Two Pore Channels as a Therapeutic Target to Protect Against Myocardial Ischemia and as an Adjuvant in Cardiac Surgery

Columbia Technology Ventures
posted on 06/16/2009

• request more info 
•   
•  LICENSE ONLINE

Problem or Unmet Need Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), one or more short periods of ischemia, can increase the resistance of the heart to subsequent prolonged ischemic injury, and thus has been recognized as a powerful endogenous myoprotective mechanism with significant clinical relevance. Although the triggers and signaling pathways involved in IPC have been defined, it is not until recently that researchers discovered the surface membrane activated channel: two-pore domain K channels (K2P channels) carry the myoprotective current of IPC. Therefore modulating the activity of these channels may have protective effects against ischemia. Details of the Invention This technology provides a biologically active compound that can modulate the activity of two-pore domain K channels (K2P channels) and induce an outward current that serves to protect myocytes against ischemic damage. When the compound contacts a cell expressing a K2P channel protein, K2P channels open and permit an outward current, exerting myoprotective effects such as shrinking of the cell in the face of ischemia-induced cell swelling.