Pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs) are neuroendocrine tumours, mostly resulting from mutations in predisposing genes. Mutations of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunit B (SDHB) are associated with high probability of metastatic disease. Since bioelectrical properties and signalling in cancer are an emerging field, we investigated the metabolic, functional and electrophysiological characteristics in human succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB)-deficient pheochromocytoma cells. These cells exhibited reduced SDH function with elevated succinate-to-fumarate ratio and reduced intracellular ATP levels. The analysis of membrane passive properties revealed a more hyperpolarized membrane potential and a lower cell capacitance of SDHB-deficient cells compared to the parental ones. These bioelectrical changes were associated with reduced proliferation and adhesion capacity of SDHB-deficient cells. Only in SDHB-deficient cells, we also observed an increased amplitude of potassium currents suggesting an activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP). Indeed, exposure of the SDHB-deficient cells to glibenclamide, a specific KATP inhibitor, or to ATP caused normalization of potassium current features and altered proliferation and adhesion. In this work, we show for the first time that reduced intracellular ATP levels in SDHB-deficient chromaffin cells impaired cell bioelectrical properties, which, in turn, are associated with an increased cell aggressiveness. Moreover, we first ever demonstrated that glibenclamide not only reduced the outward potassium currents in SDHB-deficient cells but increased their growth capacity, reduced their ability to migrate and shifted their phenotype towards one more similar to that of parental one.
Keywords: ATP-sensitive potassium channels; bioelectrical properties; glibenclamide; pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma; succinate dehydrogenase.