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Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
Published on: January 10, 2011
Kv1.3 K+ Channel Physiology Assessed by Genetic and Pharmacological Modulation
Tatiana Varanita1, Beatrice Angi1, Valentina Scattolini1
1Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Potassium channels are widespread over all kingdoms and play an important role in the maintenance of cellular ionic homeostasis. Kv1.3 is a voltage-gated potassium channel of the Shaker family with a wide tissue expression and a well-defined pharmacology. In recent decades, experiments mainly based on pharmacological modulation of Kv1.3 have highlighted its crucial contribution to different fundamental processes such as regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolism. These findings link channel function to various pathologies ranging from autoimmune diseases to obesity and cancer. In the present review, we briefly summarize studies employing Kv1.3 knockout animal models to confirm such roles and discuss the findings in comparison to the results obtained by pharmacological modulation of Kv1.3 in various pathophysiological settings. We also underline how these studies contributed to our understanding of channel function in vivo and propose possible future directions.
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