Role of leak potassium channels in pain signaling

• Leak K+ channels that are involved in pain signaling and behavior are reviewed.
• It is reported that eight leak K+ channel subfamilies are involved in pain.
• TREK1 appears as an important ion channel for polymodal pain perception.
• Activation of leak K+ channels could be useful in the treatment of pain.

Potassium (K+) channels are membrane proteins that allow rapid and selective flow of K+ ions across the cell membrane, generating electrical signals in neurons. Thus, K+ channels play a critical role in determining the neuronal excitability. Two-pore domain (K2P) “leak” K+ channels give rise to leak K+ currents that are responsible for the resting membrane potential and input resistance. The wide expression of leak K+ channels in the central and peripheral nervous system suggests that these channels are critically involved in pain signaling and behavior. Indeed, it has become apparent in the past decade that the leak K+ channels play essential roles in the development of pain. In this review, we describe evidence for the roles of TASK1, TASK3, TREK1, TREK2, TRAAK and TRESK channels in pain signaling and behavior. Furthermore, we describe the possible involvement of TASK2 and TWIK1 channels in pain.