Author(s)

Juan Feng¹, Shiqiang Wang², Demao Song^1*

¹Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
²State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Our previous study has showed that restraint stress inhibits T cell proliferation. Kv1.3 plays a key role in the lymphocyte activation process. Here, we investigate the effects of restraint stress on murine splenic T and B cell proliferation and the role of Kv1.3 in the process. 3H-TdR incorporation is used to determine changes in splenocyte proliferation stimulated by Con A or LPS between control and restraint stress groups. The data shows that restraint stress inhibits T cell and enhanced B cell proliferation. Data from RT-PCR and Western blotting shows that Kv1.3 gene and protein levels are downregulated in T cells and upregulated in B cells in stressed mice. To examine a possible cause-and-effect relationship between Kv1.3 and stress-affected lymphocyte proliferation, we employ various Kv1.3 specific blockers (quinine, 4-AP and TEA) to determine K+ channel function under restraint stress. The data shows that Kv1.3 blockers reverse the decreased T cell proliferation and increase B cell proliferation induced by restraint stress. These results indicate that Kv1.3 mediates restraint stress-induced modulation of T/B lymphocyte proliferation.

Restraint Stress, Kv1.3, Proliferation, T/B Cell

Feng, J. , Wang, S. and Song, D. (2015) Inhibition of T Cell and Stimulation of B Cell Proliferation by Restraint Stress Mediated by Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel 1.3 Expression. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 5, 94-104. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2015.53008.