title: Potassium channels in pancreatic duct epithelial cells: their role, function and pathophysiological relevance.
abstract: Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells play a fundamental role in HCO3 (-) secretion, a process which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the pancreas. Although several studies have implicated impaired HCO3 (-) and fluid secretion as a triggering factor in the development of pancreatitis, the mechanism and regulation of HCO3 (-) secretion is still not completely understood. To date, most studies on the ion transporters that orchestrate ductal HCO3 (-) secretion have focussed on the role of Cl(-)/HCO3 (-) exchangers and Cl(-) channels, whereas much less is known about the role of K(+) channels. However, there is growing evidence that many types of K(+) channels are present in ductal cells where they have an essential role in establishing and maintaining the electrochemical driving force for anion secretion. For this reason, strategies that increase K(+) channel function may help to restore impaired HCO3 (-) and fluid secretion, such as in pancreatitis, and therefore provide novel directions for future pancreatic therapy. In this review, our aims are to summarize the types of K(+) channels found in pancreatic ductal cells and to discuss their individual roles in ductal HCO3 (-) secretion. We will also describe how K(+) channels are involved in pathophysiological conditions and discuss how they could act as new molecular targets for the development of therapeutic approaches to treat pancreatic diseases.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary, venglovecz.viktoria@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors: Viktória
authors: V
authors: Venglovecz
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Rakonczay
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Gray
authors: Péter
authors: P
authors: Hegyi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters; D015221:Potassium Channels