Haemodynamic shear stress activates a K+ current in vascular endothelial cells
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- letter
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature
- Vol. 331 (6152), 168-170
- https://doi.org/10.1038/331168a0
Abstract
The endothelial lining of blood vessels is subjected to a wide range of haemodynamically-generated shear-stress forces throughout the vascular system1. In vivo and in vitro, endothelial cells change their morphology2,3 and biochemistry4 in response to shear stress in a force- and time-dependent way, or when a critical threshold is exceeded5'6. The initial stimulus–response coupling mechanisms have not been identified, however. Recently, Lansman et al.7 described stretch-activated ion channels in endothelial cells and suggested that they could be involved in the response to mechanical forces generated by blood flow. The channels were relatively non-selective and were opened by membrane stretching induced by suction. Here we report whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of single arterial endothelial cells exposed to controlled levels of laminar shear stress in capillary flow tubes. A K+ selective, shear-stress-activated ionic current (designated I K.s) was identified which is unlike previously described stretch-activated currents. I K.s varies in magnitude and duration as a function of shear stress (half-maximal effect at 0.70 dyn cm−2), desensitizes slowly and recovers rapidly and fully on cessation of flow. I K.s activity represents the earliest and fastest stimulus–response coupling of haemodynamic forces to endothelial cells yet found. We suggest that localized flow-activated hyperpolarization of endothelium involving I K.s may participate in the regulation of vascular tone.Keywords
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