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Cidad P, Jiménez-Pérez L, García-Arribas D, Miguel-Velado E, Tajada S, Ruiz-McDavitt C, López-López JR, Pérez-García MT

Kv1.3 channels can modulate cell proliferation during phenotypic switch by an ion-flux independent mechanism.

Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol.. 2012 May;32(5):1299-307, PMID: 22383699

Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells has been associated with a decreased expression of all voltage-dependent potassium channel (Kv)1 channel encoding genes but Kcna3 (which encodes Kv1.3 channels). In fact, upregulation of Kv1.3 currents seems to be important to modulate proliferation of mice femoral vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. This study was designed to explore if these changes in Kv1 expression pattern constituted a landmark of phenotypic modulation across vascular beds and to investigate the mechanisms involved in the proproliferative function of Kv1.3 channels.