%0 Journal Article
%T Potassium Channels: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Parkinson's Disease.
%A Chen X
%A Xue B
%A Wang J
%A Liu H
%A Shi L
%A Xie J
%J Neurosci Bull
%V 34
%N 2
%D Apr 2018
%M 28884460
%F 5.271
%R 10.1007/s12264-017-0177-3
%X 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.