Sep 5: Ion Channel Regulation in Health and Disease

Speaker： Chen Gu, Assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience and Center for Molecular Neurobiology, the Ohio State University

Host: Prof. Zhenyu Du

When: 2013-9-5  13:30

Where: Conference Room 534, School of Life Sciences

Abstract：The talk contains two sections:

(1) Action potentials propagating along axons play a central role in cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system. Action potential firing minimally requires the sequential activation of two types of voltage-gated ion channels, Na+ (Nav) and K+ (Kv) channels. Our recent studies revealed novel mechanisms underlying selective axonal targeting of Nav and Kv channels.

(2) The long-term goal of this project is to turn a symptomatic treatment into a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). Dalfampridine, a sustained-release form of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), is currently used for symptomatic treatment of MS. 4-AP is a non-selective blocker of Kv channels. Beneficial effects of the 4-AP treatment, including walking improvement, are likely due to enhanced axon conduction along demyelinated axons. 4-AP is the only available treatment approved by the FDA to improve walking for MS patients. However, the exact mechanism underlying the effect of 4-AP on walking is still unclear. Moreover, 4-AP does not cure MS and can cause side effects. In this project, we are testing the exciting possibility that regulating the activities of the right combination of Kv channel isoforms can constrain and/or repair lesions through regulating neurovascular coupling.