Ion channels are essential membrane proteins allowing the passage of ions into/out of cells. They have well-established roles in excitable cells controlling muscle contraction and neuronal firing. In immune cells there are a plethora of ion channels controlling a range of physiological signaling events including gene expression, cell communication through cytokine and chemokine secretion, cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis.
This research topic strives to draw together our current understanding of roles ion channels play in cells of the innate and adaptive immune system including macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells.
Ion channels are regulated by different signals including voltage changes, chemical ligands, environmental changes, mechanical stress and depletion of intracellular stores. Advances in knowledge of how ion channels are regulated aids our understanding of pathophysiological changes in disease states. Ion channels are potential therapeutic targets for numerous disorders and genetic mutations in ion channel genes may play a role in disease susceptibility.
We welcome articles describing new physiological roles for ion channels in immune cells, novel methods for measuring ion channel activity in immune cells, differences in channel subtypes and properties between immune cells and excitable cells, and other interesting aspects of ion channel biology.
Ion channels are essential membrane proteins allowing the passage of ions into/out of cells. They have well-established roles in excitable cells controlling muscle contraction and neuronal firing. In immune cells there are a plethora of ion channels controlling a range of physiological signaling events including gene expression, cell communication through cytokine and chemokine secretion, cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis.
This research topic strives to draw together our current understanding of roles ion channels play in cells of the innate and adaptive immune system including macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells.
Ion channels are regulated by different signals including voltage changes, chemical ligands, environmental changes, mechanical stress and depletion of intracellular stores. Advances in knowledge of how ion channels are regulated aids our understanding of pathophysiological changes in disease states. Ion channels are potential therapeutic targets for numerous disorders and genetic mutations in ion channel genes may play a role in disease susceptibility.
We welcome articles describing new physiological roles for ion channels in immune cells, novel methods for measuring ion channel activity in immune cells, differences in channel subtypes and properties between immune cells and excitable cells, and other interesting aspects of ion channel biology.
