title: [Cardiac two-pore-domain potassium channels (K2P):  Physiology, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential].
abstract: Uncontrolled electrical activity caused by ion channel dysfunction produces arrhythmia in the heart. Despite recent advances in pharmaceutical research and development, effective and safe pharmacological management of cardiac arrhythmia still remains an unmet medical need. The emerging family of two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channels stabilizes the resting membrane potential and facilitates action potential repolarization. In the heart, genetic inactivation or inhibition of two-pore-domain K + (K2P) currents by class III antiarrhythmic drugs results in action potential prolongation. In particular, human K2P3.1 channels are selectively expressed in the atria and represent targets for the pharmacological management of atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, stretch-sensitive K2P2.1 channels are implicated in mechanoelectrical feedback and arrhythmogenesis. The current knowledge on function, regulation, and cardiac significance of K2P channels is summarized in this work, and potential therapeutic implications are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin III - Kardiologie, Angiologie, Pneumologie,  Medizinische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Heidelberg.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wiedmann
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Katus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain