In recent decades, growing scientific evidence supports the role of ion channels in the development of different cancers. Both potassium selective pores and chloride permeabilities are considered the most active channels during tumorigenesis. High rate of proliferation, active migration, and invasiveness into non-neoplastic tissues are specific properties of neoplastic transformation. All these actions require partial or total involvement of chloride channel activity. In this context, this class of membrane proteins could represent valuable therapeutic targets for the treatment of resistant tumors. However, this encouraging premise has not so far produced any valid new channel-targeted antitumoral molecule for cancer treatment. Problematic for drug design targeting ion channels is their vital role in normal cells for essential physiological functions. By targeting these membrane proteins involved in pathological conditions, it is inevitable to cause relevant side effects in healthy organs. In light of this, a new protein family, the chloride intracellular channels (CLICs), could be a promising class of therapeutic targets for its intrinsic individualities: CLIC1 and CLIC4, in particular, not only are overexpressed in specific tumor types or their corresponding stroma but also change localization and function from hydrophilic cytosolic to integral transmembrane proteins as active ionic channels or signal transducers during cell cycle progression in certain cases. These changes in intracellular localization, tissue compartments, and channel function, uniquely associated with malignant transformation, may offer a unique target for cancer therapy, likely able to spare normal cells. This article is part of a special issue itled "Membrane Channels and Transporters in Cancers."

Excitation-evoked Ca2+ influx is the fastest and most ubiquitous chemical trigger for cellular processes, including neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction, and gene expression. The voltage dependence and timing of Ca 2+ entry are thought to be functions of voltage-gated calcium (Ca V ) channels composed of a central pore regulated by four nonidentical voltage-sensing domains (VSDs I-IV). Currently, the individual voltage dependence and the contribution to pore opening of each VSD remain largely unknown. Using an optical approach (voltage-clamp fluorometry) to track the movement of the individual voltage sensors, we discovered that the four VSDs of Ca V 1.2 channels undergo voltage-evoked conformational rearrangements, each exhibiting distinct voltage-and time-dependent properties over a wide range of potentials and kinetics. The voltage dependence and fast kinetic components in the activation of VSDs II and III were compatible with the ionic current properties, suggesting that these voltage sensors are involved in Ca V 1.2 activation. This view is supported by an obligatory model, in which activation of VSDs II and III is necessary to open the pore. When these data were interpreted in view of an allosteric model, where pore opening is intrinsically independent but biased by VSD activation, VSDs II and III were each found to supply ∼50 meV (∼2 kT), amounting to ∼85% of the total energy, toward stabilizing the open state, with a smaller contribution from VSD I (∼16 meV). VSD IV did not appear to participate in channel opening. ] regulates such critical physiological functions as neurotransmitter and hormone release, axonal outgrowth, muscle contraction, and gene expression (1). Their relevance to human physiology is evident from the broad phenotypic consequences of Ca V channelopathies (2). The voltage dependence of Ca V -driven Ca 2+ entry relies on the modular organization of the channel-forming α 1 subunit (Fig. 1), which consists of four repeated motifs (I-IV), each comprising six membrane-spanning helical segments (S1-S6) (Fig. 1A). Segments S1-S4 form a voltage-sensing domain (VSD), whereas segments S5 and S6 contribute to the Ca 2+ -conductive pore (1). The VSDs surround the central pore (Fig. 1B). VSDs are structurally and functionally conserved modules (3-5) capable of transducing a change in the cell membrane electrical potential into a change of ion-specific permeability or enzyme activity. VSDs sense depolarization by virtue of a signature motif of positively charged Arg or Lys at every third position of helix S4 (Fig. 1D), which rearranges in response to depolarization (4, 6-10). In contrast to voltage-gated K + (K V ) channels but similar to pseudotetrameric voltage-gated Na + (Na V ) channels, the amino acid sequences encoding each VSD have evolved independently (Fig. 1D). In addition to their distinct primary structure, the four Ca V VSDs may also gain distinct functional properties from the asymmetrical association of auxiliary subunits, such as β, α 2 δ, and calmodulin (1,(11)(12)(13)(14)(...

BackgroundChloride channels are physiologically involved in cell division and motility. Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) is overexpressed in a variety of human solid tumors compared with normal tissues, suggesting a potential involvement of CLIC1 in the regulation of tumorigenesis. This led us to investigate the role of CLIC1 in gliomagenesis.MethodsWe used the neurosphere system to isolate stem/progenitor cells from human glioblastomas (GBMs). CLIC1 targeting in GBM neurospheres was achieved by both lentiviral-mediated short-hairpin RNA transduction and CLIC1 antibody treatment, and its effect on stem-like properties was analyzed in vitro by proliferation and clonogenic assays and in vivo by orthotopic injection in immunocompromised mice. Channel activity was studied by perforated patch clamp technique. Differences in expression were analyzed by analysis of variance with Tamhane’s multiple comparison test. Kaplan–Meier analyses and log-rank test were used to assess survival. All statistical tests were two-sided.ResultsCLIC1 was statistically significantly overexpressed in GBMs compared with normal brain tissues (P < .001) with a better survival of patients with CLIC1 low-expressing tumors (CLIC1low vs CLIC1high survival: χ2 = 74.35; degrees of freedom = 1; log-rank P < .001). CLIC1 was variably expressed in patient-derived GBM neurospheres and was found enriched in the stem/progenitor compartment. CLIC1 silencing reduced proliferative (P < .01), clonogenic (P < .01), and tumorigenic capacity (P < .05) of stem/progenitor cells. The reduction of CLIC1 chloride currents with a specific CLIC1 antibody mirrored the biological effects of CLIC1 silencing in GBM patient–derived neurospheres.ConclusionsReduced gliomagenesis after CLIC1 targeting in tumoral stem/progenitor cells and the finding that CLIC1 expression is inversely associated with patient survival suggest CLIC1 as a potential target and prognostic biomarker.