title: Cardiac ion channels and mechanisms for protection against atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is recognised as the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice. Ongoing drug development is aiming at obtaining atrial specific effects in order to prevent pro-arrhythmic, devastating ventricular effects. In principle, this is possible due to a different ion channel composition in the atria and ventricles. The present text will review the aetiology of arrhythmias with focus on AF and include a description of cardiac ion channels. Channels that constitute potentially atria-selective targets will be described in details. Specific focus is addressed to the recent discovery that Ca(2+)-activated small conductance K(+) channels (SK channels) are important for the repolarisation of atrial action potentials. Finally, an overview of current pharmacological treatment of AF is included.
authors: NeuroSearch A/S, Pederstrupvej 93, 2750, Ballerup, Denmark, mgr@neurosearch.com
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Grunnet
authors: Bo Hjorth
authors: BH
authors: Bentzen
authors: Ulrik Svane
authors: US
authors: Sørensen
authors: Jonas Goldin
authors: JG
authors: Diness
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D007477:Ions; D008954:Models, Biological; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium