Ion channels in T lymphocytes: an update on facts, mechanisms and therapeutic targeting in autoimmune diseases.

During the last quarter of a century a large body of evidence was gathered about the involvement of ion channels in T lymphocyte activation. A series of remarkable findings promoted T cell ion channels to become potential pharmaceutical targets in the therapy of autoimmune disorders. Numerous comprehensive reviews describe the types of ion channels found in the plasma membrane of T cells and their roles in signaling pathways leading to activation, the changes in the expression of these channels brought upon by differentiation to various T cell subsets, the formation and possible functions of signaling molecular clusters that include ion channels in the immunological synapse, the discovery and refinement of structurally different ion channel blockers and the successful in vivo application of such compounds to suppress hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune processes. In this review we wish to provide a concise update on these topics from recent years, highlighting the most notable developments. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.