title: Role of BK(Ca) channels in diabetic vascular complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on the role of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in diabetic vascular complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant articles published in English or Chinese from 1981 to present were selected from PubMed. The search terms were "BKCa channels" and "diabetes". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles regarding the role of BKCa channels in diabetic vascular complications and relevant mechanisms were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BKCa channels are abundantly expressed in vascular smooth cells and play an important role in regulation of vascular tone. Multiple studies indicated that the expression and function of BKCa channels are altered by different mechanisms in diabetic vascular diseases such as coronary arterial disease, cerebral arterial disease, and diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BKCa channels may play an important role in diabetic vascular complications and may be an effective therapeutic target for relieving and reducing the burden of diabetic vascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, China. Email: ruxingw@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Ruxing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels