Functions of fuctionally silent potassium channels in macrophages

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pharmacology in pharmacy
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Yoshiaki 名古屋市立大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 助教 (80707555)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: イオンチャネル / 薬理学 / 薬学 / カルシウムシグナル / マクロファージ / 蛍光イメージング / パッチクランプ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Macrophages play key roles in innate immunity. Ion channels in macrophages modulate membrane potentials and control intracellular calcium signaling to cause immune responses against various types of stimulation. In the present study, we focused on two kinds of potassium channels, TWIK-1 (a member of two pore domain K+ channel family) and Kir2.1 (a member of inwardly rectifying K+ channel family), whose roles in macrophages are unknown. In our study it was indicated that TWIK-1 functions as a non-selective cation channel not a K+ channel and modulates membrane potentials and cytokine production. On the other hands, Kir2.1 may be one of the negative regulators of differentiation into M1 state.

Free Research Field

薬理学