Does the anti-protozoal drug pentamidine block KIR2.x-mediated inward rectifier current by entering the cytoplasmic pore region of the channel?
Pentamidine inhibits cardiac I(K1) by interacting with three negatively charged amino acids in the cytoplasmic pore region. Our findings may provide new insights for development of specific I(K1) blocking compounds.
These results demonstrate that some of the structural and functional changes in the atria common to chronic AF in the elderly population are also prevalent in surgical patients who develop post-operative AF, suggesting that post-operative and chronic AF may have similar pathophysiology.