Central Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China.
CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2018;17(4):272-279. doi: 10.2174/1871527317666180213142403.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel, extensively distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), is considered as a vital player in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, with evidence implicating derangement of K+ as well as regulating action potential shape and duration. However, unlike other channels implicated in epilepsy whose function in neurons could clearly be labeled "excitatory" or "inhibitory", the unique physiological behavior of the BK channel allows it to both augment and decrease the excitability of neurons. Thus, the role of BK in epilepsy is controversial so far, and a growing area of intense investigation.
Here, this review aims to highlight recent discoveries on the dichotomous role of BK channels in epilepsy, focusing on relevant BK-dependent pro- as well as antiepileptic pathways, and discuss the potential of BK specific modulators for the treatment of epilepsy.
大电导钙激活钾（BK）通道广泛分布于中枢神经系统（CNS）中，被认为是癫痫发病机制中的重要参与者，有证据表明 K+ 的紊乱以及调节动作电位的形状和持续时间都与之相关。然而，与其他在神经元中功能可明确标记为“兴奋性”或“抑制性”的癫痫相关通道不同，BK 通道的独特生理行为使其既能增强也能降低神经元的兴奋性。因此，BK 在癫痫中的作用至今仍存在争议，也是一个研究热点。
本文旨在强调 BK 通道在癫痫中的双重作用的最新发现，重点介绍相关的 BK 依赖性致痫和抗癫痫途径，并讨论 BK 特异性调节剂治疗癫痫的潜力。
