BKCa Assays

Background of BKCa Channel

BKCa channel is a type of potassium channel activated by Ca²⁺ concentration and mainly distributed in mitochondria. BKCa channel has greater conductivity and can also be activated by the changes of membrane voltage compared to its colleagues, IKCa and SKCa channels. BKCa channel correlates the potentials of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in cells and exerts beneficial actions in the treatment of epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, or neurological disease.

Fig.1. Structure Prediction of the Human BKCa. (Uniprot ID Q12791 obtained from Alphafold)

Distributions and Functions of BKCa Channel

BKCa channel can be found throughout the human body, with particularly strong expression in the nervous system or vascular smooth muscle cells. BKCa channel mainly contributes to the regulation of the depolarization or hyperpolarization of the membrane, which makes it critical in the regulation of neuronal excitability, smooth muscle contraction, regulation of vascular tone, and neurotic delivery.

Mechanisms of BKCa Channel

Unlike other K⁺ channels, the BKCa channel can be activated by both elevated levels of intracellular Ca²⁺ and membrane voltage.

Channel	Gene	Mechanism	Activator	Blocker
BKCa	KCNMA1	At low intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations, the BKCa channel is only driven by voltage, while at calcium concentrations above 100 nM, channel activity also greatly increases. Voltage-gated K⁺ channel (Kv) and BKCa act in a negative feedback mode to prevent excessive polarization of blood vessels and nerves.	BMS 191011 1-EBIO GoSlo SR 5-69 NS 11021 NS 1619 NS 19504	Iberiotoxin Paxilline Penitrem A

Assay List of BKCa Channel

Creative Biolabs can provide a range of assays of BKCa channels. You can choose the assay in the list or contact us for more information:

BKCa Channels

Assay No.	Assay Name	Host Cell	Assay Type	Datasheet
S01YF-0722-KX231	Magic™ Human KCNMA1 In Vitro Electrophysiology Assay, CHO-K1	CHO-K1	Electrophysiology Assay

Published Data

Paper Title	BKCa channels regulate the immunomodulatory properties of WJ-MSCs by affecting the exosome protein profiles during the inflammatory response
Journal	Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Published	2020
Abstract	Inflammation is the immune system's defense mechanism against external stimuli, persistent inflammatory responses can lead to immune imbalance and organ dysfunction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can inhibit the activation of immune cells, reduce the secretion of inflammatory factors, and promote immune tolerance, thus becoming an ideal way for anti-inflammatory therapy. Exosomes secreted by MSCs exert inflammatory therapeutic effects and immune regulation properties, which have been confirmed by many experiments. BKCa channels physiologically maintain potassium balance and regulate the release of neurotransmitters, previous experiments have also explained the potential role of BKCa channels in inflammatory responses. Although different models produced inconsistent results for the prediction of BKCa channel function, BKCa was still nominated as one of the potential targets for inflammatory intervention. In this study, the researchers combined the role of BKCa, MSC, and exosomes in the anti-inflammatory process to discuss whether the BKCa channel expressed in MSC regulates the protein profile of exosomes in the inflammatory process, and to explore the experimental evidence for the role of BKCa channels in the process of MSC immune regulation.
Result	WJ-MSCs isolated from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly were used in the experiment to identify the expression of BKCa and anti-inflammatory cytokines in MSCs, and track the protein profile of exosomes through proteomic characterization and transmission electron microscopy. Data shows that BKCa was abundantly expressed in the isolated WJ-MSCs and was positively regulated by LPS. Blockade of BKCa induces apoptosis and reduces interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression. Furthermore, THP-1 cells treated with LPS/IFN-γ produced more anti-inflammatory cytokines after stimulation with exosomes from BKCa-knockdown WJ-MSCs. The experimental results showed that the knockdown of BKCa could significantly enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of exosomes secreted by WJ-MSCs and inhibit the secretion of IL-6 from macrophages, which provided a new intervention idea for immune response regulation. Fig.2. BKCa channels affect exosomes and regulate inflammatory responses. (Song, 2020)

Reference

Song, A.; et al. BKCa channels regulate the immunomodulatory properties of WJ-MSCs by affecting the exosome protein profiles during the inflammatory response. Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 2020, 11: 440.

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