title: Acid-sensing ion channels: advances, questions and therapeutic opportunities.
abstract: Extracellular acid can have important effects on neuron function. In central and peripheral neurons, acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) have emerged as key receptors for extracellular protons, and recent studies suggest diverse roles for these channels in the pathophysiology of pain, ischemic stroke and psychiatric disease. ASICs have also been implicated in mechanosensation in the peripheral nervous system and in neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Here, we briefly review advances in our understanding of ASICs, their potential contributions to disease, and the possibility for their therapeutic modification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. john-wemmie@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wemmie
authors.forename: Margaret P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Welsh
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels