The role of hERG1 K+ channels and a functional link between hERG1 K+ channels and SDF-1 in acute leukemic cell migration

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its unique receptor, CXCR4, regulate stem/progenitor cell migration and retention in the bone marrow and are required for hematopoiesis. Recent studies found that hERG1 K+ channels were important regulators of tumor cell migration. In this study, we investigated whether SDF-1 induced acute leukemic cell migration associated with hERG1 K+ channels. Our results showed that E-4031, a specific hERG1 K+ channels inhibitor, significantly blocked SDF-1-induced migration of leukemic cell lines, primary acute leukemic cells, leukemic stem cells and HEK293T cells transfected with herg-pEGFP. The migration of phenotypically recognizable subsets gave the indication that lymphoblastic leukemic cells were inhibited more than myeloid cells while in the presence of E-4031 which maybe associated with herg expression. SDF-1 increased hERG1 K+ current expressed in oocytes and HEK293T cells transfected with herg-pEGFP. There were no significant changes of CXCR4 expression on both HL-60 cells and primary leukemic cells regardless if untreated or treated with E-4031 for 24 h (P > 0.05). The hERG1 K+ current increased by SDF-1 might contribute to the mechanism of SDF-1-induced leukemic cell migration. The data suggested that hERG1 K+ channels functionally linked to cell migration induced by SDF-1.