Effect of chronic cigarette smoking on BK_(Ca) and Kv1.5 expression in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate the role of potassium channel expression alteration in chronic cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness,the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel(BKCa) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel(Kv1.5) expression in rat pulmonary smooth muscle cells were investigated in vivo.METHODS: HE staining,immuno-histochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used.RESULTS:(1) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the protein and mRNA expression of BKCa in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(2) Chronic cigarette smoking downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of Kv1.5 in pulmonary arterial smooth muscles.(3) In big artery,BKCa decreased more makedly than Kv1.5,but in small artery,both of them decreased equally.CONCLUSION: Chronic cigarette smoking downregulates the levels of BKCa and Kv1.5 in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells in vivo,which maybe contribute to the mechanism of cigarette smoking-induced increase in pulmonary vascular responsiveness.