Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv1.3

Title: Toxins Targeting the Kv1.3 Channel: Potential Immunomodulators for Autoimmune Diseases.

Authors: Yipeng Zhao, Jie Huang, Xiaolu Yuan, Biwen Peng, Wanhong Liu, Song Han, Xiaohua He

Journal, date & volume: Toxins (Basel), 2015 May , 7, 1749-64

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25996605

Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are usually accompanied by tissue injury caused by autoantigen-specific T-cells. KV1.3 channels participate in modulating calcium signaling to induce T-cell proliferation, immune activation and cytokine production. Effector memory T (TEM)-cells, which play major roles in many autoimmune diseases, are controlled by blocking KV1.3 channels on the membrane. Toxins derived from animal venoms have been found to selectively target a variety of ion channels, including KV1.3. By blocking the KV1.3 channel, these toxins are able to suppress the activation and proliferation of TEM cells and may improve TEM cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes mellitus.