Title:Role of Potassium Ion Channels in Epilepsy: Focus on Current
Therapeutic Strategies
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Author(s): Rahul Khan, Pragya Chaturvedi, Prachi Sahu, Abhilash Ludhiadch, Paramdeep Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Anjana Munshi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, India
Keywords:
Ion channels, KCN, epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs, genome editing, optogenetics, chemogenetics, genetic alteration.
Abstract:
Background: Epilepsy is one of the prevalent neurological disorders characterized by disrupted
synchronization between inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Disturbed membrane potential due
to abnormal regulation of neurotransmitters and ion transport across the neural cell membrane significantly
contributes to the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Potassium ion channels (KCN) regulate the resting
membrane potential and are involved in neuronal excitability. Genetic alterations in the potassium
ion channels (KCN) have been reported to result in the enhancement of the release of neurotransmitters,
the excitability of neurons, and abnormal rapid firing rate, which lead to epileptic phenotypes,
making these ion channels a potential therapeutic target for epilepsy. The aim of this study is to explore
the variations reported in different classes of potassium ion channels (KCN) in epilepsy patients,
their functional evaluation, and therapeutic strategies to treat epilepsy targeting KCN.
Methodology: A review of all the relevant literature was carried out to compile this article.
Results: A large number of variations have been reported in different genes encoding various classes of
KCN. These genetic alterations in KCN have been shown to be responsible for disrupted firing properties
of neurons. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the main therapeutic strategy to treat epilepsy. Some
patients do not respond favorably to the AEDs treatment, resulting in pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
Conclusion: Further to address the challenges faced in treating epilepsy, recent approaches like optogenetics,
chemogenetics, and genome editing, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic
repeats (CRISPR), are emerging as target-specific therapeutic strategies.