Among the environmental chemicals that may be able to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals and humans are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a chemical class of considerable concern. PCB consists of two six-carbon rings linked by a single carbon bond, and theoretically, 209 congeners can form, depending on the number of chlorines and their location on the biphenyl rings. Furthermore, 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) exposure also increases nitric oxide production and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells binding activity in chondrocytes, thus contributing as an initiator of chondrocyte apoptosis and resulting in thymic atrophy and immunosuppression. This study identified whether cardiac and immune abnormalities from PCB126 were caused by the Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels. PCB126 did not affect either the steady-state current or peak current of the Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 channels. However, PCB126 right-shifted the steady-state activation curves of human Kv1.3 channels. These results suggest that PCBs can affect the heart in a way that does not block voltage-dependent potassium channels including Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 directly.

Introduction
Materials and Methods
    1. Expression of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 in oocytes
    2. Voltage-clamp recording from oocytes.
    3. Data analysis
Results
    1. Effects of PCB126 on human Kv1.3 channel currents
    2. Effects of PCB126 on steady-state activation of Kv1.3 channels
    3. Effects of PCB126 on human Kv1.5 channel currents
Discussion
References

• Jong-Hui Kim(Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, BK21 Plus Graduate Program, Kangwon National University College of Medicine)
• Soobeen Hwang(Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, BK21 Plus Graduate Program, Kangwon National University College of Medicine)
• Seo-in Park(Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, BK21 Plus Graduate Program, Kangwon National University College of Medicine)
• Su-Hyun Jo(Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, BK21 Plus Graduate Program, Kangwon National University College of Medicine) Correspondence to