ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the current changes of voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv1.3 potassium channel) and calcium-activated potassium channel (IKCa1 potassium channel) in peripheral blood T-lymphocyte derived from hypertensive patients of Xinjiang Kazakh.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty randomly selected untreated Kazakh hypertensive patients and 20 Kazakh healthy subjects from Xinjiang were included in this study. T-lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood with magnetic cell sorting, the whole-cell currents of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels were recorded with patch-clamp technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The current density of Kv1.3 potassium channel was significantly higher in the hypertensive group [(280 ± 74) pA/pF (n = 39)] than that in the control group [(179 ± 51) pA/pF (n = 38), P < 0.01], while the membrane capacitance was similar between the two groups. (2) The current density of IKCa1 potassium channel was also significantly higher in the hypertensive group [(198 ± 44) pA/pF (n = 28)] than that in the control group [(124 ± 43) pA/pF (n = 26), P < 0.01], while the membrane capacitance was also similar between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The T-lymphocytes Kv1.3 potassium channel and IKCa1 potassium channel current densities are higher in hypertensive patients in Xinjiang Kazakh suggesting a potential role of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels activation in the pathophysiology of hypertension.</p>