Abstract
Potassium channels play a major role in intracellular homeostasis and regulation of cell volume. Intervertebral disc cells respond to mechanical loading in a complex manner. Mechanical loading may play a role in disc degeneration. Lumbar intervertebral disc samples from 5 patients (average age: 47 years, range: 25-64 years) were used for this study, investigating cells from the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus duplicate samples to determine RNA expression and protein expression. Analysis of mRNA expression by RT-PCR demonstrated that TREK 1 was expressed by nucleus pulposus (n=5) and annulus fibrosus (n=5) cells. Currently, TREK-1 is the only potassium channel known to be activated by intracellular acidosis, and responds to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Whilst the precise role of potassium channels in cellular homeostasis remains to be determined, TREK-1 may be important to protect disc cells against ischaemic damage, and subsequent disc degeneration, and may also play a role in effecting mechanotransduction. Further research is required to fully elucidate the role of the TREK-1 ion channel in intervertebral disc cells.
Keywords: Annulus fibrosus, intervertebral disc, mechanotransduction, nucleus pulposus, potassium channel, TREK-1, disc degeneration, RNA, mechanical loading, intracellular homeostasis
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Title:Expression of the Two Pore Domain Potassium Channel TREK-1 in Human Intervertebral Disc Cells
Volume: 7 Issue: 4
Author(s): Pankaj Sharma, Stephen Hughes, Alicia El Haj and Nicola Maffulli
Affiliation:
Keywords: Annulus fibrosus, intervertebral disc, mechanotransduction, nucleus pulposus, potassium channel, TREK-1, disc degeneration, RNA, mechanical loading, intracellular homeostasis
Abstract: Potassium channels play a major role in intracellular homeostasis and regulation of cell volume. Intervertebral disc cells respond to mechanical loading in a complex manner. Mechanical loading may play a role in disc degeneration. Lumbar intervertebral disc samples from 5 patients (average age: 47 years, range: 25-64 years) were used for this study, investigating cells from the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus duplicate samples to determine RNA expression and protein expression. Analysis of mRNA expression by RT-PCR demonstrated that TREK 1 was expressed by nucleus pulposus (n=5) and annulus fibrosus (n=5) cells. Currently, TREK-1 is the only potassium channel known to be activated by intracellular acidosis, and responds to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Whilst the precise role of potassium channels in cellular homeostasis remains to be determined, TREK-1 may be important to protect disc cells against ischaemic damage, and subsequent disc degeneration, and may also play a role in effecting mechanotransduction. Further research is required to fully elucidate the role of the TREK-1 ion channel in intervertebral disc cells.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Sharma Pankaj, Hughes Stephen, El Haj Alicia and Maffulli Nicola, Expression of the Two Pore Domain Potassium Channel TREK-1 in Human Intervertebral Disc Cells, Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2012; 7 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488812800793072
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488812800793072 |
Print ISSN 1574-888X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3946 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Vitamin D: A Regulator of Metabolism and Inflammation
Current Nutrition & Food Science Gene Therapy in Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury
Current Pharmaceutical Design MicroRNAs in the Intracellular Space, Regulation of Organelle Specific Pathways in Health and Disease
MicroRNA MCP-1/CCL2 as a Therapeutic Target in Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Statins and Solid Organ Transplantation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pleiotropic Effects of Statins - Clinical Evidence
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pharmacological Tools to Activate Microglia and their Possible use to Study Neural Network Patho-physiology
Current Neuropharmacology Controlling the Flow of Energy: Inhibition and Stimulation of the Creatine Transporter
Current Enzyme Inhibition The ATP-driven Hsp60 Machinery: Biological and Clinical Implications
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Levosimendan: A New Inodilatory Drug for the Treatment of Decompensated Heart Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Modern Spectrum of Rhabdomyolysis: Drug Toxicity Revealed by Creatine Kinase Screening
Current Drug Safety Inhalational Anesthetics in Acute Severe Asthma
Current Drug Targets Role of Tyrosine Isomers in Acute and Chronic Diseases Leading to Oxidative Stress - A Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Long Noncoding RNA MALAT1: Insights into its Biogenesis and Implications in Human Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design A PHACES Syndrome Unmasked by Propranolol Interruption in a Tetralogy of Fallot Patient: Case Report and Extensive Review on New Indications of Beta Blockers
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Therapeutic Potential of PhospholipaseA2 Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Glucagon and Glucagon-Like Peptide Receptors as Drug Targets
Current Pharmaceutical Design Anesthetic and Adjunctive Drugs for Fast-Track Surgery
Current Drug Targets Systems Biology and Biomechanical Model of Heart Failure
Current Cardiology Reviews Advances in Antiplatelet Therapy for Stroke Prevention: the New P2Y12 antagonists
Current Drug Targets