Phloretin differentially inhibits volume‐sensitive and cyclic AMP‐activated, but not Ca‐activated, Cl channels

Article date: August 2001

By: Hai‐Tian Fan, Shigeru Morishima, Hajime Kida, Yasunobu Okada in Volume 133, Issue 7, pages 1096-1106

Some phenol derivatives are known to block volume‐sensitive Cl channels. However, effects on the channel of the bisphenol phloretin, which is a known blocker of glucose uniport and anion antiport, have not been examined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of phloretin on volume‐sensitive Cl channels in comparison with cyclic AMP‐activated CFTR Cl channels and Ca2+‐activated Cl channels using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique.

Extracellular application of phloretin (over 10 μM) voltage‐independently, and in a concentration‐dependent manner (IC50 ∼30 μM), inhibited the Cl current activated by a hypotonic challenge in human epithelial T84, Intestine 407 cells and mouse mammary C127/CFTR cells.

In contrast, at 30 μM phloretin failed to inhibit cyclic AMP‐activated Cl currents in T84 and C127/CFTR cells. Higher concentrations (over 100 μM) of phloretin, however, partially inhibited the CFTR Cl currents in a voltage‐dependent manner.

At 30 and 300 μM, phloretin showed no inhibitory effect on Ca2+‐dependent Cl currents induced by ionomycin in T84 cells.

It is concluded that phloretin preferentially blocks volume‐sensitive Cl channels at low concentrations (below 100 μM) and also inhibits cyclic AMP‐activated Cl channels at higher concentrations, whereas phloretin does not inhibit Ca2+‐activated Cl channels in epithelial cells.

Some phenol derivatives are known to block volume‐sensitive Cl channels. However, effects on the channel of the bisphenol phloretin, which is a known blocker of glucose uniport and anion antiport, have not been examined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of phloretin on volume‐sensitive Cl channels in comparison with cyclic AMP‐activated CFTR Cl channels and Ca2+‐activated Cl channels using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique.

Extracellular application of phloretin (over 10 μM) voltage‐independently, and in a concentration‐dependent manner (IC50 ∼30 μM), inhibited the Cl current activated by a hypotonic challenge in human epithelial T84, Intestine 407 cells and mouse mammary C127/CFTR cells.

In contrast, at 30 μM phloretin failed to inhibit cyclic AMP‐activated Cl currents in T84 and C127/CFTR cells. Higher concentrations (over 100 μM) of phloretin, however, partially inhibited the CFTR Cl currents in a voltage‐dependent manner.

At 30 and 300 μM, phloretin showed no inhibitory effect on Ca2+‐dependent Cl currents induced by ionomycin in T84 cells.

It is concluded that phloretin preferentially blocks volume‐sensitive Cl channels at low concentrations (below 100 μM) and also inhibits cyclic AMP‐activated Cl channels at higher concentrations, whereas phloretin does not inhibit Ca2+‐activated Cl channels in epithelial cells.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 133, 1096–1106; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704159

DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704159

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