Specificity of Ca 2+ -activated K + channel modulation in atherosclerosis and aerobic exercise training.

Vascular smooth muscle cells express several isoforms of a number of classes of K+ channels. Potassium channels play critical roles in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction as well as vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation or phenotypic modulation. There is ample evidence that it is Ca2+ that enables these two seemingly disparate functions to be tightly coupled both in healthy and disease processes. Because of the central position that potassium channels have in vasocontraction, vasorelaxation, membrane potential, and smooth muscle cell proliferation, these channels continue to possess the potential to serve as novel therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. While there are questions that remain regarding the complete interactions between K+ channels, vascular regulation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and phenotypic modulation in physiological and pathophysiological conditions, a broad understanding of the contributions of each class of K+ channel to contractile and proliferative states of the vasculature has been reached. This brief review will discuss the current understanding of the role of K+ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells in health and disease using the porcine vascular smooth muscle cell model with particular attention to new scientific discoveries contributed by the authors regarding the effect of endurance exercise on the function of the K+ channels.