Potassium channel activators and bronchial asthma
The cromakalim-like KCOs relax airways smooth muscle by an action that is associated with the opening of plasmalemmal K(+)-channels. The K(+)-channel involved may be analogous to the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel identified in pancreatic beta-cells. It is unlikely to be open under normal circumstances...
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Published in | Clinical and experimental allergy Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 11 - 18 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article Conference Proceeding |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.01.1992
Blackwell |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The cromakalim-like KCOs relax airways smooth muscle by an action that is associated with the opening of plasmalemmal K(+)-channels. The K(+)-channel involved may be analogous to the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel identified in pancreatic beta-cells. It is unlikely to be open under normal circumstances and plays little role in determining the strong outward rectifying behaviour of the plasmalemma of the airways smooth muscle cell. K(+)-channel opening may cause relaxation of the airways smooth muscle cell by mechanisms additional to inhibition of Ca2+ influx through L-type VOCs. The cromakalim-like KCOs have bronchodilator activity in vivo and can depress NANC excitatory neuroeffector transmission in the lung at concentrations smaller than those required to relax airways smooth muscle. The mechanism of action of cromakalim in alleviating nocturnal asthma may not involve direct relaxation of airways smooth muscle. It is possible that cromakalim may instead act to inhibit the mechanisms underlying airway hyper-reactivity. |
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Bibliography: | ark:/67375/WNG-18K240L0-8 istex:51901037E3EC9EBABB73C45661EFDD3B94A6C0AE ArticleID:CEA11 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 |
ISSN: | 0954-7894 1365-2222 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1992.tb00109.x |