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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Voltage-Dependent Potassium Current Recording on H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via the Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Technique
Published on: November 11, 2022
Challenges in the Therapeutic Targeting of KCa Channels: From Basic Physiology to Clinical Applications
Nhung Thi Hong Van1,2, Woo Kyung Kim2,3, Joo Hyun Nam1,2
1Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Calcium-activated potassium (KCa) channels are ubiquitously expressed throughout the body and are able to regulate membrane potential and intracellular calcium concentrations, thereby playing key roles in cellular physiology and signal transmission. Consequently, it is unsurprising that KCa channels have been implicated in various diseases, making them potential targets for pharmaceutical interventions. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have been conducted to develop KCa channel-targeting drugs, including those for disorders of the central and peripheral nervous, cardiovascular, and urinary systems and for cancer. In this review, we synthesize recent findings regarding the structure and activating mechanisms of KCa channels. We also discuss the role of KCa channel modulators in therapeutic medicine. Finally, we identify the major reasons behind the delay in bringing these modulators to the pharmaceutical market and propose new strategies to promote their application.
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