KVchannels and the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone

VSMC s in resistance arteries and arterioles express a diverse array of K V channels with members of the K V 1, K V 2 and K V 7 families being particularly important. Members of the K V channel family: (i) are highly expressed in VSMC s; (ii) are active at the resting membrane potential of VSMC s in vivo (−45 to −30 mV ); (iii) contribute to the negative feedback regulation of VSMC membrane potential and myogenic tone; (iv) are activated by cAMP ‐related vasodilators, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide; (v) are inhibited by increases in intracellular Ca 2+ and vasoconstrictors that signal through G q ‐coupled receptors; (vi) are involved in the proliferative phenotype of VSMC s; and (vii) are modulated by diseases such as hypertension, obesity, the metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Thus, K V channels participate in every aspect of the regulation of VSMC function in both health and disease.