TNF-α promotes cell survival through stimulation of K+ channel and NFκB activity in corneal epithelial cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in various cell types induces either cell death or mitogenesis through different signaling pathways. In the present study, we determined in human corneal epithelial cells how TNF-α also promotes cell survival. Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were cultured in DMEM/F-12 medium containing 10% FBS. TNF-α stimulation induced activation of a voltage-gated K+ channel detected by measuring single channel activity using patch clamp techniques. The effect of TNF-α on downstream events included NFκB nuclear translocation and increases in DNA binding activities, but did not elicit ERK, JNK, or p38 limb signaling activation. TNF-α induced increases in p21 expression resulting in partial cell cycle attenuation in the G1 phase. Cell cycle progression was also mapped by flow cytometer analysis. Blockade of TNF-α-induced K+ channel activity effectively prevented NFκB nuclear translocation and binding to DNA, diminishing the cell-survival protective effect of TNF-α. In conclusion, TNF-α promotes survival of HCE cells through sequential stimulation of K+ channel and NFκB activities. This response to TNF-α is dependent on stimulating K+ channel activity because following suppression of K+ channel activity TNF-α failed to activate NFκB nuclear translocation and binding to nuclear DNA.