The Activity of K(V)11.1 Potassium Channel Modulates F-Actin Organization During Cell Migration of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells

Cell migration exerts a pivotal role in tumor progression, underlying cell invasion and metastatic spread. The cell migratory program requires f-actin re-organization, generally coordinated with the assembly of focal adhesions. Ion channels are emerging actors in regulating cell migration, through different mechanisms. We studied the role of the voltage dependent potassium channel K(V)11.1 on cell migration of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, focusing on its effects on f-actin organization and dynamics. Cells were cultured either on fibronectin (FN) or on a desmoplastic matrix (DM) with the addition of a conditioned medium produced by pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) maintained in hypoxia (Hypo-PSC-CM), to better mimic the PDAC microenvironment. K(V)11.1 was essential to maintain stress fibers in a less organized arrangement in cells cultured on FN. When PDAC cells were cultured on DM plus Hypo-PSC-CM, K(V)11.1 activity determined the organization of cortical f-actin into sparse and long filopodia, and allowed f-actin polymerization at a high speed. In both conditions, blocking K(V)11.1 impaired PDAC cell migration, and, on cells cultured onto FN, the effect was accompanied by a decrease of basal intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. We conclude that K(V)11.1 is implicated in sustaining pro-metastatic signals in pancreatic cancer, through a reorganization of f-actin in stress fibers and a modulation of filopodia formation and dynamics.