Basolateral K+ channels in airway epithelia. I. Regulation by Ca2+ and block by charybdotoxin.

In airway epithelia, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) stimulates Cl- secretion by activating apical membrane Cl- channels and basolateral membrane K+ channels. Cl- channels are regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, whereas K+ channels are regulated by the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]c. Our recent observation that cAMP increases [Ca2+]c suggested that cAMP might indirectly regulate K+ channels by increasing [Ca2+]c. To study regulation of K+ channels we measured 86Rb efflux, single K+ channels in membrane patches, and [Ca2+]c with the fluorescent indicator fura-2. Isoproterenol and Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, transiently increased [Ca2+]c and transiently stimulated 86Rb efflux. Stimulation of 86Rb efflux resulted from release of intracellular Ca2+ stores. 86Rb efflux was blocked by Ba2+ or charybdotoxin, but not by tetraethylammonium. Charybdotoxin prevented all of the 86Rb efflux that was stimulated by A23187 or by forskolin. Charybdotoxin also blocked the low-conductance inwardly rectifying K+ channel (KCLIC) in membrane patches. These results indicate that the KCLIC channel is responsible for the Ca2(+)-dependent increase in K+ permeability in airway epithelial cells. They also indicate that cAMP-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ is sufficient to activate K+ channels.