title: Potassium channels as pharmacological targets in cardiovascular medicine.
abstract: Potassium channels are membrane receptor sites for various drugs in the field of cardiovascular diseases. These channel proteins are extremely diverse, not only as regards their molecular structure but also as regards their function. Heterogeneous expression of various K+ channel subtypes is an integral part of cell specialization in different tissues. K+ channels interfere with most of the physiological processes of the cardiac muscle, of the vascular smooth muscle and of the endothelial cells. K+ channel blockers are antidiabetic agents but also antiarrhythmic drugs. K+ channel openers are used in the treatment of hypertension and most recently in the treatment of coronary heart disease. In the experimental setting, K+ channel openers afford cytoprotection during ischaemia. This exciting property opens a new field in clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, URA CNRS 1121, Université Paris XI, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Escande
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011188:Potassium