Generic placeholder image

Current Drug Targets

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-4501
ISSN (Online): 1873-5592

Physiological and Pathological Functions of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels in the Central Nervous System

Author(s): Xiang-Ping Chu and Zhi-Gang Xiong

Volume 13, Issue 2, 2012

Page: [263 - 271] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/138945012799201685

Price: $65

Abstract

Protons are important signals for neuronal function. In the central nervous system (CNS), proton concentrations change locally when synaptic vesicles release their acidic contents into the synaptic cleft, and globally in ischemia, seizures, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological disorders due to lactic acid accumulation. The finding that protons gate a distinct family of ion channels, the acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), has shed new light on the mechanism of acid signaling and acidosis-associated neuronal injury. Accumulating evidence has suggested that ASICs play important roles in physiological processes such as synaptic plasticity, learning/memory, fear conditioning, and retinal integrity, and in pathological conditions such as brain ischemia, multiple sclerosis, epileptic seizures, and malignant glioma. Thus, targeting these channels may lead to novel therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders. The goal of this review is to provide an update on recent advances in our understanding of the functions of ASICs in the CNS.

Keywords: Acid-sensing ion channel, acidosis, CNS, neuron, function, neurological disease, ACSIC, memory, fear conditioning, retinal integrity


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy