Effects of mechanical stretch on the functions of BK and L-type Ca2+ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells

Zhiguo Zhang; Yuqiao Wen; Jing Du; Yang Yu; Sisi Liu; Xiaoan Wu; Hucheng Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.11.015

Effects of mechanical stretch on the functions of BK and L-type Ca²⁺ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells

J Biomech. 2018 Jan 23:67:18-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.11.015. Epub 2017 Nov 23.

Authors

Zhiguo Zhang¹, Yuqiao Wen², Jing Du³, Yang Yu³, Sisi Liu³, Xiaoan Wu³, Hucheng Zhao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China.
² School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 614000, China.
³ Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
⁴ School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 614000, China; Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: zhaohc@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 29248193
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.11.015

Abstract

It is well recognized that pathologically increased mechanical stretch plays a critical role in vascular remodeling during hypertension. However, how the stretch modulates the functions of ion channels of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remains to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated the effects of mechanical stretch on the activity of large conductance calcium, voltage-activated potassium (BK) and L-type Ca²⁺ channels. In comparison with 5% stretch (physiological), 15% stretch (pathological) upregulated the current density of L-type Ca²⁺ and BK channels as well as the frequency and amplitude of calcium oscillation in VSMCs. 15% stretch also increased the open probability and mean open time of the BK channel compared with 5% stretch. BK and L-type Ca²⁺ channels participated in the mechanical stretch-modulated calcium oscillation. Our results suggested that during hypertension, pathological stretch altered the activity of BK and L-type Ca²⁺ channels and manipulated the calcium oscillation of VSMCs.

Keywords: BK channel; L-type Ca(2+) channel; Mechanical stretch; VSMC.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Electrophysiological Phenomena
Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / physiology*
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiology*
Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / physiology*
Oscillometry
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / physiology*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Stress, Mechanical*

Substances

Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels
Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated