Background: To explore the character istics of K+ channel of human non-small cell lung cancer cells ( NSCLCC) .
Methods: The characteristics of membrane potassium channels were detected in NSCLCC and benign pulmonary epithelium cells ( BEC) as control by whole cell patch clamp recording technique.
Results: (1) The transmembrane K+ current in NSCLCC was voltage-dependent. The K+ current of squamous cell carcinoma was voltage-dependent and inactivating, and that of adenocarcinoma was also voltage-dependent, but not inactivating . The membrane capacitance of NSCLCC was ( 15. 35± 0. 65) pF. The membrane current density of NSCLCC was ( 121. 08± 8. 35) A/ F. The time constant (τ) of activating K+ current was 3.6-9.8 ms when TP was 50-90 mV. The K+ current could be blocked by K+ channel blocker, TEA. (2) The K+ current amplitude level, density and membrane capacitance of NSCLCC were all remarkably higher than those of BEC ( P < 0. 001) . The time constant of NSCLCC was significantly smaller than that of BEC ( P < 0. 001) .
Conclusions: (1) The transmembrane current of K+ channels in NSCLCC is significantly higher than that in benign pulmonary lesion, and the activity significantly increases. (2) Detection of K+ channels of lung cancer cell membrane is helpful to provide theoretical and experimental basis for exploring the signal transmission of oncogenesis, development, invasion and metastasis of human lung cancer.