酸敏感离子通道功能及其对癫癇的影响

酸敏感离子通道是近年来发现的氢离子门控性钠离子通道,目前共计发现4个基因编码的6种亚型,均于细胞外p H值降低时开放。酸敏感离子通道在炎症、脑缺血、疼痛等病理过程中起重要作用,癫癇发作时细胞外p H值明显降低,使酸敏感离子通道开放;而该通道在终止癫癇发作过程中亦发挥重要作用。目前已发现酸敏感离子通道特异性抑制剂,并可能成为药物研制之新靶点。

Function of acid-sensing ion channels and its influence in the development of epilepsy

Acid-sensing ion channels（ASICs） are H＋-gated, Na＋-permeable channels formed by sixdifferent subunits which are coded by four genes. These channels open when the extracellular p H decreases.Studies show that ASICs play an important role in the pathological process of inflammation, ischemia, painand etc. Extracellular p H decreases obviously in the process of epilepsy, resulting in the open of ASICs.However, recent studies have indicated that ASICs may also play a significant role in the termination ofepilepsy. So far, the homo- or heteromeric association of six subunits and their specific inhibitors have beenfound, and they may be novel targets for the development of new drugs.