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[HCN ion channel: Biological characteristics and functions in pain.] [Article in Chinese]

WU Tong, Liu He, Zhang Li –Cai^*

Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221004, China

Abstract

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in vertebrate are reverse voltage-dependent, and its activation depends on the hyperpolarization of cell and may be directly or indirectly regulated by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or other signal transduction cascades. The distribution, quantity, and activation states of HCN channels differ in tissues throughout the body. By modulating I_f/I_f current, HCN channels may influence the resting membrane potential, and thus importantly regulate neuronal excitability, dendritic integration of synaptic potentials, and synaptic transmission. Evidence exhibits that HCN channels participate in pain and other physiological and pathological process. Pharmacological treatment targeting HCN channels is of benefit to relieve pain and other related diseases.

Key words: HCN; ion channel; biological characteristics; pain

Received: 2013-10-17　　Accepted: 2013-12-13

Corresponding author: 张励才　　E-mail: lczhang@xzmc.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

WU Tong, Liu He, Zhang Li –Cai. [HCN ion channel: Biological characteristics and functions in pain.] [Article in Chinese]. Acta Physiol Sin 2014; 66 (4): 423-430 (in Chinese with English abstract).