Potassium channels as prominent targets and tools for the treatment of epilepsy

Abstract

Introduction: K⁺ channels are of great interest to epilepsy research as mutations in their genes are found in humans with inherited epilepsy. At the level of cellular physiology, K+ channels control neuronal intrinsic excitability and are the main contributors to membrane repolarization of active neurons. Recently, a genetically modified voltage-dependent K⁺ channel has been patented as a remedy for epileptic seizures.

Areas covered: We review the role of potassium channels in excitability, clinical and experimental evidence for the association of potassium channelopathies with epilepsy, the targeting of K+ channels by drugs, and perspectives of gene therapy in epilepsy with the expression of extra K+ channels in the brain.

Expert opinion: Control over K+ conductance is of great potential benefit for the treatment of epilepsy. Nowadays, gene therapy affecting K+ channels is one of the most promising approaches to treat pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy.

Keywords: Epilepsy; channelopathies; gene therapy; pharmacology; potassium channels.