IMR Press / FBS / Volume 14 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbs1404029
Open Access Review
Identification of the Involvement of Potassium Channels in Fibromyalgia
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1 Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, S1 1WB Sheffield, UK
*Correspondence: K.Lawson@shu.ac.uk (Kim Lawson)
Academic Editor: Corrado Angelini
Front. Biosci. (Schol Ed) 2022, 14(4), 29; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbs1404029
Submitted: 30 June 2022 | Revised: 5 September 2022 | Accepted: 28 September 2022 | Published: 17 October 2022
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a central sensitivity syndrome that presents with chronic pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and disordered sleep. The pathophysiology which due to multisensory hypersensitivity of the central nervous system involves neuronal excitability leading to central sensitization. Treatments of the challenges associated with the complexities of fibromyalgia involve combinations of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches which often offer limited benefit. Potassium (K+) channels play a fundamental role in establishing and maintaining stability of neuronal activity. The large molecular diversity and distribution of K+ channels support involvement in a broad range of physiological functions. In nociceptive pathways, neuronal hyperexcitability leading to pain sensation has been associated with reduced function of K+ channels and loss of cellular control. This article reviews the evidence of involvement of K+ channels in fibromyalgia. A potential role both in the pathophysiological processes responsible for the symptoms of fibromyalgia and as therapeutic targets for the management of the condition is considered.

Keywords
fibromyalgia
potassium channels
pathophysiology
pharmacology
channelopathies
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