Is there a role for potassium channel openers in neuronal ion channel disorders?

Malfunction in ion channels, due to mutations in genes encoding channel pro teins or the presence of autoantibodies, are increasing being implicated in causing disease conditions, termed channelopathies. Dysfunction of potassi um (K+) channels has been associated with the pathophysiology of a number o f neurological, as well as peripheral, disorders (e.g., episodic ataxia, ep ilepsy, neuromyotonia, Parkinson's disease, congenital deafness, long QT sy ndrome). K+ channels, which demonstrate a high degree of diversity and ubiq uity, are fundamental in the control of membrane depolarisation and cell ex citability. A common feature of K+ channelopathies is a reduction or loss o f membrane potential repolarisation. The identification of K+ channel subty pe specific openers will allow the recovery of the mechanism(s) responsible for counteraction of uncontrolled cellular depolarisation. Synthetic agent s that demonstrate K+ channel opening properties are available for a variet y of K+ channel subtypes (e.g., K-ATP, BKCa, GIRK and M-channel). This stud y reviews the realistic therapeutic potential that may be gained in a broad spectrum of clinical conditions by K+ channel openers. K+ channel openers would therefore identify dysfunctional K+ channel as therapeutic targets fo r clinical benefit, in addition being able to modulate normally functioning K+ channels to gain clinical management of pathophysiological events irres pective of the cause.