Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv1.3 , Kv1.5

Title: The potassium channels Kv1.5 and Kv1.3 modulate distinct functions of microglia.

Authors: Ulrike Pannasch, Katrin Färber, Christiane Nolte, Mary Blonski, Shing Yan Chiu, Albee Messing, Helmut Kettenmann

Journal, date & volume: Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 2006 Dec , 33, 401-11

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17055293

Abstract
Activation of microglia by LPS leads to an induction of cytokine and NO release, reduced proliferation and increased outward K(+) conductance, the latter involving the activation of Kv1.5 and Kv1.3 channels. We studied the role of these channels for microglial function using two strategies to interfere with channel expression, a Kv1.5 knockout (Kv1.5(-/-)) mouse and an antisense oligonucleotide (AO) approach. The LPS-induced NO release was reduced by AO Kv1.5 and completely absent in the Kv1.5(-/-) animal; the AO Kv1.3 had no effect. In contrast, proliferation was augmented with both, loss of Kv1.3 or Kv1.5 channel expression. After facial nerve lesion, proliferation rate was higher in Kv1.5(-/-) animals as compared to wild type. Patch clamp experiments confirmed the reduction of the LPS-induced outward current amplitude in Kv1.5(-/-) microglia as well as in Kv1.5- or Kv1.3 AO-treated cells. Our study indicates that induction of K(+) channel expression is a prerequisite for the full functional spectrum of microglial activation.