title: The mitochondrial K(ATP) channel and cardioprotection.
abstract: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels allow coupling of membrane potential to cellular metabolic status. Two K(ATP) channel subtypes coexist in the myocardium, with one subtype located in the sarcolemma (sarcK(ATP)) membrane and the other in the inner membrane of the mitochondria (mitoK(ATP)). The K(ATP) channels can be pharmacologically modulated by a family of structurally diverse agents of varied potency and selectivity, collectively known as potassium channel openers and blockers. Sufficient evidence exists to indicate that the K(ATP) channels and, in particular, the mitoK(ATP) channels play an important role both as a trigger and an effector in surgical cardioprotection. In this review, the biochemistry and surgical specificity of the K(ATP) channels are examined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. jamesmccully@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McCully
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levitsky
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003981:Diazoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003981:Diazoxide