Toxins Targeting the K(V)1.3 Channel: Potential Immunomodulators for Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are usually accompanied by tissue injury caused by autoantigen-specific T-cells. K(V)1.3 channels participate in modulating calcium signaling to induce T-cell proliferation, immune activation and cytokine production. Effector memory T (T(EM))-cells, which play major roles in many autoimmune diseases, are controlled by blocking K(V)1.3 channels on the membrane. Toxins derived from animal venoms have been found to selectively target a variety of ion channels, including K(V)1.3. By blocking the K(V)1.3 channel, these toxins are able to suppress the activation and proliferation of T(EM) cells and may improve T(EM) cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes mellitus.