title: The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 is a promising multitherapeutic target against human pathologies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 is mainly present in the nervous and immune systems. In leukocytes, Kv1.3 fine-tunes the activation and proliferation of the immune response. However, Kv1.3 is also present in other tissues where its physiological role is still under investigation. Thus, Kv1.3 alterations have been related to several human diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this work, the authors highlight the role of Kv1.3 in various pathologies and the potential use of Kv1.3 blockers as safe pharmacological tools. The limited repertoire of K(+) channels in leukocytes and its expression pattern makes Kv1.3 crucial for effector memory T cell physiology and it is therefore a good pharmacological target for chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Kv1.3 has been related to insulin sensitivity, cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this scenario, Kv1.3 activity is also implicated in non-insulin-dependent type II diabetes mellitus, obesity and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fortunately, Kv1.3 is characterized by a very selective and potent pharmacology that has been demonstrated to ameliorate autoimmune and metabolic symptoms in disease-animal models without major side effects. Moreover, Kv1.3 blockers are showing positive results in preclinical trials. Considering this evidence, the implication of Kv1.3 in a wide repertoire of human pathologies indicates this channel is an important therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Verdaguer
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Jesusa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capera
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrano-Novillo
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Estadella
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.affiliation: a Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felipe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D051664:Kv1.3 Potassium Channel; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; Kv1.3 blockers; cancer; clinical trials; inflammatory disorders; obesity