Why the study?
Currently approved anti-arrhythmic drugs for AF have significant limitations and side effects, driving an urgent need for better treatments.
SK channels are emerging as a promising therapeutic target for atrial fibrillation due to their predominant expression in the atria.
SK channel modulators merit targeted preclinical development for AF; leaves open clinical translation and safety.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in the world. Although much technological progress in the treatment of AF has been made, there is an urgent need for better treatment of AF due to its high rates of morbidity and mortality. The anti-arrhythmic drugs currently approved for marketing have significant limitations and side effects such as life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and hypotension. The small conductance Ca 2+ -activated K + channels (SK channels) are dependent on intracellular Ca 2+ concentrations, which tightly integrate with membrane potential. Given the predominant expression in the atria of many species, including humans, they are now emerging as a therapeutic target for treating AF. This review aimed to illustrate the characteristics and function of SK channels. Moreover, it discussed the regulation of SK channels and their potential as a therapeutic target of AF.
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Qi et al. (2021) studied this question.
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