Aristolochic acid, a plant extract used in the treatment of pain and linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy, is a regulator of K2P channels.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Aristolochic acid (AristA) is found in plants used in traditional medicines to treat pain. We investigated the action of AristA on TREK and TRESK, potassium (K2P) channels, which are potential therapeutic targets in pain. Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a renal disease associated with AristA consumption. A mutation of TASK-2 (K2P 5.1) channels (T108P) is seen in some patients susceptible to BEN, so we investigated how both this mutation and AristA affected TASK-2 channels.

Experimental approach

Currents through wild-type and mutated human K2P channels expressed in tsA201 cells were measured using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in the presence and absence of AristA.

Key results

TREK-1- and TREK-2-mediated currents were enhanced by AristA (

SUBMITTER: Veale EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4842925 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature