Enhancement of Kv1.3 Potassium Conductance by Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field

Theoretical and experimental evidences support the hypothesis that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields can affect voltage-gated channels. Little is known, however, about their effect on potassium channels. Kv1.3, a member of the voltage-gated potassium channels family originally discovered in the brain, is a key player in important biological processes including antigen-dependent activation of T-cells during the immune response. We report that Kv1.3 expressed in CHO-K1 cells can be modulated in cell subpopulations by extremely low frequency and relatively low intensity electromagnetic fields. In particular, we observed that field exposure can cause an enhancement of Kv1.3 potassium conductance and that the effect lasts for several minutes after field removal. The results contribute to put immune and nervous system responses to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields into a new perspective, with Kv1.3 playing a pivotal molecular role.