Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Ion Channels in Human Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2024 | Viewed by 3569
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ion channels; electrophysiology; patch clamp; molecular dynamics; glioblastoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that are expressed in all living organisms, from unicellular prokaryotes to humans, which play a fundamental role in the rapid signaling of biological membranes. Ion channels have evolved to mediate the rapid passage of ion species, exploiting their electrochemical gradient, to carry out various biological functions, including the genesis and propagation of nerve impulses, muscle contraction, the release of signaling molecules, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and death. Therefore, the proper functioning of ion channels is essential for the completion of many biological processes. Abnormalities in ion channel functions are linked to dysfunctional processes in several tissues/organs and represent the basis of many human diseases. Both loss- or gain-of-function mutations in ion channels often lead to human hereditary diseases, including cystic fibrosis, malignant hyperthermia, central core disease, cerebellar ataxia, tubular aggregate myopathy, Stormorken disease, and megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts. In addition, the altered expression and function of unmutated ion channels also indirectly contributes to or amplifies the pathogenesis of specific diseases. For instance, ion channels play a key role in the progression and/or malignancy of several types of tumors, where the ion channels are involved in different aspects of the tumor biology, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Given the key role played by ion channels, it is not surprising that many pharmacological treatments are based on the modulation of their activity, with several ion channel inhibitors and activators currently being tested in clinical trials.
For this Special Issue, we invite papers focused on the role played by the ion channels in human diseases, with a particular emphasis on the mechanism by which the altered function/expression of ion channels impacts the disease phenotype. Data on a possible use of ion channel modulators as new therapeutic strategies are also welcome.
Dr. Luigi Catacuzzeno
Dr. Antonio Michelucci
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- ion channels
- cancer
- channelopathies
- electrophysiology
- patch clamp
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