Lyphocyte Electrophysiology Research Group Researchgroup

Ion channels expressed in T lymphocytes play key roles in the control of the membrane potential and calcium signaling. The membrane potential- and Ca2+-dependent signal transduction pathways are critical during the activation of these cells upon antigenic stimulation. The voltage-gated Kv1.3 K+ channels are primarily responsible for the regulation of membrane potential in resting and effector memory T cells. Interference with the physiological activity of the Kv1.3 channels attenuate or prevent the response of T-cells to antigenic challenge resulting in immune suppression. The activity of Kv1.3 channels can be influenced primarily by three mechanisms: by high affinity blockers, by influencing the biophysical properties of the channels or by altering the membrane microenvironment/interacting partners/postsythetic modification of the channels. Research in the laboratory focuses on these three major mechanisms.