报告题目：Ion Channel Regulation in Health and Disease
报 告 人：Chen Gu, Assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience and Center for Molecular Neurobiology, the Ohio State University
主 持 人：翁杰敏 教授
报告时间：9月5日 13:30-14:30（周四）
报告地点：闵行生科院534报告厅
报告人简介：Chen Gu, 1992年本科毕业于南开大学生物物理专业，1995年获得中科院上海生理所神经生物学硕士学位，2000年获得美国University of Colorado Health Sciences Center博士学位，之后在美国UCSF生理学系做博士后研究，2002年起任HHMI Research Associate，2006年起任Department of Neuroscience and Center for Molecular Neurobiology, the Ohio State University的助理教授。
报告摘要：The talk contains two sections:
(1) Action potentials propagating along axons play a central role in cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system. Action potential firing minimally requires the sequential activation of two types of voltage-gated ion channels, Na+ (Nav) and K+ (Kv) channels. Our recent studies revealed novel mechanisms underlying selective axonal targeting of Nav and Kv channels.
(2) The long-term goal of this project is to turn a symptomatic treatment into a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). Dalfampridine, a sustained-release form of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), is currently used for symptomatic treatment of MS. 4-AP is a non-selective blocker of Kv channels. Beneficial effects of the 4-AP treatment, including walking improvement, are likely due to enhanced axon conduction along demyelinated axons. 4-AP is the only available treatment approved by the FDA to improve walking for MS patients. However, the exact mechanism underlying the effect of 4-AP on walking is still unclear. Moreover, 4-AP does not cure MS and can cause side effects. In this project, we are testing the exciting possibility that regulating the activities of the right combination of Kv channel isoforms can constrain and/or repair lesions through regulating neurovascular coupling.
