Potent suppression of Kv1.3 potassium channel and IL-2 secretion by diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 in human T cells

PLoS One. 2013 May 22;8(5):e64629. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064629. Print 2013.

Abstract

Diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (DPO-1) is a potent Kv1.5 channel inhibitor that has therapeutic potential for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Many other Kv1.5 channel blockers also potently inhibit the Kv1.3 channel, but whether DPO-1 blocks Kv1.3 channels has not been investigated. The Kv1.3 channel is highly expressed in activated T cells, which is considered a favorable target for immunomodulation. Accordingly, we hypothesized that DPO-1 may exert immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting Kv1.3 channel activity. In this study, DPO-1 blocked Kv1.3 current in a voltage-dependent and concentration-dependent manner, with IC₅₀ values of 2.58 µM in Jurkat cells and 3.11 µM in human peripheral blood T cells. DPO-1 also accelerated the inactivation rate and negatively shifted steady-state inactivation. Moreover, DPO-1 at 3 µM had no apparent effect on the Ca²⁺ activated potassium channel (K(Ca)) current in both Jurkat cells and human peripheral blood T cells. In Jurkat cells, pre-treatment with DPO-1 for 24 h decreased Kv1.3 current density, and protein expression by 48±6% and 60±9%, at 3 and 10 µM, respectively (both p<0.05). In addition, Ca²⁺ influx to Ca²⁺-depleted cells was blunted and IL-2 production was also reduced in activated Jurkat cells. IL-2 secretion was also inhibited by the Kv1.3 inhibitors margatoxin and charybdotoxin. Our results demonstrate for the first time that that DPO-1, at clinically relevant concentrations, blocks Kv1.3 channels, decreases Kv1.3 channel expression and suppresses IL-2 secretion. Therefore, DPO-1 may be a useful treatment strategy for immunologic disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Interleukin-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Phosphines / pharmacology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*

Substances

  • (2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl) diphenylphosphine oxide
  • Interleukin-2
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel
  • Phosphines

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program: 2007CB512000; 2007CB512005, http://www.most.gov.cn/) to Dr. Liao, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn) to Dr. Du (No 30971243 and No 81170164). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.