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The inwardly rectifying K+ channel KIR7.1 controls uterine excitability throughout pregnancy

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Michael TaggartORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Abnormal uterine activity in pregnancy causes a range of important clinical disorders, including preterm birth, dysfunctional labour and post-partum haemorrhage. Uterine contractile patterns are controlled by the generation of complex electrical signals at the myometrial smooth muscle plasma membrane. To identify novel targets to treat conditions associated with uterine dysfunction, we undertook a genome-wide screen of potassium channels that are enriched in myometrial smooth muscle. Computational modelling identified Kir7.1 as potentially important in regulating uterine excitability during pregnancy. We demonstrate Kir7.1 current hyper-polarizes uterine myocytes and promotes quiescence during gestation. Labour is associated with a decline, but not loss, of Kir7.1 expression. Knockdown of Kir7.1 by lentiviral expression of miRNA was sufficient to increase uterine contractile force and duration significantly. Conversely, overexpression of Kir7.1 inhibited uterine contractility. Finally, we demonstrate that the Kir7.1 inhibitor VU590 as well as novel derivative compounds induces profound, long-lasting contractions in mouse and human myometrium; the activity of these inhibitors exceeds that of other uterotonic drugs. We conclude Kir7.1 regulates the transition from quiescence to contractions in the pregnant uterus and may be a target for therapies to control uterine contractility.


Publication metadata

Author(s): McCloskey C, Rada C, Bailey E, McCavera S, van den Berg HA, Atia J, Rand DA, Shmygol A, Chan YW, Quenby S, Brosens JJ, Vatish M, Zhang J, Denton JS, Taggart MJ, Kettleborough C, Tickle D, Jerman J, Wright P, Dale T, Kanumilli S, Trezise DJ, Thornton S, Brown P, Catalano R, Lin N, England SK, Blanks AM

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine

Year: 2014

Volume: 6

Issue: 9

Pages: 1161-1174

Print publication date: 01/09/2014

Online publication date: 23/07/2014

Acceptance date: 02/07/2014

Date deposited: 07/11/2014

ISSN (print): 1757-4676

ISSN (electronic): 1757-4684

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201403944

DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201403944


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Biomedical Research Unit of Warwick Medical School
capacity building studentship
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
21-FY12-133March of Dimes
G0901801Medical Research Council
SP4507Action Medical Research
R01 HD-037831National Institute of Health

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