Functional interactions between potassium-chloride cotransporter (KCC) and inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels in the insect central nervous system

The K+/Cl- cotransporter (KCC) is the primary mechanism by which mature neurons maintain low intracellular chloride (Cl-) concentration and has been shown to be functionally coupled to the GABA-gated chloride channels (GGCC) in Drosophila central neurons. Further, pharmacological inhibition of KCC has been shown to lead to acute toxicity of mosquitoes that highlights the toxicological relevance of insect KCC. Yet, gaps in knowledge remain regarding physiological drivers of KCC function and interactions of ion flux mechanisms upstream of GGCC in insects. Considering this, we employed electrophysiological and fluorescent microscopy techniques to further characterize KCC in the insect nervous system. Fluorescent microscopy indicated insect KCC2 is expressed in rdl neurons, which is the neuron type responsible for GABA-mediated neurotransmission, and are coexpressed with inward rectifier potassium (Kir) 2 channels. Coexpression of Kir2 and KCC2 suggested the possibility of functional coupling between these two K+ flux pathways. Indeed, extracellular recordings of Drosophila CNS showed pre-block of Kir channels prior to block of KCC led to a significant (P < 0.001) increase in CNS firing rates over baseline that when taken together, supports functional coupling of Kir to KCC function. Additionally, we documented a synergistic increase to toxicity of VU0463271, an established KCC inhibitor, above the expected additive toxicity after co-treatment with the Kir inhibitor, VU041. These data expand current knowledge regarding the physiological roles of KCC and Kir channels in the insect nervous system by defining additional pathways that facilitate inhibitory neurotransmission through GGCC.

Automated summary

The primary mechanism by which mature neurons maintain low intracellular chloride (Cl-) concentration is through the K+/Cl- cotransporter (KCC), which is functionally coupled to the GABA-gated chloride channels (GGCC) in Drosophila central neurons. This study investigated the physiological drivers of KCC function and interactions of ion flux mechanisms upstream of GGCC in insects using electrophysiological and fluorescent microscopy techniques. The findings suggest a functional coupling between inward rectifier potassium (Kir) 2 channels and KCC, expanding our understanding of the physiological roles of KCC and Kir channels in the insect nervous system.