Spadin Modulates Astrocytic Passive Conductance via Inhibition of TWIK-1/TREK-1 Heterodimeric Channels.

Yeonju Bae, Jae Hyouk Choi, Kanghyun Ryoo, Ajung Kim, Osung Kwon, Hyun-Gug Jung, Eun Mi Hwang, Jae-Yong Park

International journal of molecular sciences 2020 Dec 17

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Astrocytes, the most abundant cell type in the brain, are non-excitable cells and play critical roles in brain function. Mature astrocytes typically exhibit a linear current-voltage relationship termed passive conductance, which is believed to enable astrocytes to maintain potassium homeostasis in the brain. We previously demonstrated that TWIK-1/TREK-1 heterodimeric channels mainly contribute to astrocytic passive conductance. However, the molecular identity of astrocytic passive conductance is still controversial and needs to be elucidated. Here, we report that spadin, an inhibitor of TREK-1, can dramatically reduce astrocytic passive conductance in brain slices. A series of gene silencing experiments demonstrated that spadin-sensitive currents are mediated by TWIK-1/TREK-1 heterodimeric channels in cultured astrocytes and hippocampal astrocytes from brain slices. Our study clearly showed that TWIK-1/TREK-1-heterodimeric channels can act as the main molecular machinery of astrocytic passive conductance, and suggested that spadin can be used as a specific inhibitor to control astrocytic passive conductance.

Citation

Yeonju Bae, Jae Hyouk Choi, Kanghyun Ryoo, Ajung Kim, Osung Kwon, Hyun-Gug Jung, Eun Mi Hwang, Jae-Yong Park. Spadin Modulates Astrocytic Passive Conductance via Inhibition of TWIK-1/TREK-1 Heterodimeric Channels. International journal of molecular sciences. 2020 Dec 17;21(24)