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Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 85, No. 7, 664-669 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/154405910608500716

Biological

Single-channel Recordings of TREK-1 K+ Channels in Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts

A. Ohara1,*, Y. Saeki2, M. Nishikawa3, Y. Yamamoto4 and G. Yamamoto3

1 Department of Bioscience,
2 Department of Basic Science for Health and Nursing,
3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and
4 Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Ohtsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan

Correspondence: ohara{at}belle.shiga-med.ac.jp

The periodontal ligament (PDL) works as a suspensory ligament when external mechanical stress is placed on the teeth. PDL fibroblasts, the principal cells in the PDL, are responsible for many PDL functions. We hypothesized that mechanosensitive ion channels are present in human PDL fibroblasts, which are capable of responding to mechanical stress during normal function of the tissue. Using patch-clamp techniques, we detected mechanosensitive TREK-1 K+ channels (a member of the two-pore-domain K+ channel family), whose single-channel conductance was 104 pS in symmetrical K+-rich solutions. The open probability of the channel was low in the quiescent state, but it was strongly increased by the induction of membrane stretch. Arachidonic acid also enhanced the channel activity. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical observations showed the expression of TREK-1 K+ channels in PDL fibroblasts. The results suggest that the activation of TREK-1 K+ channels by masticatory stress contributes to the hyperpolarization of PDL fibroblasts.

Key Words: TREK-1 • K+ channel • periodontal ligament • teeth • single-channel recording


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