Potassium channel modulators - pharmacological effects and future uses

Abstract

The area of K+ channel modulation is one of great activity in pharmacological research. Although the use of K+ channel openers first came to light as apotential therapy for hypertension, there are plenty of other avenues to be explored. Many K+ channel of other avenues to be explored. Many K+ channel activators are under development. However, such drugs need to be highly tissue specific in their action because, although opening of K+ channels is beneficial in some tissues, it may be deleterious in others. For example, opening of K+ channels in vascular smooth muscle might provide a means of treating hypertension. But, opening of these channels in the heart appears to be associated with the generation of dysrrhythmias. Hope for the development of selective drugs for each of these situations is supported by the fact that K+ channels show different properties in different tissues. It is already clear that clinical application of the principle of K+ channel modulation offers enormous opportunities for therapeutic benefit. Hence K+ channel modulators stand today in a position similar to that of the Ca++ channel anageonists a decade or so ago.