Proton-Gated Channels in PC12 Cells

• Published in: Journal of neurophysiology 2002-05, Vol.87 (5), p.2555-2561
• Main Authors: Chu, Xiang-Ping, Miesch, Jennifer, Johnson, Martha, Root, Leslie, Zhu, Xiao-Man, Chen, Dexi, Simon, Roger P, Xiong, Zhi-Gang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid Sensing Ion Channels; Amiloride - pharmacology; Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Diuretics - pharmacology; Electric Capacitance; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Membrane Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - physiology; PC12 Cells; Peptides; Protons; Rats; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Sodium - metabolism; Sodium Channel Blockers; Sodium Channels - genetics; Sodium Channels - metabolism; Spider Venoms - pharmacology; Up-Regulation - physiology
• ISSN: 0022-3077; 1522-1598
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.00741.2001

Robert S. Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Research, Portland, Oregon 97232 Chu, Xiang-Ping, Jennifer Miesch, Martha Johnson, Leslie Root, Xiao-Man Zhu, Dexi Chen, Roger P. Simon, and Zhi-Gang Xiong. Proton-Gated Channels in PC12 Cells. J. Neurophysiol. 87: 2555-2561, 2002. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are expressed in various sensory and central neurons. The functional role of these channels remains elusive. Complex subunit combinations and lack of specific blockers for native receptors are likely to contribute to the difficulty of resolving the function of ASICs. Finding a neuronal cell line, which expresses a single population of ASICs, should prove to be useful in delineating the function of individual ASICs. Using patch-clamp, Ca 2+ -imaging, and RT-PCR techniques, we have explored the existence of ASICs in PC12 cells, a clonal neuronal cell line. Fast drops of extracellular pH activated transient inward currents in PC12 cells with pH 0.5 at 6.0-6.2. The ASICs in PC12 cells were selective for Na + with significant Ca 2+ permeability. Currents in PC12 cells were blocked by the nonselective ASIC blocker amiloride. PcTX1, a specific homomeric ASIC1a blocker, also blocked the ASIC currents with an IC 50 of ~1.5 nM. RT-PCR demonstrated the existence of ASIC1a transcript in both undifferentiated and nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. Our data suggest that PC12 cells likely contain a single population of functional proton-gated channel-homomeric ASIC1a. It might be an ideal neuronal cell line for the study of physiological and potential pathological roles of this key subunit of ASICs.