KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 channels regulate the interactions between fibroblast-like synoviocytes and T lymphocytes during rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and CCR7(−) effector memory T (T(EM)) cells are two of the major cell types implicated in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, FLS become highly invasive, whereas T(EM) cells proliferate and secrete proinflammatory cytokines, during RA. FLS and T cells may also interact and influence each other’s phenotypes. Inhibition of the pathogenic phenotypes of both FLS and T(EM) cells can be accomplished by selectively blocking the predominant potassium channels that they upregulate during RA: KCa1.1 (BK, Slo1, MaxiK, KCNMA1) upregulated by FLS and Kv1.3 (KCNA3) upregulated by activated T(EM) cells. In this study, we investigated the roles of KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 in regulating the interactions between FLS and T(EM) cells and determined if combination therapies of KCa1.1- and Kv1.3-selective blockers are more efficacious than monotherapies in ameliorating disease in rat models of RA. METHODS: We used in vitro functional assays to assess the effects of selective KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 channel inhibitors on the interactions of FLS isolated from rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) with syngeneic T(EM) cells. We also used flow cytometric analyses to determine the effects of KCa1.1 blockers on the expression of proteins used for antigen presentation on CIA-FLS. Finally, we used the CIA and pristane-induced arthritis models to determine the efficacy of combinatorial therapies of KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 blockers in reducing disease severity compared with monotherapies. RESULTS: We show that the interactions of FLS from rats with CIA and of rat T(EM) cells are regulated by KCa1.1 and Kv1.3. Inhibiting KCa1.1 on FLS reduces the ability of FLS to stimulate T(EM) cell proliferation and migration, and inhibiting Kv1.3 on T(EM) cells reduces T(EM) cells’ ability to enhance FLS expression of KCa1.1 and major histocompatibility complex class II protein, as well as stimulates their invasion. Furthermore, we show that combination therapies of selective KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 blockers are more efficacious than monotherapies at reducing signs of disease in two rat models of RA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the importance of KCa1.1 and Kv1.3 in regulating FLS and T(EM) cells during RA, as well as the value of combined therapies targeting both of these cell types to treat RA. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13075-018-1783-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.