Mechanism of high K+ and Tl+ uptake in cultured human glioma cells.

1. The aim of this study was to elucidate if the K+ uptake was higher in cultured human glioma cells than in cells from other malignant tumors and to analyze the importance of membrane potential and K+ channels for the uptake. 2. K+ transport properties were studied with the isotopes 42K and the K-analogue 201Tl. 3. Comparison with cultured cells from other malignant tumors showed that the specific steady-state accumulation of Tl+ was significantly higher in glioma cells (U-251MG and Tp-378MG). 4. In Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C the rates of K+ and Tl+ uptake were both inhibited by about 55% in ouabain and 60% in furosemide, bumetanide, or Na(+)- or Cl(-)-free medium. This indicated that the routes for K+ and Tl+ uptake were similar and due to Na,K-ATPase-dependent transport and to Na-K-Cl cotransport. 5. About 10% of the uptake was neither ouabain nor bumetanide sensitive. Ba2+, which is known to block inward-rectifying K+ channels and to depolarize glial cells, and other K+ channel blockers (Cs+ and bupivacaine), had no effect on Tl+ uptake. 6. Metabolic inhibition with dinitrophenol reduced the uptake rate to 17%. 7. The washout of Tl+ was unaffected by bumetanide and K+ channel blockers, but dinitrophenol caused a transient increase of 75%, an effect which persisted in the presence of K+ channel blockers. 8. It was concluded that the high specific K+ and Tl+ accumulation in cultured human glioma cells was due not to the presence of inwardly rectifying K+ channels or other identified K+ channels, but to Na,K-ATPase dependent transport and Na-K-Cl cotransport.