Apamin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent K+ current and hyperpolarization in human endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells have several types of Ca2+-dependent K+ current (I(K-Ca)). Here, we describe apamin-sensitive I(K-Ca) which is activated by treatment with histamine (His) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In 65 % of HUVECs examined, 100 nM apamin potently inhibited I(K-Ca) and hyperpolarization induced by His (19 and 7 % of control, respectively). In contrast, application of 5 mM tetraethylammonium, a non-selective K channel blocker, or 100 nM iberiotoxin, a selective K channel blocker for a large conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channel, had small (78 % of control) or no effects (102 % of control) on I(K-Ca), respectively. These findings suggest that apamin-sensitive Ca2+-dependent K+ channels are expressed in HUVECs and activated by receptor stimulation.