Extracellular K⁺ and Opening of Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels Activate T Cell Integrin Function: Physical and Functional Association between Kv1.3 Channels and β1 Integrins

Elevated extracellular K⁺ ([K⁺]_o), in the absence of “classical” immunological stimulatory signals, was found to itself be a sufficient stimulus to activate T cell β1 integrin moieties, and to induce integrin-mediated adhesion and migration. Gating of T cell voltage-gated K⁺ channels (Kv1.3) appears to be the crucial “decision-making” step, through which various physiological factors, including elevated [K⁺]_o levels, affect the T cell β1 integrin function: opening of the channel leads to function, whereas its blockage prevents it. In support of this notion, we found that the proadhesive effects of the chemokine macrophage-inflammatory protein 1β, the neuropeptide calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP), as well as elevated [K⁺]_o levels, are blocked by specific Kv1.3 channel blockers, and that the unique physiological ability of substance P to inhibit T cell adhesion correlates with Kv1.3 inhibition. Interestingly, the Kv1.3 channels and the β1 integrins coimmunoprecipitate, suggesting that their physical association underlies their functional cooperation on the T cell surface. This study shows that T cells can be activated and driven to integrin function by a pathway that does not involve any of its specific receptors (i.e., by elevated [K⁺]_o). In addition, our results suggest that undesired T cell integrin function in a series of pathological conditions can be arrested by molecules that block the Kv1.3 channels.