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Role of voltage-gated potassium channel α subunits in cardiovascular system

YANG Jin-Ru^1,2, HUANG Peng¹, LING Shu-Kuan^1,2,*

¹School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China；²Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou 325000, China

Abstract

Voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are central to cellular excitation, orchestrating skeletal and cardiac muscle contractions and enabling neural signal transduction. Among these, voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are particularly significant in cardiac electrophysiology, especially during the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. In cardiac myocytes, Kv channels are integral to a multitude of sophisticated functions, including electrical conduction. Despite their importance, research on Kv channels in the context of cardiovascular diseases is limited. This review offers a comprehensive summary of the structural complexities of Kv channels, delineating the regulatory mechanisms involved in channel gating, expression, and membrane localization. Additionally, we examine the role of different Kv α-subunits in modulating Kv channels and their impact on cardiac remodeling, and assess the potential of targeting Kv channels for the development of anti-arrhythmic therapies.

Key words: cardiovascular disease; voltage-gated potassium channels; arrhythmia; cardiac remodeling

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 凌树宽　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

YANG Jin-Ru, HUANG Peng, LING Shu-Kuan. Role of voltage-gated potassium channel α subunits in cardiovascular system. Acta Physiol Sin 2024; 76 (5): 761-774