Ion channels as drug targets in central nervous system disorders

Curr Med Chem. 2013;20(10):1241-85. doi: 10.2174/0929867311320100005.

Abstract

Ion channel targeted drugs have always been related with either the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system, or the cardiovascular system. Within the CNS, basic indications of drugs are: sleep disorders, anxiety, epilepsy, pain, etc. However, traditional channel blockers have multiple adverse events, mainly due to low specificity of mechanism of action. Lately, novel ion channel subtypes have been discovered, which gives premises to drug discovery process led towards specific channel subtypes. An example is Na(+) channels, whose subtypes 1.3 and 1.7-1.9 are responsible for pain, and 1.1 and 1.2 - for epilepsy. Moreover, new drug candidates have been recognized. This review is focusing on ion channels subtypes, which play a significant role in current drug discovery and development process. The knowledge on channel subtypes has developed rapidly, giving new nomenclatures of ion channels. For example, Ca(2+)s channels are not any more divided to T, L, N, P/Q, and R, but they are described as Ca(v)1.1-Ca(v)3.3, with even newer nomenclature α1A-α1I and α1S. Moreover, new channels such as P2X1-P2X7, as well as TRPA1-TRPV1 have been discovered, giving premises for new types of analgesic drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / chemistry*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Calcium Channels / chemistry
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Ligand-Gated Ion Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Ligand-Gated Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Potassium Channel Blockers / chemistry*
  • Potassium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Potassium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Potassium Channels / chemistry
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / chemistry*
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Sodium Channels / chemistry
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels
  • Ion Channels
  • Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
  • Potassium Channel Blockers
  • Potassium Channels
  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Sodium Channels
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels