Antonio Nardi

Recent Developments in the Pharmacology of Epithelial Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels

Calcium (Ca2+)-activated potassium (K+) channels (KCa) in epithelia serve important functions in fluid and salt secretion and may be attractive targets for drug development for epithelial disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, diarrhoea, COPD, polycystic kidney disease, and glaucoma. Two very different types of KCa channels are generally found in epithelia: the big conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel (BK, KCa1.1), and the intermediate conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel (IK, KCa3.1). These channels are differentially expressed in various cells and tissues and serve different physiological and potentially also pathophysiological functions in epithelia.