Effects of analgesics and antidepressants on TREK-2 and TRESK currents

• Published in: The Korean journal of physiology & pharmacology Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 379 - 385
• Main Authors: Park, Hyun, Kim, Eun-Jin, Han, Jaehee, Han, Jongwoo, Kang, Dawon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Physiological Society and The Korean Society of Pharmacology 01.07.2016; 대한약리학회
• Subjects: Original; 약리학; Analgesics; Pain; Background potassium channels
• ISSN: 1226-4512; 2093-3827
• DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2016.20.4.379

TWIK-related K(+) channel-2 (TREK-2) and TWIK-related spinal cord K(+) (TRESK) channel are members of two-pore domain K(+) channel family. They are well expressed and help to set the resting membrane potential in sensory neurons. Modulation of TREK-2 and TRESK channels are involved in the pathogenesis of pain, and specifi c activators of TREK-2 and TRESK may be benefi cial for the treatment of pain symptoms. However, the effect of commonly used analgesics on TREK-2 and TRESK channels are not known. Here, we investigated the effect of analgesics on TREK-2 and TRESK channels. The effects of analgesics were examined in HEK cells transfected with TREK-2 or TRESK. Amitriptyline, citalopram, escitalopram, and fluoxetine significantly inhibited TREK-2 and TRESK currents in HEK cells (p<0.05, n=10). Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, nabumetone, and bupropion inhibited TRESK, but had no effect on TREK-2. These results show that all analgesics tested in this study inhibit TRESK activity. Further study is needed to identify the mechanisms by which the analgesics modulate TREK-2 and TRESK differently.