GBT021601 improves red blood cell health and the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease in a murine model.

The pathophysiologic mechanism of sickle cell disease (SCD) involves polymerization of deoxygenated haemoglobin S (HbS), leading to red blood cell (RBC) sickling, decreased RBC deformability, microvascular obstruction, haemolysis, anaemia and downstream clinical complications. Pharmacological increase in the concentration of oxygenated HbS in RBCs has been shown to be a novel approach to inhibit HbS polymerization and reduce RBC sickling and haemolysis. We report that GBT021601, a small molecule that increases HbS-oxygen affinity, inhibits HbS polymerization and prevents RBC sickling in blood from patients with SCD.

Potent activation of the human tandem pore domain K channel TRESK with clinical concentrations of volatile anesthetics.

The tandem pore domain K channel family mediates background K currents present in excitable cells. Currents passed by certain members of the family are enhanced by volatile anesthetics, thus suggesting a novel mechanism of anesthesia. The newest member of the family, termed TRESK (TWIK [tandem pore domain weak inward rectifying channel]-related spinal cord K channel), has not been studied for anesthetic sensitivity.

Identification of native rat cerebellar granule cell currents due to background K channel KCNK5 (TASK-2).

The TWIK-related, Acid Sensing K (TASK-2; KCNK5) potassium channel is a member of the tandem pore (2P) family of potassium channels and mediates an alkaline pH-activated, acid pH-inhibited, outward-rectified potassium conductance. In previous work, we demonstrated TASK-2 protein expression in newborn rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). In this study, we demonstrate TASK-2 functional expression in CGNs as a component of the pH-sensitive, volatile anesthetic-potentiated, standing-outward potassium conductance (I(K,SO)).