10779/rcsi.10786925.v1 Rodrigo Alzamora Rodrigo Alzamora Fiona O'Mahony Fiona O'Mahony Wing-Hung Ko Wing-Hung Ko Tiffany Wai-Nga Yip Tiffany Wai-Nga Yip Derek Carter Derek Carter Mustapha Irnaten Mustapha Irnaten Brian J. Harvey Brian J. Harvey Berberine reduces cAMP-induced chloride secretion in T84 human colonic carcinoma cells through inhibition of basolateral KCNQ1 channels Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 2019 Berberine KCNQ1 K+ channels CFTR chloride secretion colon ion transport T84 cells Molecular Medicine 2019-11-22 16:41:40 Journal contribution https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/Berberine_reduces_cAMP-induced_chloride_secretion_in_T84_human_colonic_carcinoma_cells_through_inhibition_of_basolateral_KCNQ1_channels/10786925 <p>Berberine is a plant alkaloid with multiple pharmacological actions, including antidiarrhoeal activity and has been shown to inhibit Cl- secretion in distal colon. The aims of this study were to determine the molecular signalling mechanisms of action of berberine on Cl- secretion and the ion transporter targets. Monolayers of T84 human colonic carcinoma cells grown in permeable supports were placed in Ussing chambers and short-circuit current measured in response to secretagogues and berberine. Whole-cell current recordings were performed in T84 cells using the patch-clamp technique. Berberine decreased forskolin-induced shortcircuit current in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 80 ± 8 mM). In apically permeabilized monolayers and whole-cell current recordings, berberine inhibited a cAMPdependent and chromanol 293B-sensitive basolateral membrane K+ 11 current by 88%, suggesting inhibition of KCNQ1 K+ channels. Berberine did not affect either apical Cl- 12 conductance or basolateral Na+-K+ -ATPase activity. Berberine stimulated p38 MAPK, PKCa and PKA, but had no effect on p42/p44 MAPK and PKCd. However, berberine pre-treatment prevented stimulation of p42/p44 MAPK by epidermal growth factor. The inhibitory effect ofberberine on Cl- secretion was partially blocked by HBDDE (~65 %), an inhibitor of PKCa and to a smaller extent by inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB202190 (~15 %). Berberine treatment induced an increase in association between PKCa and PKA with KCNQ1 and produced phosphorylation of the channel. We conclude that berberine exerts its inhibitory effect on colonic Cl- secretion through inhibition of basolateral KCNQ1 channels responsible for K+ recycling via a PKCa-dependent pathway.</p>