ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Role of Ion Channels in Human Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 782

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ion channels are pathways across cell membranes. These channels are highly selective for ion permeability and exhibit different gating kinetics. Changes in the activity of these various ion channels can cause alterations in the cell membrane potential and the firing patterns of action potentials in electrically excitable cells. Recent data indicate that abnormalities in the function of these ion channels, whether regarding the loss of function or gain of function, are closely related to the mechanisms of many diseases and their pharmacological treatments. These specific diseases include epileptic disorders, different cardiac arrhythmias, and certain endocrine disorders. Therefore, we earnestly hope that researchers in this field will actively publish and share their latest and most interesting findings with us.

Prof. Dr. Sheng-Nan Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sodium current
  • potassium current
  • ion channel kinetics
  • excitable cells
  • treatments
  • pathophysiology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 4418 KB  
Article
Increasing Temperature Activates TREK Potassium Currents in Vagal Afferent Neurons from the Nodose Ganglion
by Lola Rueda-Ruzafa, Ana Campos-Ríos, Paula Rivas-Ramírez, Manuela Rodríguez-Castañeda, Salvador Herrera-Pérez and José Antonio Lamas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189119 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Temperature homeostasis is controlled by the vagus nerve. Thermal information is collected by thermoreceptors present in the viscera and driven across sensory neurons of the nodose ganglia (NG), which in turn send it to the hypothalamus. While transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are [...] Read more.
Temperature homeostasis is controlled by the vagus nerve. Thermal information is collected by thermoreceptors present in the viscera and driven across sensory neurons of the nodose ganglia (NG), which in turn send it to the hypothalamus. While transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are traditionally considered for thermal transduction, TREK channels belonging to the two-pore domain K+ channels family are emerging as thermosensors, but their role in the NG remains understudied. Patch-clamp recordings revealed that increasing the temperature to physiological levels causes a hyperpolarization of the membrane potential followed by a depolarization and, despite physiological temperature increased the firing rate, we have demonstrated that TREK channels might be taking part in the excitability control by counteracting TRPs’ effects. In fact, single-channel experiments revealed an increase in TREK channel open probability and a subsequent rise in their activity in NG neurons. All this indicates that TREK channels, mainly TREK1, may be responsible along with TRPs for the maintenance of the membrane potential at physiological temperature in NG neurons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Ion Channels in Human Health and Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop