Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying increased arterial tone during hypertension are unclear. In vascular smooth muscle, localized Ca2+ release events through ryanodine-sensitive channels located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ sparks) activate large-conductance, Ca 2+-sensitive K+ (BK) channels. Ca2+ sparks and BK channels provide a negative feedback mechanism that hyperpolarizes smooth muscle and thereby opposes vasoconstriction. In this study, we examined Ca 2+ sparks and BK channel function in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with borderline hypertension and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a widely used genetic model of severe hypertension. We found that the amplitude of spontaneous BK currents in WKY and SHR cells were smaller than in normotensive cells even though Ca2+ sparks were of similar magnitude. BK channels in WKY and SHR cells were less sensitive to physiological changes in intracellular Ca2+ than normotensive cells. Our data indicate that decreased expression of the BK channel β1 subunit underlies the lower Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels in SHR and WKY myocytes. We conclude that the lower expression of the β1 subunit during genetic borderline and severe hypertension reduced BK channel activity by decreasing the sensitivity of these channels to physiological changes in Ca2+. These results support the view that changes in the molecular composition of BK channels may be a fundamental event contributing to the development of vascular dysfunction during hypertension.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 965-971 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Circulation Research |
| Volume | 93 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 14 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Ca sparks
- Iberiotoxin
- Ryanodine receptors
- Sarcoplasmic reticulum
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Downregulation of the BK Channel β1 Subunit in Genetic Hypertension. / Amberg, Gregory C.; Santana, Luis Fernando.
In: Circulation Research, Vol. 93, No. 10, 14.11.2003, p. 965-971.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Downregulation of the BK Channel β1 Subunit in Genetic Hypertension
AU - Amberg, Gregory C.
AU - Santana, Luis Fernando
PY - 2003/11/14
Y1 - 2003/11/14
N2 - The molecular mechanisms underlying increased arterial tone during hypertension are unclear. In vascular smooth muscle, localized Ca2+ release events through ryanodine-sensitive channels located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ sparks) activate large-conductance, Ca 2+-sensitive K+ (BK) channels. Ca2+ sparks and BK channels provide a negative feedback mechanism that hyperpolarizes smooth muscle and thereby opposes vasoconstriction. In this study, we examined Ca 2+ sparks and BK channel function in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with borderline hypertension and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a widely used genetic model of severe hypertension. We found that the amplitude of spontaneous BK currents in WKY and SHR cells were smaller than in normotensive cells even though Ca2+ sparks were of similar magnitude. BK channels in WKY and SHR cells were less sensitive to physiological changes in intracellular Ca2+ than normotensive cells. Our data indicate that decreased expression of the BK channel β1 subunit underlies the lower Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels in SHR and WKY myocytes. We conclude that the lower expression of the β1 subunit during genetic borderline and severe hypertension reduced BK channel activity by decreasing the sensitivity of these channels to physiological changes in Ca2+. These results support the view that changes in the molecular composition of BK channels may be a fundamental event contributing to the development of vascular dysfunction during hypertension.
AB - The molecular mechanisms underlying increased arterial tone during hypertension are unclear. In vascular smooth muscle, localized Ca2+ release events through ryanodine-sensitive channels located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ sparks) activate large-conductance, Ca 2+-sensitive K+ (BK) channels. Ca2+ sparks and BK channels provide a negative feedback mechanism that hyperpolarizes smooth muscle and thereby opposes vasoconstriction. In this study, we examined Ca 2+ sparks and BK channel function in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with borderline hypertension and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a widely used genetic model of severe hypertension. We found that the amplitude of spontaneous BK currents in WKY and SHR cells were smaller than in normotensive cells even though Ca2+ sparks were of similar magnitude. BK channels in WKY and SHR cells were less sensitive to physiological changes in intracellular Ca2+ than normotensive cells. Our data indicate that decreased expression of the BK channel β1 subunit underlies the lower Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels in SHR and WKY myocytes. We conclude that the lower expression of the β1 subunit during genetic borderline and severe hypertension reduced BK channel activity by decreasing the sensitivity of these channels to physiological changes in Ca2+. These results support the view that changes in the molecular composition of BK channels may be a fundamental event contributing to the development of vascular dysfunction during hypertension.
KW - Ca sparks
KW - Iberiotoxin
KW - Ryanodine receptors
KW - Sarcoplasmic reticulum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0242460508&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0242460508&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1161/01.RES.0000100068.43006.36
DO - 10.1161/01.RES.0000100068.43006.36
M3 - Article
VL - 93
SP - 965
EP - 971
JO - Circulation Research
JF - Circulation Research
SN - 0009-7330
IS - 10
ER -