The pharmacology of the TMEM16A channel: therapeutic opportunities
Rumaitha Al-Hosni1, Zeki Ilkan1, Emilio Agostinelli1
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK.
Abstract:
The TMEM16A Ca2+-gated Cl- channel is involved in a variety of vital physiological functions and may be targeted pharmacologically for therapeutic benefit in diseases such as hypertension, stroke, and cystic fibrosis (CF). The determination of the TMEM16A structure and high-throughput screening efforts, alongside ex vivo and in vivo animal studies and clinical investigations, are hastening our understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of this channel. Here, we offer a critical analysis of recent developments in TMEM16A pharmacology and reflect on the therapeutic opportunities provided by this target.
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