title: Ion channels in asthma.
abstract: Ion channels are specialized transmembrane proteins that permit the passive flow of ions following their electrochemical gradients. In the airways, ion channels participate in the production of epithelium-based hydroelectrolytic secretions and in the control of intracellular Ca(2+) levels that will ultimately activate almost all lung cells, either resident or circulating. Thus, ion channels have been the center of many studies aiming to understand asthma pathophysiological mechanisms or to identify therapeutic targets for better control of the disease. In this minireview, we focus on molecular, genetic, and animal model studies associating ion channels with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Channelopathies, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. miguel.valverde@upf.edu
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantero-Recasens
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Elias
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Amado
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carreras-Sureda
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels