The role of potassium channels in the proliferation and migration of endometrial adenocarcinoma HEC1-A cells

• Published in: Molecular biology reports Vol. 49; no. 8; pp. 7447 - 7454
• Main Authors: Erdem Kış, Emel, Tiftik, R. Nalan, Al Hennawi, Khairat, Ün, İsmail
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-08-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Calcium channels; Calcium channels (voltage-gated); Cell migration; Cell proliferation; Endometrial cancer; Endometrium; Glibenclamide; Histology; Life Sciences; Morphology; Original Article; Potassium; Potassium channels (voltage-gated); Potassium chloride; Tetraethylammonium; Wound healing; Tetraethylammonium; 4-Aminopyridine; Endometrium adenocarcinoma; Glibenclamide; KCl
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07546-3

Background
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries. Potassium channels, which have many types, are suggested to play a major role in cancer progression. However, their role in endometrial cancer has not been fully investigated. We aimed to demonstrate whether the ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker glibenclamide, voltage-sensitive potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine, non-selective (voltage-sensitive and calcium-activated) potassium channels blocker tetraethylammonium and potassium chloride (KCl) have any effect on the proliferation and migration of HEC1-A cells.
Methods and results
Proliferation and migration were evaluated by real-time cell analysis (xCELLigence system) and wound healing assays, respectively. Proliferation was reduced by glibenclamide (0.1 and 0.2 mM, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), 4-aminopyridine (10 and 20 mM, P < 0.001) and tetraethylammonium (10 and 20 mM, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, KCl did not change the proliferation. Migration was reduced by glibenclamide (0.01, 0.1 and 0.2 mM, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) and 4-aminopyridine (10 and 20 mM, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Tetraethylammonium did not change migration. However, KCl reduced it (10, 25 and 50 mM, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Both proliferation and migration were reduced by glibenclamide and 4-aminopyridine. However, tetraethylammonium only reduced proliferation and KCl only reduced migration.
Conclusions
Potassium channels have an important role in HEC1-A cell proliferation and migration and potassium channel blockers needs to be further investigated for their therapeutic effect in endometrial cancer.