Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, which is associated with a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and a reduction of dopamine in the striatum. Recently, ion channel dysfunction has been considered a reason for the pathogenesis of PD. Potassium (K+) channels are widespread in the central nervous system, and play key roles in modulating cellular excitability, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. Based on recent studies and data, we propose that K+ channels may be new therapeutic targets for PD that slow the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and attenuate motor and non-motor symptoms. In this review, we mainly focus on: delayed rectifier, inwardly rectifying, and double-pore K+ channels. We summarize the expression and function of these channels in PD-related brain regions. We also discuss the effects of pharmacological blockade or activation of K+ channels in the progression and treatment of PD.
Keywords: ATP-sensitive K(+)channels; Delayed rectifier K(+)channels; Dopaminergic neurons; Double-Pore K(+)channels; G protein-gated inward rectifying K(+)channels; Parkinson’s disease.
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