Expression of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 potassium channels in human umbilical veins from normal, diabetic, and hypertensive pregnancies

Background/Aim. A substantial line of evidence indicates that Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 channels are the major components of rapid transient-outward potassium currents (A-type cur-rents). It is speculated that those currents may be involved in the maintenance of the membrane potential, as well as in the regulation of propagation and frequency of action po-tentials. However, very little is known about the presence and function of A-type currents in human vascular smooth muscles such as the human umbilical vein (HUV). Bearing in mind its crucial role in the proper fetal oxygenation, the aim of the study was to determine whether Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 potassium channels are present in HUV smooth muscle and to investigate potential alterations of their ex-pression during maternal pathological conditions such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Methods. Healthy, diabetic, and hyper-tensive pregnancies were subjects of this investigation. Each group consisted of 6 HUV samples obtained from 6 normal pregnancies, 6 pregnancies with GDM, and 6 with PIH. Af-ter pharmacology analysis, immunohistochemistry (IH) and Western blot were performed. Results. IH revealed similar expression patterns of both, Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 subunits in HUV smooth muscle in all groups of patients. Results ob-tained by Western blot were in agreement with IH staining. The expression of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 subunits were not signif-icantly different between the groups. Conclusion. Collective-ly, this is the first study that demonstrated the presence of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 potassium channels in the HUV smooth muscle and their preservation during GDM and PIH preg-nancies. These channels are most likely major components of rapid A-type currents that may be relevant for maternal-fetus blood flow and hence fetal development. In addition, they may represent sensors for detecting hemodynamic and/or metabolic changes in the local environment.