Unipd Research counteracts tumor growth and metastasis thanks to new perspectives of RNA-Based therapies

16.09.2024

Potassium channels are protein structures that allow rapid and selective passage of ions through the cell membrane. The passage can also occur thanks to a difference in potassium concentration and electrical potential on the two sides of the membrane itself. Potassium ions can move from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration until the gradient is counterbalanced by the membrane. A malfunction of these channels is associated with various human pathologies.

Among the many known potassium channels, Kv1.3 covers several pathologies, including cancer. While its role is well known, less so is how it is involved in the progression of the disease.

In the article BioID-based intact cell interactome of the Kv1.3 potassium channel identifies a Kv1.3-STAT3-p53 cellular signaling pathway recently published in Science Advances, researchers from the Department of Biology at the University of Padua reported results that demonstrate that Kv1.3 influences cell behavior more widely than previously thought. Furthermore, the data shows that by acting on this channel, it is possible to significantly slow down tumor growth and reduce the spread of its metastases.

The study, coordinated by Vanessa Checchetto and Ildikò Szabò, also included Elena Prosdocimi and Veronica Carpanese, co-authors of the article, and all members of the Department of Biology at the University of Padua.

To demonstrate the relevance of Kv1.3 and its interactions in tumor development, the researchers modified melanoma cells in the laboratory so that they lacked this channel. In the experiments performed, the altered cells showed a different gene expression, reduced growth, an ability to form tumors four times smaller, and a decrease in lung metastases compared to the original cells (“wild type”) with Kv1.3.