title: Ionotropic receptors and ion channels in ischemic neuronal death and dysfunction.
abstract: Loss of energy supply to neurons during stroke induces a rapid loss of membrane potential that is called the anoxic depolarization. Anoxic depolarizations result in tremendous physiological stress on the neurons because of the dysregulation of ionic fluxes and the loss of ATP to drive ion pumps that maintain electrochemical gradients. In this review, we present an overview of some of the ionotropic receptors and ion channels that are thought to contribute to the anoxic depolarization of neurons and subsequently, to cell death. The ionotropic receptors for glutamate and ATP that function as ligand-gated cation channels are critical in the death and dysfunction of neurons. Interestingly, two of these receptors (P2X7 and NMDAR) have been shown to couple to the pannexin-1 (Panx1) ion channel. We also discuss the important roles of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in responses to ischemia. The central challenge that emerges from our current understanding of the anoxic depolarization is the need to elucidate the mechanistic and temporal interrelations of these ion channels to fully appreciate their impact on neurons during stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Weilinger
authors.forename: Valentyna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maslieieva
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bialecki
authors.forename: Sarup S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D007473:Ion Channels; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic