Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in the world. Although treatments and medications that can control the symptoms of asthma are available, no cure has been developed. Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that facilitate the diffusion of ions across membranes. In the airways, ion channels are involved in signalling between cells and regulation of intracellular ion concentration, which may lead to the activation of airway cells, immune cells, and neurons. This review mainly focuses on discoveries made so far in animal models and clinical trials regarding ion channels and asthma and gives some insight into developing treatments targeting ion channels.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the 2020 Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation and remodeling [3]
early asthmatic response (EAR) is usually followed by the late asthmatic response (LAR), which may be initiated by allergens that trigger the nervous system [7]
This review summarizes the most broadly studied ion channels that are associated with asthma and their clinical manifestations that are investigated in animal models and clinical trials
Summary
According to the 2020 Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation and remodeling [3]. With the energy provided by increased glycolysis and mitochondrial activity, increased concentration of Ca2+ helps promote the EAR, and by binding with calmodulin, it induces airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction [6]. Ion channels are transmembrane proteins with pores that allow ions to pass through cell membranes down their concentration gradients. They regulate many cell functions that are involved in the pathophysiology of asthma. The activation and deactivation of ion channels induce changes in intracellular ion concentrations which may lead to physiological changes present in patients with asthma. This review summarizes the most broadly studied ion channels that are associated with asthma and their clinical manifestations that are investigated in animal models and clinical trials
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