Molecular identification of the dominant-negative, splicing isoform of the two-pore domain K+ channel K2P5.1 in lymphoid cells and enhancement of its expression by splicing inhibition

The two-pore domain background K+ channel K2P5.1 is expected as a possible therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and cancers because it plays an important role in maintaining the resting membrane potential and regulation of Ca2+ signaling in T lymphocytes and cancer cells. However, the lack of selective K2P5.1 blockers has led to difficulties conducting experimental studies on this K+ channel. We identified a novel splicing isoform of K2P5.1, K2P5.1B from the mammalian spleen, which lacked the N-terminus of full-length K2P5.1A. A co-immunoprecipitation assay using mice spleen lysates revealed an interaction between K2P5.1A and K2P5.1B in the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain. In a heterologous HEK293 expression system, K2P5.1B inhibited the trafficking of K2P5.1A to the plasma membrane. The alkaline pHe-induced hyperpolarizing response was significantly suppressed in K2P5.1B-transfected human leukemia K562 cells. Enhancement in cell proliferation by the overexpression of K2P5.1A in K562 was significantly prevented by the transfection of K2P5.1B. The spliceosome inhibitor pladienolide B significantly enhanced the relative expression of K2P5.1B in K562, resulting in decreases in the activity of K2P5.1A. K2P5.1B suppresses the function of the K2P5.1 K+ channel in a dominant-negative manner, suggesting that the mRNA splicing mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of K2P5.1B may be a new therapeutic strategy for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and cancers.

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