Targeting calcium-activated potassium channels for immunology and fibrosis
KCa3.1 (also known as IKCa1, SK4, or KCNN4) is an intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel. KCa3.1 is opened by increases in intracellular calcium, coupling cellular metabolism and signaling to membrane potential regulation. KCa3.1 are prominently expressed in non-excitable tissues, notably in immune cells (T cells, macrophages, microglia), epithelial and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of KCa3.1 can suppress immune activation, modulate fibroblast proliferation and differentiation, and affect tumor growth and vasculature. Therapeutic applications of inhibitors are inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, fibrotic diseases as well as cancer and neurological disorders.
These channels are prominently expressed in non-excitable tissues, notably in immune cells (T cells, macrophages, microglia), epithelial and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells.
There is an evidence that inhibition of KCa3.1 can suppress immune activation, modulate fibroblast proliferation and differentiation, and affect tumor growth and vasculature. This makes it a high-value target for: Inflammatory & Autoimmune Diseases, Fibrotic Diseases, Cancer & Neurological Disorders.
A variety of pharmacological tools have been developed to study KCa3.1, including inhibitors targeted for therapeutic development and activators used for robust assay validation:
We provide electrophysiological assays for the robust identification and profiling of KCa3.1 modulators. Our methodologies ensure precise control of intracellular calcium concentrations to maintain stable channel activation for accurate pharmacological assessment.
SyncroPatch 384
Ion channel screening at scale.
Our high-throughput automated patch clamp platform is ideal for identifying KCa3.1 modulators from large compound libraries, with precise control of intracellular calcium to maintain stable channel activation throughout the run.
Best suited for: Primary screening, hit confirmation, and concentration-response profiling.
NANION TECHNOLOGIES HIGH THROUGHPUT
Patchliner
High-quality functional profiling with automation.
The Patchliner provides medium-throughput automated patch clamp recordings with excellent gigaseal quality, suited for detailed secondary screening and selectivity profiling against related KCa channels.
Best suited for: Secondary screening, lead optimization, and selectivity studies.
NANION TECHNOLOGIES MEDIUM THROUGHPUT
Manual Patch Clamp
Gold-standard ion channel electrophysiology.
Manual patch clamp provides unmatched experimental control for KCa3.1, enabling precise intracellular calcium buffering and complex pharmacological protocols for deep mechanistic characterization.
Best suited for: Detailed kinetics, complex protocols, and validation of screening results.
CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS GOLD STANDARD