102 citations
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February 2008 in “The FASEB Journal” This study found that human hair follicles express ATP-sensitive potassium channels, suggesting that minoxidil acts on these channels and that drugs targeting them may treat hair disorders.
13 citations
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June 2023 in “Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience” This review suggests that blocking the ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP) channel, particularly the Kir6.1/SUR2B subtype, may prove effective in treating migraines, with preclinical data supporting this approach; however, human studies are absent, and potential side effects could complicate clinical use.
5 citations
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September 2022 in “Molecular pharmacology” This article reviews current knowledge on KATP channel drug binding modes through cryogenic electron microscopy, highlighting distinct binding sites in the sulfonylurea receptor and potential mechanisms of drug action, but reports no new experimental results.
3 citations
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April 2023 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” This study identified high expression of the Sur2A subunit in cancerous cells in two animal models, highlighting a potential drug target in breast and renal cancers, with additional pharmacovigilance data linking KATP channel genes to varied cancer risks.
November 2024 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” ATP-sensitive potassium channels are important for hair growth.
November 2010 in “Bradford Scholars (University of Bradford)” In this study, the authors reported that NNC55-9216, a selective SUR1 KATP channel opener, stimulated hair follicle growth in culture and enhanced the effects of minoxidil, suggesting a new potential treatment for hair loss.
22 citations
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February 2008 in “Journal of Neurochemistry” This study found that minoxidil prevents long-term serotonergic toxicity induced by MDMA in rats, primarily by opening mitochondrial KATP channels and involving Akt and MAP kinases in its neuroprotective mechanism.
This study found that activating KATP channels with pinacidil may reduce antioxidant levels and mortality in honey bees, suggesting a role in regulating antiviral immunity through reactive oxygen species.
3 citations
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March 2012 in “Arab Journal of Urology” This study found that cromakalim and pinacidil significantly inhibited porcine detrusor muscle contractions, suggesting these ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers may have potential in treating certain bladder diseases.
9 citations
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June 2017 in “Pharmacological Reports” This study found that ATP-sensitive potassium channels may play a role in chloroquine-induced itching in mice, as channel openers reduced scratching behavior while a blocker reversed these effects.
33 citations
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May 1991 in “British Journal of Pharmacology” Cromakalim relaxes various blood vessels, while minoxidil sulphate is more selective; they likely act on different potassium channels.
18 citations
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October 2020 in “Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics” In isolated rat lymph vessels, this study found that ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers impair lymph contractions and reduce lymph flow, potentially contributing to peripheral edema.
July 2024 in “Research Square (Research Square)” In this study, ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers, diazoxide and minoxidil, reduced scratching in cholestatic mice, suggesting these channels may play a role in cholestatic itch, while the channel blocker glibenclamide increased scratching behavior.
In this study, deer hair follicles were shown to be an effective in vitro bioassay model, demonstrating that K(ATP) channel modulators directly influence hair follicle growth through specific channel types.
1 citations
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January 2009 in “Drug delivery system” This article provides a detailed review of minoxidil's pharmacological effects for treating androgenic alopecia but reports no new clinical results.
This study in diabetic db/db mice found that treatment with the antihypertensive agents minoxidil or nebivolol stimulated elastogenesis and inhibited elastolysis, leading to restored elastic fibers, reduced aortic stiffening, and normalized blood pressure.
47 citations
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October 1989 in “Circulation Research” The study explains how minoxidil sulfate causes vasodilation in rabbits by opening potassium channels and inhibiting calcium channels.
19 citations
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October 2017 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics” This study found that the MXD/HP-β-CD GEL formulation promoted greater hair growth and improved gene expression related to hair growth in male rats compared to MXD solution or control groups.
17 citations
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August 2012 in “Archives of Pharmacal Research” Acankoreoside J from Acanthopanax koreanum may help promote hair growth.
1 citations
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June 2021 in “General physiology and biophysics” In this study, minoxidil-induced vasodilation in rat aorta was found to be mediated by ATP-sensitive potassium channels and nitric oxide pathways, but was not significantly altered by lipid emulsion pretreatment.
September 2025 in “International Journal of Trichology” This study discusses the use of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss, noting that while it is popular and considered safe, it can mimic Cantú syndrome effects such as hypertrichosis and pericardial effusion, necessitating careful monitoring and caution during prescription.
January 2018 in “日本薬理学会年会要旨集 =” This study found that high-dose minoxidil, a potassium channel opener, may protect neuronal tissue from damage following transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice.
January 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” The document presented various studies on hair and cutaneous development, revealing insights into hair biology and potential therapeutic targets for hair-related conditions. Key findings included the role of stem cells and their niches in hair regeneration, the impact of TACE/ADAM17 depletion on alopecia, and the expression of somatostatin in hair follicles. Research on genetic factors, such as CYLD mutants and P-cadherin, highlighted their importance in hair growth and pigmentation. Studies on hair aging identified genes involved in hair loss in women over 40. Additionally, the potential of keratinocyte precursors from iPS cells for hair follicle regeneration and the effectiveness of a parathyroid hormone analog in reversing chemotherapy-induced alopecia were explored. The document also discussed the role of cholesterol biosynthesis in cicatricial alopecia, the necessity of Wnt signaling for hair follicle initiation, and the effects of ATP-sensitive potassium channel blockers on hair growth. These findings collectively advanced the understanding of hair growth, alopecia treatment, and skin regeneration.
144 citations
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March 2013 in “Circulation Research” This study reports that mutations in the SUR2 gene are linked to Cantu syndrome, highlighting the role of KATP channels in cardiovascular health and potential new therapies.
35 citations
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March 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” In this in vitro study, minoxidil, diazoxide, and the novel compound NNC 55-0118 increased hair follicle growth, supporting deer follicles as a viable bioassay for ATP-sensitive potassium channel modulators.
28 citations
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January 2004 in “British Journal of Pharmacology” This study found that minoxidil provides cardioprotective effects in guinea-pig heart cells through selective activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
148 citations
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May 2012 in “The American Journal of Human Genetics” This study identified heterozygous mutations in the ABCC9 gene as the genetic basis of Cantú syndrome, suggesting the syndrome as a new member of potassium channelopathies.
68 citations
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January 2013 in “BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology” This study found that glibenclamide exhibited a cytostatic effect on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, potentially mediated through K ATP channels, and enhanced the antiproliferative impact of doxorubicin.
44 citations
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October 2016 in “Epilepsia” This study demonstrated that the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose enhances antiseizure effects by potentiating extrasynaptic tonic GABAergic inhibition through neurosteroidogenesis in hippocampal slices.
13 citations
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May 2011 in “Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry” This study identified certain benzopyran derivatives with a bulky tert-butyloxycarbonylamino group as effective KATP channel openers that inhibit insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets.