Research progress on the acid-sensing ion channel 1a / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which are activated by extracelluar H+, are H+-gated cation channels. At present, seven subunits of ASICs family have been identified. Numerous studies revealed that ASIC1a plays important roles in synaptic transmission and plasticity,spatial learning and memory, nociception, as well as cerebral ischemia under physiological and pathological conditions. This review concerns the latest research about ASIC1a to promote the understanding of its physiological and pathological functions.