SK channels and ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure.
Small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (SK) currents are important in the repolarization of normal atrial (but not ventricular) cardiomyocytes. However, recent studies showed that the SK currents are upregulated in failing ventricular cardiomyocytes, along with increased SK channel protein expression and enhanced sensitivity to intracellular Ca(2+). The SK channel activation may be either anti-arrhythmic or pro-arrhythmic, depending on the underlying clinical situations. While the SK channel is a new target of anti-arrhythmic therapy, drug safety is still one of the major concerns.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Po-Cheng
PC
Chang
The Krannert Institute of Cardiology and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. Electronic address: chenpp@iu.edu.
Peng-Sheng
PS
Chen
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D051640:Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels