Acid-sensing Ion Channel Blockers

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) are members of the ENaC/Deg (epithelial amiloride-sensitive Na⁺ channel and degenerin) family of ion channels and are widely expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system. They are voltage-insensitive, Na⁺ permeable channels that are activated by low extracellular pH.

ASIC subunits contain two putative transmembrane domains and assemble as homotrimers or heterotrimers. To date, five genes of the ASIC family have been identified. ASICs 1-3 ...