Physiological oxygen levels reset K⁺ channel activity in human vascular endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Human endothelial cells (EC) play a critical role in vascular homeostasis and their function is influenced by oxygen tension. This study investigates for the first time the effects of long-term adaptation (5 days) of two major EC types to physiological oxygen tension (5 kPa) on basal and nitric oxide (NO)-modulated K⁺ channel activities. Whole-cell patch clamp experiments demonstrate that human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) exhibit larger basal K⁺ outward and smaller inward currents under 5 kPa O₂ compared to standard hyperoxic (18 kPa) culture conditions. Outward currents were potentiated by NO only under hyperoxia. Human cerebral microvascular EC (hCMEC/D3) showed larger outward currents under 5 kPa O₂ which were further potentiated by NO. Pharmaco

SUBMITTER: Yang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808508 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature