Cell activation by ligands of the toll-like receptor and interleukin-1 receptor family depends on the function of the large-conductance potassium channel MaxiK in human macrophages.

Performing patch-clamp experiments on human macrophages, we show that the K(+) channel MaxiK is activated by lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, and interleukin-1. Cytokine production initiated by several Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and by interleukin-1 is inhibited by MaxiK blockade. This provides evidence for functional association of the MaxiK channel and TLR signaling complexes.