Inflammation-induced "channelopathies" in the gastrointestinal smooth muscle

Inflammation markedly alters the motility patterns of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting mostly in decreased excitability of smooth muscle. There is emerging evidence indicating that inflammation alters ion channel expression and function of smooth muscle cells. In this review we summarize studies defining the mechanisms affecting contractile and electrical activity of gastrointestinal smooth muscle. We have focused on the evidence for decreased calcium channel conductance and alterations in the intracellular signaling mechanisms and discuss the role of muscarinic receptor activation in models of gastrointestinal inflammation. We propose that some of the clinical symptoms of altered smooth muscle contraction in pathogenesis of gut disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease may be regulated at the level of the ion channel.