Potassium channels underlying the resting potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

1. The molecular identity of the K channels giving rise to the negative membrane potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells has yet to be determined.

2. To date, most studies have focused on voltage-gated, delayed rectifier channels and their roles in mediating hypoxia-induced membrane depolarization. There is, however, strong evidence that an outwardly rectifying K+ conductance distinct from the classical delayed rectifier is involved.

3. Growing evidence that TASK-like channels can sense hypoxia and are present in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells suggests that they may be responsible for the resting K+ conductance and resting potential.

4. The present review considers the evidence that particular K channels maintain the resting membrane potential of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and mediate the depolarizing response to hypoxia.