Potassium Channels: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Parkinson's Disease

The pathogenesis of the second major neurodegenerative disorder, Parkinson’s disease(PD), is closely associated with the dysfunction of potassium(K~+ ) channels. Therefore, PD is also considered to be an ion channel disease or neuronal channelopathy. Mounting evidence has shown that K~+ channels play crucial roles in the regulations of neurotransmitter release, neuronal excitability, and cell volume. Inhibition of K~+ channels enhances the spontaneous firing frequency of nigral dopamine(DA)neurons, induces a transition from tonic firing to burst discharge, and promotes the release of DA in the striatum.Recently, three K~+ channels have been identified to protect DA neurons and to improve the motor and non-motor symptoms in PD animal models: small conductance(SK)channels, A-type K~+ channels, and KV7/KCNQ channels.In this review, we summarize the physiological and pharmacological effects of the three K~+ channels. We also describe in detail the laboratory investigations regarding K~+ channels as a potential therapeutic target for PD.