Research into the therapeutic roles of two-pore-domain potassium channels

The K2P potassium channels are responsible for the background conductance observed in several tissues. Their ubiquitous localization and thus their potential implications in diseases have led to increased research on these channels over the last few years. In this review, we outline different aspects of the research on K2P channels and highlight some of the latest discoveries in this area. We focus on research into K2P channels as potential therapeutic targets in ischemia/hypoxia, depression, memory disorders, pain, cardiovascular disease and disorders of the immune system. We address the challenge of developing novel pharmacological compounds to target these channels. We also discuss the regulation of expression of the K2P gene in health and disease, as well as the value of assessing the expression of K2P channels as potential biomarkers of disease.