Functional characterization of native Piezo1 as calcium and magnesium influx pathway in human myeloid leukemia cells.

Piezo1 is a Ca-permeable mechanically activated ion channel that is involved in various physiological processes and cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. The study of biophysical characteristics of Piezo1 is important for understanding the mechanisms of its function and regulation. Stretch activation, a routine approach that is applied to stimulate Piezo1 activity in the plasma membrane, has a number of significant limitations that complicate precise single-channel analysis.

Evaluation of the Role of Potassium Channels in the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Blood Cells.

The potassium channels are one of the key regulators of cell membrane potential and permeability properties of blood cells. The changes in functioning of potassium channels control crucial cell processes such as proliferation, viability, migration, and invasion. The correct estimation of these processes is important for the characterization of physiological and pathophysiological cell states.

Piezo1 Activation Prevents Spheroid Formation by Malignant Melanoma SK-MEL-2 Cells.

Melanoma is a highly aggressive type of skin cancer produced through the malignant transformation of melanocytes, and it is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Clinically, melanoma has several stages associated with migration and invasion of the cells through the skin's layers, the rapid spreading of cells and the formation of tumors in multiple organs. The main problem is the emergence of resistance in melanoma to the applied methods of treatment; thus, it is of primary importance to find more crucial signaling pathways that control the progression of this type of cancer and could be targeted to prevent melanoma spreading.

Capsazepine activates amiloride-insensitive ENaC-like channels in human leukemia cells.

Sodium influx carried out by ion channels is one of the main regulators of water-salt and volume balance in cells of blood origin. Previously, we described amiloride-insensitive ENaC-like channels in human myeloid leukemia K562 cells; the intracellular regulatory mechanisms of the channels are associated with actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Recently, an extracellular mechanism of ENaC-like channels activation in K562 cells by the action of serine protease trypsin has been revealed.

Role of Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels in Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia K562 Cells.

Calcium-activated potassium channels (KCa) are important participants in calcium signaling pathways due to their ability to be activated by an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration. KCa channels are involved in the regulation of cellular processes in both normal and pathophysiological conditions, including oncotransformation. Previously, using patch-clamp, we registered the KCa currents in the plasma membrane of human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells, whose activity was controlled by local Ca entry via mechanosensitive calcium-permeable channels.

Single ion channel recording in 3D culture of stem cells using patch-clamp technique.

Tri-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates or spheroids are considered to be closer to physiological conditions than traditional 2D cell culture. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) assembling in spheroids have increased the survival of transplanted cells. The organization of stem cells in 3D culture affects cell microenvironment and their mechanical properties.

Agonist-induced Piezo1 activation suppresses migration of transformed fibroblasts.

Increased migratory, invasive and metastatic potential is one of the main pathophysiological determinants of malignant cells. Mechanosensitive calcium-permeable ion channels are among the key membrane proteins that participate in processes of cellular motility. Local calcium influx via mechanosensitive channels was proposed to regulate calcium-dependent molecules involved in cell migration.

Cell Cycle-Dependent Expression of Bk Channels in Human Mesenchymal Endometrial Stem Cells.

The study of ion channels in stem cells provides important information about their role in stem cell fate. Previously we have identified the activity of calcium-activated potassium channels of big conductance (BK channels) in human endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs). BK channels could have significant impact into signaling processes by modulating membrane potential.

Extracellular protease trypsin activates amiloride-insensitive sodium channels in human leukemia cells.

Sodium influx is tightly regulated in the cells of blood origin. Amiloride-insensitive sodium channels were identified as one of the main sodium-transporting pathways in leukemia cells. To date, all known regulatory pathways of these channels are coupled with intracellular actin cytoskeleton dynamics.

Local calcium signalling is mediated by mechanosensitive ion channels in mesenchymal stem cells.

Mechanical forces are implicated in key physiological processes in stem cells, including proliferation, differentiation and lineage switching. To date, there is an evident lack of understanding of how external mechanical cues are coupled with calcium signalling in stem cells. Mechanical reactions are of particular interest in adult mesenchymal stem cells because of their promising potential for use in tissue remodelling and clinical therapy.