Immunolocalization and expression of small‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels in human myometrium

Sep 6, 2012Journal of cellular and molecular medicine

Location and levels of small calcium-sensitive potassium channels in human uterine muscle

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Abstract

SK3 channels show significantly less mRNA expression in pregnant myometrium compared to non-pregnant myometrium.

SK3 channels are localized solely in CD34 positive interstitial Cajal-like cells, also known as telocytes, in non-pregnant myometrium.
Pregnant myometrium contains CD34 positive cells but lacks SK3 immunoreactivity.
Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that SK3 expression in vascular endothelium is similar in both pregnant and non-pregnant myometrium.
CD117 immunoreactivity is found only in small round cells resembling mast cells.
The findings suggest that SK3 activators may influence contractility in human myometrium by modulating telocyte function.

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Small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK3) channels have been detected in human myometrium and we have previously shown a functional role of SK channels in human myometrium in vitro. The aims of this study were to identify the precise localization of SK3 channels and to quantify SK3 mRNA expression in myometrium from pregnant and non-pregnant women. Myometrial biopsies were obtained from pregnant (n = 11) and non-pregnant (n = 11) women. The expression of SK3 channels was assessed using immunohistochemistry and SK3 mRNA was determined by qRT-PCR. In non-pregnant myometrium SK3 immunoreactivity was observed in CD34 positive (CD34(+)) interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC), now called telocytes. Although CD34(+) cells were also present in pregnant myometrium, they lacked SK3 immunoreactivity. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical results showed that SK3 expression in vascular endothelium was similar between the two groups. CD117 immunoreactivity was only detected in small round cells that resemble mast cells. Compared to non-pregnant myometrium we found significantly less SK3 mRNA in pregnant myometrium. We demonstrate that SK3 channels are localized solely in CD34(+) cells and not in smooth muscle cells, and that the molecular expression of SK3 channels is higher in non-pregnant compared to pregnant myometrium. On the basis of our previous study and the present findings, we propose that SK3 activators reduce contractility in human myometrium by modulating telocyte function. This is the first report to provide evidence for a possible role of SK3 channels in human uterine telocytes.

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Immunolocalization and expression of small‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels in human myometrium

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