV with a permeability coefficient of around 10(-6) cm s(-1) with both physiological and high-K+ extracellular solutions. The class III antiarrhythmic drug clofilium blocked the volume-sensitive K+ current in a voltage-independent manner with an IC50 of 32 microM. Clofilium was also found to be a strong inhibitor of the regulatory volume decrease response of Ehrlich cells. Cell swelling-activated K+ currents of Ehrlich cells are voltage and calcium insensitive and are resistant to a range of K+ channel inhibitors. These characteristics are similar to those of the so-called background K+ channels. Noise analysis of whole-cell current was consistent with a unitary conductance of 5.5 pS for the single channels underlying the K+ current evoked by cell swelling, measured at 0 mV under a quasi-physiological K+ gradient.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cell shrinkage is essential in lysophosphatidic acid signaling in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The present study aimed at elucidating the initial intracellular lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced signaling events, in order to investigate the sequence in which LPA affects the intracellular concentration of free, cytosolic Ca(2+), [Ca(2+)](i), ion channels, the F-actin cytoskeleton, cell volume and the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger. We found that stimulation of Ehrlich cells with LPA induced a transient, concentration-dependent increase in [Ca(2+)](i), which is due to Ca(2+) release from intracellular Ins(1,4,5)P(3)-sensitive stores as well as an influx of Ca(2+). The EC(50) values for LPA-induced Ca(2+) mobilization were estimated at 0.03 nm and 0.4 nm LPA in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca(2+), respectively. The LPA-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) resulted in (i) co-activation of Ca(2+)-activated, charybdotoxin (ChTX)-sensitive K(+) and niflumic acid-sensitive Cl(-) currents; (ii) a subsequent cell shrinkage and increased polymerization of F-actin, and (iii) activation of a Na(+)/H(+) exchange, resulting in a concentration-dependent intracellular alkalinization. The EC(50) value for the LPA-induced rate of alkalinization was estimated at 0. 37 nm LPA. When cell shrinkage was prevented, the LPA-induced activation of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger was impaired. In conclusion, the initial signaling events induced by LPA involves activation of volume regulatory mechanisms.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

K+ currents activated by leukotriene D4 or osmotic swelling in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.

K+ and Cl- currents activated by hypoosmotic cell swelling (IK,vol and Icl,vol) or after addition of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) to cells in isotonic medium were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. IK,vol and Icl,vol were not affected by strong buffering of intracellular Ca2+ or by additional removal of extracellular Ca2+. In isotonic media, 5 nmol/l LTD4 activated large K+ but not Cl- currents. The LTD4-activated IK was, as has been shown previously for IK,vol, insensitive to charybdotoxin (ChTX) but was blocked by the antiarrhythmic drug clofilium. The current/voltage (I/V) relation for the LTD4-activated IK was, as recently demonstrated for IK,vol, well fitted by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz current equation between -130 mV and 30 mV in both physiological and K+-rich extracellular solutions. LTD4 had no additional effect on the magnitude of IK in Ehrlich cells already activated by the hypoosmotic stimulus. Nevertheless, the onset time for IK after hypoosmotic cell swelling was significantly less in the presence of LTD4. The similar I/V relation, pharmacological sensitivity and lack of additivity suggest that hypoosmotic swelling and addition of LTD4 activate the same K+ channels in Ehrlich cells. The influence of [Ca2+]i appears, however, to differ between IK,vol and the IK activated by LTD4 in that the latter was reduced significantly by strong buffering of [Ca2+]i. This might reflect the involvement of some additional factor in the hypoosmotic activation of K+ channels besides the stimulation mediated by LTD4.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Hypotonic cell swelling induces translocation of the alpha isoform of cytosolic phospholipase A2 but not the gamma isoform in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

We demonstrate that two isoforms of the cytosolic phospholipase A2, cPLA2alpha and cPLA2gamma, are present in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Both enzymes are almost uniformly distributed throughout the cells under control conditions, as visualized by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. Stimulation by either hypotonic cell swelling or addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 results in translocation of cPLA2alpha, but not cPLA2gamma, to the nucleus, where it forms hot-spot-like clusters. Our group previously showed that release of radioactively labeled arachidonic acid, incorporated into the phospholipids of Ehrlich cells, was immediately and transiently increased on hypotonic cell swelling [Thoroed, S.M., Lauritzen, L., Lambert, I.H., Hansen, H.S. & Hoffmann, E.K. (1997) J. Membr. Biol. 160, 47-58]. We now demonstrate that arachidonic acid is released from the nuclear fraction following hypotonic exposure. Stimulation of Ehrlich cells with A23187 also leads to an increase in arachidonic acid release from the nucleus. However, as hypotonic cell swelling is not accompanied by any detectable increase in intracellular concentration of free cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha can also occur without elevation of [Ca2+]i. The stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha appears not to be prevented by inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation, p38 MAP kinase, tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C, hence, phosphorylation is not crucial for the stimulus-induced translocation of cPLA2alpha. Disruption of F-actin did not affect the translocation process, thus, an intact F-actin cytoskeleton does not seem to be required for translocation of cPLA2alpha.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Intracellular signalling involved in volume regulatory decrease.

The following volume-sensitive channels are characterized in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC), (i) a tamoxifen- and AA acid sensitive, outwardly rectifying small anion channel (I(Cl,vol)) with low field anion selectivity (I(-)>Cl(-)) and moderate depolarisation-induced inactivation, (ii) a separate DIDS- and niflumic acid-sensitive organic osmolyte/anion channel (OOC) transporting predominantly taurine, and (iii) a clofilium- and Ba(2+)-sensitive, voltage- and Ca(2+)-insensitive 5 pS K(+) channel (I(K,vol)), resistant to a range of K(+) channel inhibitors including ChTX, clotrimazole, apamin, kaliotoxin, margatoxin, and TEA, and with a pH(o) dependence reminiscent of the two-pore domain background K(+) channels TASK. Cell swelling leads to an immediate and transient 3.3 fold increase in the rate of AA release resulting from activation of cPLA(2)alpha, which is found to be translocated to the nucleus upon cell swelling (probably to the inner nuclear membrane), where it is phosphorylated and activated by a G-protein coupled process. AA is a precursor for LTC(4), which is transported out of the cell, where it is converted to LTD(4), which activates I(K,vol), and OOC, whereas I(Cl,vol) is activated via a different pathway. In the absence of an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), the unitary conductance, kinetics, and pharmacological profile are similar for I(K,vol) and the K(+)-channels activated by LTD(4). Tyrosine phosphorylations are involved in the volume regulatory pathways and in defining the volume set-point. Tyrosin kinases appear to be involved in the signalling sequence leading to opening of the channels, and tyrosin phosphatases seem to be involved in closing of the channels. Finally a significant de-polymerization of F-actin is observed after cell swelling, the potential role of which in the volume regulatory mechanisms is under investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in the RVD and RVI processes in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in cell volume regulation was studied in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, using a quantitative rhodamine-phalloidin assay, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and electronic cell sizing. A hypotonic challenge (160 mOsm) was associated with a decrease in cellular F-actin content at 1 and 3 min and a hypertonic challenge (600 mOsm) with an increase in cellular F-actin content at 1, 3, and 5 min, respectively, compared to isotonic (310 mOsm) control cells. Confocal visualization of F-actin in fixed, intact Ehrlich cells demonstrated that osmotic challenges mainly affect the F-actin in the cortical region of the cells, with no visible changes in F-actin in other cell regions. The possible role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in RVD was studied using 0. 5 microM cytochalasin B (CB), cytochalasin D (CD), or chaetoglobosin C (ChtC), a cytochalasin analog with little or no affinity for F-actin. Recovery of cell volume after hypotonic swelling was slower in cells pretreated for 3 min with 0.5 microM CB, but not in CD- and ChtC-treated cells, compared to osmotically swollen control cells. Moreover, the maximal cell volume after swelling was decreased in CB-treated, but not in CD- or Chtc-treated cells. Following a hypertonic challenge imposed using the RVD/RVI protocol, recovery from cell shrinkage was slower in CB-treated, but not in CD- or Chtc-treated cells, whereas the minimal cell volume after shrinkage was unaltered by either of these treatments. It is concluded that osmotic cell swelling and shrinkage elicit a decrease and an increase in the F-actin content in Ehrlich cells, respectively. The RVD and RVI processes are inhibited by 0.5 microM CB, but not by 0.5 microM CD, which is more specific for actin.

Actins↗
PubMed1999

Increases in [Ca2+]i and changes in intracellular pH during chemical anoxia in mouse neocortical neurons in primary culture.

The effect of chemical anoxia (azide) in the presence of glucose on the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and intracellular pH (pHi) in mouse neocortical neurons was investigated using Fura-2 and BCECF. Anoxia induced a reversible increase in [Ca2+]i which was significantly inhibited in nominally Ca2+-free medium. A change in pHo (8.2 or 6.6), or addition of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists (D-AP5 and CNQX) in combination, significantly reduced the increase in [Ca2+]i, pointing to a protective effect of extracellular alkalosis or acidosis, and involvement of excitatory amino acids. An initial anoxia-induced acidification was observed under all experimental conditions. In the control situation, this acidification was followed by a recovery/alkalinization of pHi in about 50% of the cells, a few cells showed no recovery, and some showed further acidification. EIPA, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchangers, prevented alkalinization, pointing towards anoxia-induced activation of a Na+/H+ exchanger. In a nominally Ca2+-free medium, the initial acidification was followed by a significant alkalinization. At pHo 8.2, the alkalinization was significantly increased, while at pHo 6.2, the initial acidification was followed by further acidification in about 50% of the cells, and by no further change in the remaining cells.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
PubMed1999

Mechanical stress induces release of ATP from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The supernatant from a suspension of Ehrlich cells exposed to centrifugation at 700xg for 45 s induced a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of free, cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, as well as activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current when added to a suspension of non-stimulated cells. These effects were inhibited by suramin, a non-specific P2 receptor antagonist, and mimicked by ATP. Reversed phase HPLC analysis revealed that the supernatant from Ehrlich cells exposed to centrifugation contained 2. 6+/-0.2 microM ATP, and that the mechanical stress-induced release of ATP was inhibited by glibenclamide and verapamil, non-specific inhibitors of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and P-glycoprotein, respectively. After trypan blue staining, less than 0.5% of the cells were unable to extrude the dye. Addition of extracellular ATP induced a suramin-sensitive, transient, concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current and a hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. The ATP-induced hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane was strongly inhibited in the presence of charybdotoxin (ChTX), an inhibitor of several Ca2+-activated K+ channels, suggesting that stimulation of P2 receptors in Ehrlich cells evokes a Ca2+-activated K+ current. The relative potencies of several nucleotides (ATP, UTP, ADP, 2-MeSATP, alpha,beta-MeATP, bzATP) in eliciting an increase in [Ca2+]i, as well as the effect of repetitive addition of nucleotides were investigated. The results lead us to conclude that mechanical stimulation of Ehrlich cells leads to release of ATP, which in turn stimulates both P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors, resulting in Ca2+ influx as well as release and activation of an outwardly rectifying whole-cell current.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

The Na+2Cl-K+ cotransporter in the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias is activated by cell shrinkage.

Effects of cAMP on Cl- secretion, intracellular Cl- activity and cell volume were studied in isolated perfused rectal gland tubules (RGT) of Squalus acanthias with electrophysiological and fluorescence methods. Recording of equivalent short-circuit current (Isc) showed that cAMP stimulates Na+Cl- secretion in a biphasic manner. The first and rapid phase corresponds to Cl- exit via the respective protein-kinase-A- (PKA-) phosphorylated Cl- conductance. The inhibitory effect of the loop diuretic furosemide (0.5 mmol/l, n=12) indicates that second phase reflects the delayed (1-2 min) activation of the Na+2Cl-K+ cotransporter. During the first phase cytosolic Cl- activity, as monitored by 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl) quinolinium (SPQ) fluorescence, fell to 78% (n=23) of the control value. Concomitantly, a transient fall in cell volume was recorded by calcein fluorescence to 92% (n=5) of the control value. Preincubation of the RGT with phalloidin (0.1 mmol/l, n=6) or cytochalasin D (0.1 mmol/l, n=4) almost completely prevented the development of the second phase of Isc activation. When cytosolic Cl- activity was increased by exposing the RGT to a high K+ concentration (25 mmol/l), in the presence of mannitol to prevent volume increases, stimulation was unaffected and biphasic. In contrast, when cell volume was clamped to an increased value (115%, n=8) by removing extracellular NaCl, the second phase was abolished completely (n=11). These data suggest that the primary and key process for triggering the Na+2Cl-K+ cotransport is transient cell shrinkage.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) activates charybdotoxin-sensitive and -insensitive K+ channels in ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The putative role for ATP, UTP, bradykinin and leukotriene D4 (LTD4) in the activation of the charybdotoxin-insensitive, volume-activated K+ leak pathway has been assessed in Ehrlich cells. K+ channel activity is evaluated from bumetanide-insensitive 86Rb+ efflux using Rb+ as a tracer for K+. Addition of the Ca2+-mobilizing agonists bradykinin, ATP, UTP or LTD4 accelerates the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response and activates a fast bumetanide-insensitive, charybdotoxin-sensitive efflux of K+. In addition LTD4 activates a charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ efflux, whereas bradykinin, ATP and UTP do not. The charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ efflux dominates after addition of LTD4 at concentrations too low to elicit an increase in [Ca2+]i but still high enough to be effective in accelerating the RVD response. The EC50 values for LTD4-induced K+ effluxes are estimated at 2 nM and 15 nM for the charybdotoxin-insensitive and charybdotoxin-sensitive components, respectively. The LTD4 (cysLT1) receptor antagonist L660,711(MK-571) blocks the activation of the charybdotoxin-sensitive but not the charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ efflux. Thus, LTD4 activates two different K+ leak pathways in Ehrlich cells, one pathway activated by an increase in [Ca2+]i and the other via an alternative signalling pathway. LTD4 is thus a potential candidate for an autocrine messenger activating the Ca2+-independent, charybdotoxin-insensitive K+ channel during the RVD response in Ehrlich cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1999

Thrombin-, bradykinin-, and arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ signaling in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Stimulation of single Ehrlich ascites tumor cells with agonists (bradykinin, thrombin) and with arachidonic acid (AA) induces increases in the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+, measured using the Ca2+-sensitive probe fura 2. Sequential stimulation with two agonists elicits sequential increases in [Ca2+]i, unlike addition of the same agonist twice. Bradykinin and thrombin have additive effects on [Ca2+]i in Ca2+-free medium. The phosphoinositidase C inhibitor U-73122 inhibits the agonist-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, whereas ryanodine has no effect. Pretreatment of cells in Ca2+-free medium with thapsigargin abolishes the bradykinin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i but not the response to thrombin. The AA-induced response is not inhibited by U-73122 and cannot be mimicked by the inactive structural analog trifluoromethylarachidonyl ketone. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 microM AA (but not with 10 microM AA) abolishes the agonist-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. Thus bradykinin, thrombin, and AA induce increases in [Ca2+]i in Ehrlich cells due to Ca2+ entry and release from intracellular stores. Thrombin causes release of Ca2+ from an intracellular store that is insensitive to bradykinin and is not depleted by thapsigargin but is depleted by AA.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

P2 receptor-mediated signal transduction in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The mechanisms, by which the P2 receptor agonists adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) evoke an increase in the free cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and in intracellular pH (pHi), have been investigated in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The increase in [Ca2+]i evoked by ATP or UTP is abolished after depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin in Ca2+-free medium, and is inhibited by U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), indicating that the increase in [Ca2+]i is primarily due to release from intracellular, Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ stores. ATP also activates a capacitative Ca2+-entry pathway. ATP as well as UTP evokes a biphasic change in pHi, consisting of an initial acidification followed by alkalinization. Suramin and 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene-disulfonic acid (DIDS) inhibit the biphasic change in pHi, apparently by acting as antagonists at P2 receptors. The alkalinization evoked by the P2 receptor agonists is found to be due to activation of a 5'-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA)-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger. ATP and UTP elicit rapid cell shrinkage, presumably due to activation of Ca2+ sensitive K+ and Cl- efflux pathways. Preventing cell shrinkage, either by incubating the cells at high extracellular K+ concentration, or by adding the K+-channel blocker, charybdotoxin, does not affect the increase in [Ca2+]i, but abolishes the activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger, indicating that activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger is secondary to the Ca2+-induced cell shrinkage.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗
PubMed1998

Separate swelling- and Ca2+-activated anion currents in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

A Ca2+-activated (ICl,Ca) and a swelling-activated anion current (ICl,vol) were investigated in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells using the whole cell patch clamp technique. Large, outwardly rectifying currents were activated by an increase in the free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), or by hypotonic exposure of the cells, respectively. The reversal potential of both currents was dependent on the extracellular Cl- concentration. ICl,Ca current density increased with increasing [Ca2+]i, and this current was abolished by lowering [Ca2+]i to <1 nm using 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid (BAPTA). In contrast, activation of ICl,vol did not require an increase in [Ca2+]i. The kinetics of ICl,Ca and ICl,vol were different: at depolarized potentials, ICl,Ca as activated in a [Ca2+]i- and voltage-dependent manner, while at hyperpolarized potentials, the current was deactivated. In contrast, ICl,vol exhibited time- and voltage-dependent deactivation at depolarized potentials and reactivation at hyperpolarized potentials. The deactivation of ICl, vol was dependent on the extracellular Mg2+ concentration. The anion permeability sequence for both currents was I- > Cl- > gluconate. ICl,Ca was inhibited by niflumic acid (100 micron), 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 micron) and 4, 4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS, 100 micron), niflumic acid being the most potent inhibitor. In contrast, ICl,vol was unaffected by niflumic acid (100 micron), but abolished by tamoxifen (10 micron). Thus, in Ehrlich cells, separate chloride currents, ICl,Ca and ICl,vol, are activated by an increase in [Ca2+]i and by cell swelling, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Swelling-activated potassium currents of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.

The K+ and Cl- currents activated by Ca2+-ionophore treatment or by hypotonic cell swelling have been studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells by the patch-clamp technique. A charybdotoxin-inhibitable K+ current was activated by increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In contrast, the K+ current activated by cell swelling was insensitive to charybdotoxin as well as to apamin, suggesting that channels different from those sensitive to Ca2+ are responsible for regulatory volume adjustments in these cells. The magnitude of the K+ and Cl- currents activated by hypotonic challenge was markedly temperature-dependent, possibly reflecting the temperature-dependence of enzymes involved in the intracellular signalling of cell volume regulation.

Animals↗