Towards therapeutic applications of Kv1 channel blockers in neurological diseases

Potassium channels are involved at several stages in inflammatory neuropath ies by inducing conduction blocks in demyelinated axons and by taking part in cytokines secretion by activated immunitary cells. Blockers of these cha nnels are therefore potential candidates for the symptomatic treatment of t hese neuropathies, through their immunosuppressive and neurological effects . This review aims at evaluating the possible therapeutic use of highly sel ective potassium channel blockers derived from natural toxins.