The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 is a promising multitherapeutic target against human pathologies

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 is mainly present in the nervous and immune systems. In leukocytes, Kv1.3 fine-tunes the activation and proliferation of the immune response. However, Kv1.3 is also present in other tissues where its physiological role is still under investigation. Thus, Kv1.3 alterations have been related to several human diseases.

Areas covered: In this work, the authors highlight the role of Kv1.3 in various pathologies and the potential use of Kv1.3 blockers as safe pharmacological tools. The limited repertoire of K⁺ channels in leukocytes and its expression pattern makes Kv1.3 crucial for effector memory T cell physiology and it is therefore a good pharmacological target for chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Kv1.3 has been related to insulin sensitivity, cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this scenario, Kv1.3 activity is also implicated in non-insulin-dependent type II diabetes mellitus, obesity and cancer.

Expert opinion: Fortunately, Kv1.3 is characterized by a very selective and potent pharmacology that has been demonstrated to ameliorate autoimmune and metabolic symptoms in disease–animal models without major side effects. Moreover, Kv1.3 blockers are showing positive results in preclinical trials. Considering this evidence, the implication of Kv1.3 in a wide repertoire of human pathologies indicates this channel is an important therapeutic target.

KEYWORDS:

• Autoimmune diseases
• cancer
• clinical trials
• inflammatory disorders
• Kv1.3 blockers
• obesity

Article highlights.

• Kv1.3 is the main K⁺ channel in T_EM cells that mediate autoimmune diseases. Therefore, Kv1.3 inhibition impairs T_EM activity, ameliorating autoimmune symptoms without affecting other T lymphocytes.

• Other leukocytes, such as B lymphocytes, macrophages, microglia and dendritic cells, which also participate in chronic inflammatory diseases, express Kv1.3.

• Kv1.3 remodeling in cancer progression is variable. This could be due to its double role in proliferation and apoptosis regulation.

• Kv1.3 inhibition reduces weight gain in obese animals by increasing metabolism. Therefore, this channel is proposed as a new target for obesity therapy.

• Several Kv1.3 specific inhibitors have been developed. ShK-186 and PAP1 are undergoing clinical trials on psoriasis. In the next few years, this research will be further extended to more human diseases.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

The Molecular Physiology Laboratory would like to acknowledge all past members who have contributed to this research.

Additional information

Funding

The authors were supported by funding from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO, Spain) under the CONSOLIDER program (grant number CSD2008-00005) and under grant numbers BFU2011-23268 and BFU2014-54928-R. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript in the form of English editing by American Journal Experts. This was funded by the MINECO grants disclosed above.